Pho is a repairman from Cambodia. He has two brothers. He likes to help around the house and grow vegetables. Three weeks ago, Pho was in a motor vehicle accident that caused an open wound in his lower left buttock. It is difficult for him to move and walk. He is in pain. When Pho learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On May 4, surgeons at CSC will perform a skin graft procedure to to heal his open wound. Now, Pho needs help to fund this $440 procedure. She says, "I hope after the operation, my wound will be closed and I will be able to walk easily."

Jameson is a young student from Haiti. He lives with his mother, father, and siblings in the mountains of central Haiti. He previously attended elementary school but has not gone this year due to his heart illness. Jameson has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This involves several related conditions including a hole between the two lower chambers of his heart, and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These defects prevent his body from getting enough oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. Jameson will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On April 12, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will close the hole in his heart with a patch, and remove the muscular blockage.. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $22,000 to pay for surgery. Jameson's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Jameson's family overseas. His father says, "Our family thinks it is a miracle that Jameson will have a chance for this surgery!"

Vanessa is a young child from Tanzania. She looks forward to starting school. She has five brothers and three sisters. Vanessa lives with her parents, who are farmers. A few years ago, Vanessa was burned by hot porridge on her left hand and elbow. She was taken to the hospital and received treatment. She later developed burn contractures (tightened skin) and keloids (raised scar tissue). Vanessa cannot stretch her left hand because of the burn scar contractures and keloids around her elbow. She cannot carry things or play happily with her friends. Vanessa traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On March 6, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Vanessa needs help to raise $689 to fund this procedure. “I am very excited that I will receive treatment soon and join school," Vanessa said.

Kyay is a 52-year-old farmer from Burma. She has four children. She owns a farm with her husband, where they grow rice and beans. Currently, Kyay is in a lot of pain. She has a bile duct stone, which prevents her from sleeping, eating, and walking comfortably. She is very worried about her condition and how it will affect her family. Kyay has been advised to undergo a biliary obstruction repair, a procedure to repair the blockage of the bile ducts, which carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder. If left untreated, Kyay's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Kyay is scheduled to undergo her biliary obstruction repair on February 8. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Kyay's procedure and care. Kyay says, "I’m happy I will be able to take care of my son and daughter, cook, and clean the house again.”

Loshipa is a 15-year-old boy from Tanzania. He enjoys studying. Loshipa lives in a family of nine. His parents are small-scale farmers who cultivate maize and beans on two acres of land. They are also raising 15 goats and ten chickens. Loshipa was diagnosed with bilateral acquired genu valgus. At age seven, his legs begun to bow inwardly at the knees. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, he is experiencing pain and tiredness when walking or running, especially over long distances. This prevents him from playing with his peers, attending school properly, and helping out at home. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $940 to fund corrective surgery for Loshipa. The procedure is scheduled to take place on December 8. Treatment will hopefully restore Loshipa's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Loshipa’s mother says, "When Loshipa gets treatment, he will be able to attend school properly and become a doctor."

Talusha is a student from Haiti. She lives with her parents, brothers, and sisters in a coastal town in northern Haiti. She is in the fourth grade and enjoys going to school, especially studying math and science. Talusha has a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through the hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. Talusha will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On November 4, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will use a catheter to close the hole in her heart with a device. Another organization, Health City Cayman Islands, is contributing $12,000 to pay for surgery. Talusha's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Talusha's family overseas. We are also fundraising for her [transportation costs](https://watsi.org/profile/a2d3bef5c7ed-talusha). She says, "I am excited to get to ride in a plane and see a new country!"

Basilio is a 39-year-old father from Guatemala. He lives with his wife and six children, aged 3 to 20 years old. One year ago, Basilio’s foot was amputated in an emergency surgery when doctors found a hemangioma that needed to be removed. Before his amputation, Basilio worked as a weaver. Since then, however, he has been unable to work. On July 19, Basilio will be fitted for a custom prosthetic foot at our medical partner's care center, Hospital Regional de Zacapa. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is asking for $1,166 to cover the cost of his prosthetic. Receiving this treatment will allow Basilio to find a new job. "I hope to walk again without complications and work normally so that I can support my family" says Basilio. "Thank you very much for the opportunity that you have given me to obtain a prosthetic.”

Only one month old, Lucas is a gentle baby boy who is his parent's first-born child. His father works as a motorcycle taxi driver, transporting passengers from one place to another, while his mother stays at home, looking after the family and doing other home activities. The family lives in a rental house in eastern Tanzania. Lucas was born with hydrocephalus with a myelomeningocele. A myelomeningocele—a type of spina bifida—is a birth defect in which several vertebrae in the lower back do not close properly, leaving the baby’s spinal canal exposed. The spinal cord and its surrounding membranes protrude through the opening in the backbone, forming a sac on the baby’s lower back. As many as 90 percent of children with meningomyelocele also have hydrocephalus, a condition in which there is an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain that causes the head to increase in size. Without treatment, Lucas will experience increased pressure on his brain, which can cause brain damage and ultimately death. There is also the risk that the sac on his back will become infected, leading to further damage to the spinal cord and possibly preventing him from walking. Lucas could not receive treatment earlier because there were no surgeons available at the hospital where he was born. In addition, his family did not have enough money to pay for the surgery that he needed. He was referred to Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC), a care center of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), for treatment and support. AMHF requests $1,369 to pay for two surgical procedures for Lucas. In one procedure—meningomyelocele closure—surgeons will place the spinal cord and nerves back inside the backbone and cover them with membranes before closing the opening in his spine. In the other operation—endoscopic third ventriculostomy—surgeons will create a bypass through a thin membrane in the bottom (or floor) of a specific region of Lucas's brain. The cerebrospinal fluid will then flow up and over the surface of the brain and into the bloodstream. Lucas's surgery is scheduled for June 21. Funding also covers the costs of ten days of hospital care, imaging, blood work, medicine, and 25 days of accommodation for recovery and rehabilitation. Lucas's family is contributing $45 to cover additional expenses associated with his care. "I will be very happy and very thankful if Lucas gets treatment," shares Lucas's mother.

Vira Chhai is 15 years old and picks beans to earn money. He has two sisters and one brother. He likes to pick beans, listen to pop songs, and play volleyball with his co-workers. Vira Chhai developed a granuloma, which is a mass of tissue, on his lower lip about one month ago. He experiences pain, and his lower lip is swollen. Vira Chhai's uncle told him about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), and they traveled for seven hours to reach CSC for treatment. When he arrived, he learned that he will need surgery to remove the mass. Surgeons at CSC will remove the granuloma to help Vira Chhai feel comfortable again. His surgery is scheduled for May 22. Vira Chhani's treatment will cost $244. CSC is requesting the funds to help pay for the surgery. After surgery, Vira Chhani will be free of his condition. He will not feel pain on his upper lip and will be able to go back to his normal life.

Job is a ten-month-old baby from the Philippines. He lives with his parents in a small house owned by the church pastor. Job has four siblings, with whom he loves playing. His father works as a tricycle driver but has difficulty providing for the family. As a result, Job has moderately acute malnutrition. Malnutrition threatens Job’s growth and development and could even be fatal if not addressed. Fortunately, he will begin $184 malnutrition treatment on February 21. Job will be treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under five in ICM communities is either severely or moderately malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s home-based feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM’s professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. Job's mother says, "I am hoping to see Job grow strong and healthy and to finish school."

Nicolas is a lively 11-month-old baby boy from Guatemala. He loves to play with his toy ball. Nicolas's mother takes care of the family's household, and his father works as a construction laborer. Nicolas was recently diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that results from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. On June 9, Nicolas will begin growth monitoring at Clinic Panajachel, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is asking for $492 to cover the cost of Nicolas's micronutrients and food supplementation. Funds will also go towards an educational program that will teach Nicolas's mother how to create nutrient-rich diets for him using limited resources. Nicolas's parents are very grateful for all the donors' support!

Mutwa is a 64-year-old widow from Eastern Kenya. She lives with her eight children and runs a small farm with them. Since last year, Mutwa has experienced severe abdominal pain. She went to a number of different treatment centers to help relieve her symptoms, but she had no success. Following the results of a scan, doctors have diagnosed Mutwa with choledocholithiasis, a medical condition in which there are multiple gallstones present in the gallbladder. Mutwa has been advised that she needs to undergo a laparotomy to remove her gallbladder. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, has arranged for Mutwa to have her surgery on April 24. Mutwa's doctors are confident that the surgery will be a success. With $750, we can help Mutwa get back to work so that she can continue looking after her children.