Long is a 31-year-old security guard with one son and one daughter. In his free time, he likes to watch TV and read magazines. In June, Long was injured in a motor vehicle accident. He was diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury, meaning that the nerves connecting his spine to his arm were damaged. After visiting a Khmer traditional healer, his symptoms did not improve. Long was in pain, and he could not use his right arm. After learning about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), Long traveled for three hours with his wife to reach CSC for treatment. On November 1, surgeons performed a nerve transfer surgery in his right arm. After recovery, he should be able to use his arm easily. Now, he needs help to fund this $450 procedure.

Kim Seng is a 7-year-old second grader from Cambodia with two sisters. He likes to stay at home, watch movies on TV, and draw pictures. Kim Seng's mother heard about CSC from people in their village. He traveled with his mother for three hours to reach CSC for treatment. Kim Seng received a poorly administered injection in his left thigh about four years ago. This caused his thigh muscles to contract and the tissue to scar. Now Kim Seng cannot bend his leg. Surgeons at CSC will perform a quadricepsplasty procedure on his left leg to release the contracted muscle tissue and allow him to walk easily. Kim Seng says, "After the operation, I hope I can walk properly and without pain."

Fahim was born on March 25, 2013 in Tanzania. He is the second child in the family, and he likes to run around even though he easily falls down when running. He also enjoys playing with cars and being around other children. Fahim's mother noticed his legs were unusually bowed outwards when he was still a baby, but she thought he would outgrow the condition. When he turned one year old, the condition was worse than before. She decided to take him to the hospital where she was told nothing could be done because he was still too young. As Fahim continues to grow, his legs continue to bow outwards, making it more difficult for him to run and much easier for him to fall down. He has a condition called genu valgus or "knocked knees." Fahim’s mother runs a small business of selling second hand clothes and his father sells at a kiosk. They both work hard to support their two children, one of whom is going to school. The little that they earn is not enough to cover the cost of operation which Fahim needs. The operation, which costs $940, will prevent Fahim from developing osteoarthritis at a young age and allow him to walk straight. Fahim’s parents wish their son will have the ability to walk normally like other children, so that he can easily walk to school.

Luis is a six-month-old baby living in Guatemala with his grandparents and mother in a cinderblock house with a tin roof. His favorite thing to do is to play with a small rubber toy dragon. When she isn't caring for Luis or helping Luis's grandparents around the house, Luis's mother is a tailor. She is a single mother, and is unable to afford more food for Luis than corn tortillas. Luis has been diagnosed with severe chronic malnutrition. He is almost three standard deviations below a normal height for his age. He has not been receiving the calories and protein he needs, stunting his growth and weakening his immune system. He frequently gets diarrhea, fevers, and coughs, all of which contribute to lethargy and decreased appetite. Without treatment, Luis could face long-term consequences such as low IQ, increased risk of chronic diseases, and lower earning potential as an adult. For $512, Luis can receive the treatment he needs to resolve his malnutrition. His treatment cost covers growth monitoring visits, food supplements, and medication to help him gain weight and develop properly. Luis's mother is eager for financial assistance to afford Luis's treatment. "I hope my son recovers soon from malnutrition," she says. Luis's treatment will strengthen his immune system, increase his overall caloric intake, and make it so he has more energy to play and learn. His mother will also receive nutritional education to help her optimize the diet he needs.

Bethwel is a newborn baby from Kenya who's not quite two weeks old. "He naps calmly on his young mother’s lap," says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Bethwel was born with congenital hydrocephalus, a condition where excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates on his brain. "Bethwel has an abnormal head size due to accumulation of cerebral spinal fluid in the brain. If not treated, accumulation of cerebral spinal fluid may cause brain damage," AMHF says. Surgery to treat Bethwel will cost $615. Doctors will install a shunt in his brain, which will drain the excess fluid to be re-absorbed elsewhere in the body. This live-saving procedure will prevent brain damage and reduce Bethwel's head swelling. "Bethwel's mother is fifteen years old, she was orphaned at a very tender age," AMHF says. "Bethwel's father abandoned them when he learnt that she was expectant ... Bethwel’s mother depends fully on Bethwel's grandparents who are subsistence farmers with no other source of income. They are therefore not able to raise the funds required for Bethwel's surgical care, which according to the doctor is urgent." “I am glad my son was diagnosed and now we know what we are fighting!" Bethwel's mother says. "If only we could raise the funds required for his treatment. I am dependent on my grandparents and they are aged and so they cannot help much. I will appreciate any help accorded to Bethwel."

Zin Nwe lives in Burma with her parents, her brother and sister, and her adopted 3-year-old daughter. She is 33 years old. This past February, Zin Nwe began to feel severe abdominal pain. It was so debilitating that she returned home in order to rest and took some painkillers to cope with the pain. Upon feeling slightly better, she returned to work. However, in March, she couldn’t walk and came back home once again. She was having difficulty breathing and it was painful to sleep on her stomach. She was tossing and turning all night worrying about her condition and feeling guilty about being unable to work. Treatment was never sought in Burma because of the expensive costs in which Zin Nwe could not afford to pay. One of her friends had been to Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) before and suggested that she visit. Upon arrival, Zin Nwe received an ultrasound test and a blood test. A midwife confirmed that she has a uterine myoma, a noncancerous growth in the uterus, and would require surgery. As she does not have money for the surgery, Zin Nwe was referred to Watsi's medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), for assistance. Zin Nwe is a strong, hard working, and independent woman. $1,500 covers all of Zin Nwe's medical expenses, including pre-surgery visits, hospitalization, out-patient visits, and transportation to the hospital. After treatment, Zin Nwe is eager to return to work, continue to support her family, and relax by gardening and planting vegetables near her home. She wants to be able to continue to afford school fees so that her daughter can one day be a bright and educated woman.

Saitoti is a four-year-old boy who lives with his parents and siblings in Tanzania. He is the fifth born of seven children to his parents, who are subsistence farmers. Saitoti was born with congenital club feet, a condition in which his feet are twisted out of shape or position. This causes him difficulty walking long distances, and his parents worry that he will not be able to attend school with his siblings as a result. Saitoti's parents did not know that it was possible to seek treatment for their son's condition, and so they never did until a pastor from their village referred them to Watsi's medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). While his parents cannot afford the treatment that Saitoti requires, we can help fund the $1,160 procedure to re-position his feet. This amount includes plaster casting and surgery to straighten the feet, in addition to a four month stay at the Plaster House, a facility in Tanzania that cares for children recovering from corrective surgery. "I would like my son to be able to walk normally," says Saitoti's mother. Let's help them fund their son's surgery so he can attend school with his siblings one day!

“I would love to get well and go back to work,” shares Walter, a 50-year-old widower from Kenya who fractured his left upper and lower leg in a motorcycle accident last fall. “Before the accident, Walter had been a casual laborer, moving from one homestead to another in search of casual labor for sustenance,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Since the accident, he has been unable to work on people’s farms due to his painful leg. With no income and no contact with his two daughters, Walter has had to rely on friends for financial support. “He has no place to call home, he owns nothing, and relies on [a friend] for his upkeep.” Walter needs surgery—open reduction and internal fixation—to reposition and set the broken bones of his upper and lower left leg and enable proper healing. Without treatment, “the pain will persist and there [is a risk of a] bone infection in Walter's leg,” explains AMHF. $1,410 pays for the surgery that Walter needs. Funding also covers the cost of seven days of hospital care, including imaging, blood tests, pain medicine and antibiotics, and physical therapy. “It is expected that after the treatment, Walter will have easy mobility and will be relieved of the pain,” says AMHF. “He will be able to work and earn a living.” Walter looks forward to a successful operation. “I will improve my life and help others as I have been assisted,” he said.

Meet Layoni, a two-year-old boy from Tanzania. Our medical partner, African Mission Health Foundation (AMHF), tells us that Layoni was born to a large, loving family. His parents are both small scale farmers and tend a few livestock to support their five children. "Layoni was born with multiple deformities; Spina bifida, hydrocephalus and bilateral clubfoot," AMHF tells us. His neural tube defects were addressed with surgery when he was young, and he is doing much better because he received the medical treatment he needed at the time. "He likes to crawl and sit together with other children drawing on the ground," shares AMHF. He is getting eager to stand and walk, but with clubfeet, a musculoskeletal malformation where the feet are twisted out of shape, his feet and ankles are unable to support weight. With $1160, Layoni will receive surgery, stretching, and casting to reshape and strengthen his muscles. AMHF will provide a surgeon and hospital respite for his recovery, so that Layoni will be able to run around and play with other children. "I hope my grandson will one day be able to walk," Layoni's grandmother shared in their pre-operative interview with AMHF. With our help, Layoni will be able to walk normally.

Seven-year-old Antonia lives in Haiti with her parents and younger brother. "Her parents both work in the marketplace to support the family," shares our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). Antonia is in second grade and loves going to school, but she's had to miss class frequently this year due to symptoms of her heart defect. HCA explains, "Antonia was born with a heart defect called partial atrioventricular canal defect, in which holes exist between the upper and lower chambers of the heart, allowing blood to pass freely through all four chambers. This leads to heart failure and deprives the body of oxygen, leaving her sickly and weak." Heart surgery can correct Antonia's defect, allowing blood to flow normally through her heart. Gift of Life International has raised $5,000 to pay for part of her surgery. For $1,500, we can fund the rest of Antonia's life-changing surgery, which includes preparation and overseas transportation costs. "We are excited she can have this surgery so she can get back to her education," her mother shares.

“Like most children, Sandra was born normally and this was a great joy to her mother,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Sandra and her mother live together in a rental house in Kenya. When Sandra turned five months old, she became sick. "She cried most of the time, at times would throw up after feeding and her head size was increasing at a greater rate than the body was. Sandra’s mother knew something was not right and she sought for help in the nearest clinic," AMHF says. When Sandra was diagnosed with acquired hydrocephalus, her mother remembered it to be the worst day of her life. “I was hysterical and couldn’t think rationally—everything slowed down,” says Sandra’s mother. Sandra is now 11 months old and needs treatment for her condition. Acquired hydrocephalus is a condition where an abnormal amount of cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain’s cavities. It could be caused by a tumor, injury, or meningitis. The clinic that made the diagnosis suggested a shunt operation to relieve the pressure in Sandra’s brain. “Operating a small kiosk and having no one to look to, Sandra’s mother, who is a single parent, is not able to raise the needed funds,” explains AMHF. With $615, Sandra will undergo surgery where a shunt will be placed to divert the excess fluid in her brain to her abdomen where it can be reabsorbed into her body. Depending on the particulars of her case, she may also receive an endoscopic third ventriculostomy, where a small hole is made in the floor of the third ventricle of the brain and the excess fluid is drained through there. “Life’s roughest storms prove the strength of our anchors,” says Sandra’s mother. “I have faced many storms in my life, and my anchors have grounded my with hope and strength.” Let’s help Sandra grow up healthy!

38-year-old Dah lives in Burma with her husband, her 18-year-old niece, and her three children. Our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), says that both Dah’s niece and 13-year-old daughter are in school. To support the family, Dah’s son earns a modest income working as a hunter. This past August, Dah felt a palpable mass in her abdomen caused by ovarian cysts. When her symptoms persisted, Dah initially sought medical care locally, but her condition was misdiagnosed and left untreated. Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled masses that develop within the uterus. BBP explains that without treatment, “Dah's abdomen is growing bigger everyday and she suffers from back pain. She did not want to seek treatment for her condition in Burma, because she knows that she would not be able to afford the medical costs.” For $1,500, Dah will receive a total abdominal hysterectomy--removing her uterus, cervix, and painful masses during a single operation. This treatment will alleviate Dah’s immediate symptoms and prevent her condition from recurring in the future. “Following surgery for ovarian cysts, Dah will no longer have bloating of her stomach and back pain,” BBP states. “After recovering, she will be able to commence looking for work in a local clinic.” Burma Children's Medical Fund, an organization that facilitates the transportation and treatment of Burmese people at Thai hospitals, is subsidizing this surgery by $1,421. "I want to get surgery for my condition so I don’t have to worry about that anymore," Dah shares. "When I have recovered from that, I would like to start working in a clinic and helping people. My first priority now is to get healthy and feel better. Then, I can continue with my dreams.”