For more than a year, six-year-old Katy has had a chronic cough. She frequently has trouble breathing. Sometimes she coughs so much she throws up, and when she sleeps at night her mother hears her making a whistling sound as she struggles to breathe deeply. These are the classic symptoms of asthma, and without treatment, Katy’s coughs and breathing problems may only get worse. Despite her health challenges, Katy is a sunny, kind, and studious girl who lives with her parents and six older siblings in Guatemala. She is in first grade and loves school so far. When not in the classroom, you can find Katy playing with her dolls or toy pots and pans. Katy will begin asthma treatment on February 16. She will receive medications and a nebulizer (a device that administers medications to the lungs). These will allow her to study, play, and sleep without coughing. However, her family’s income is stretched too thin to pay for Katy’s treatment. Katy’s father is a bus driver, while her mother takes care of their seven children. For $422, we can sponsor Katy’s treatment in full. Katy's mother says, "We hope to God that my little girl gets better. She wants to be a teacher when she is big."

Dariana is a 16-year-old high school student from the Dominican Republic who has seven brothers and sisters. She is in the tenth grade, and she likes going to the pool with her friends. Dariana was born with a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her sickly and weak. Although Dariana is not Haitian, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is collaborating with their partners in the Dominican Republic to offer treatment to Dominican children. She will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center. First, Dariana will undergo a full cardiac assessment on February 14. This assessment will include physical exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Haiti Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1,500 to fund these procedures. Funding for Dariana also covers the cost of medications and social support for her and her family. Gift of Life International is contributing $7,000 to cover additional costs associated with Dariana's surgical care. Dariana says, "I am excited to have this surgery because I have been worried about my health ever since I was a very young girl."