Alonso is a 55-year-old man who lives with his wife and daughter in rural Guatemala. Years ago, Alonso's leg had to be clinically amputated after he experienced complications related to diabetes. Alonso's life changed drastically after he lost his leg, for he has difficulty walking and working. He now is in need of a prosthetic leg. Before his leg was amputated, Alonso worked in construction. Now, in order to keep supporting his family, Alonso works in agriculture in the local countryside. Alonso provides his family's only source of income, but he does not earn enough to cover the cost of a prosthetic leg. Fortunately, with the help of our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, Alonso is scheduled to receive his $1,166 prosthetic leg on August 8. Receiving a prosthetic leg will change Alonso's life. He hopes that receiving a prosthetic will allow him to find a different job so that he can support his wife and take care of their family better.

Luis is young boy from Guatemala. Luis has a genetic syndrome called cri-du-chat, which causes cognitive and motor delays, among other symptoms. Luis is beloved by his entire family—he loves to play and sing with his older brother, and his mother works incessantly to care for Luis provide the best for him so that he can live happily. Luis needs to undergo surgery to treat cryptorchidism. Cryptorchidism—or undescended testicles—is a condition commonly found in young boys who were born prematurely, as Luis was. In order to treat this condition, he will undergo a simple surgery that relocates the undescended testicle into its proper position. If left untreated, Luis could be at risk for a variety of reproductive illnesses in the future, including inguinal hernia, infertility, and testicular cancer. On October 5, Luis will undergo a procedure called an orchidopexy, which is surgery to move an undescended testicle into the scrotum and permanently fix it there. $1,500 will pay for his laboratory testing, medication, travel, and accompaniment. This treatment will lessen Luis's chances of developing complications later in life. Luis's mother says, "Thank you so much for this support. I will fight with everything I have for my son to have a better life."

Abner is a four-month-old baby boy from Guatemala's rural highlands. While his father works as a day laborer, his mother stays at home to take care of the family and sell hand-woven textiles. Abner is the fifth child in his family. Because Abner's mother cannot produce breastmilk, Abner is already malnourished. Underweight and small for his age, Abner often cries from hunger. His mother can only afford warm sugar water to soothe him, however this diet has dangerous implications for Abner’s health. Lactation failure can lead to starvation, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances that can cause seizures and compromise brain development. To help his condition, Abner requires a formal nutrition plan, which he is scheduled to receive on June 9. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, is requesting $1,162 to fund formula, nutrient supplements, and health education for Abner's mother that will teach her how to provide a nutritious, inexpensive diet for her son and monitor Abner's health. With this treatment, Abner’s immune system will strengthen, and he will grow up to be a healthy, energetic baby.

“I thank the donors for everything they do to support our treatment,” shares Christine. Christine is a 41-year-old woman from Uganda. A divorced mother of one, Christine lives with her parents. She works hard to provide for her son, growing beans, bananas, and cassava for food on her father’s small piece of land. She also sells petrol and paraffin for income to support her elderly parents and son’s schooling. For about two weeks now, Christine has experienced abdominal pain and fever. At the hospital, doctors detected a cystic mass in her uterus. However, they need to conduct more tests to determine the nature of the mass. Specifically, they will conduct a laparotomy, a procedure that entails making an incision in the abdomen in order to gain more diagnostic information. Christine cannot afford to pay for this new test. But that’s where you come in. Your donation will help us build towards the $307 total we need to sponsor Christine’s laparotomy on August 16. This sum will also provide for her other lab tests, medications, and five-day hospital stay. With the information gained from this procedure, Christine’s doctors will be better equipped to develop the best treatment plan for her. This, in turn, means getting Christine back to her family—and to the farm work that supports them—as soon as possible.