Lyness is a 46-year-old soybean farmer from a village in Malawi. She is a widow who lives with her six children and five grandchildren. In her free time, Lyness enjoys talking and laughing with her children. She also loves singing with her friends. Three years ago, Lyness developed a painful hernia, which prevented her from living her normal life. Her family could not afford surgery, so Lyness lived with the pain for three years. Fortunately, she recently visited our medical partner's hospital, Nkhoma Hospital. She underwent a hernia repair procedure on December 22. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $327 to fund this surgery. Lyness and her family are thrilled that she will return to her farm and family pain-free. "Thank you so much!" says Lyness.

Aye Aye is a four-year-old girl who lives in a refugee camp with her parents and three siblings. Her two oldest siblings attend school in the camp. Aye Aye’s stepfather supports the family working as a day deliverer. His income is not enough to provide for all of the family's needs. When Aye Aye was born, her mother noticed a bump on her nose. The bump, indicative of a neurological condition known as encephalocele, continued to increase in size. Her parents worried that it would cause her shyness as she aged, for she is a playful girl who enjoys time with her friends. The encephalocele is painful if hit accidentally, and it interferes with her vision. Aye Aye was referred to our medical partner, where she underwent surgical repair on October 30, 2016. Aye Aye’s parents have taken time off work to care for their daughter. Now, they need help to fund her healthcare costs. Of the future, Aye Aye's father says, “Aye Aye is a very intelligent child, and she will do well with an education."

Panha is a ten-year-old boy from Cambodia. He is just starting the 4th grade at his local school. Panha likes to do homework and watch the song channel on TV in his free time. When Panha was four years old, he received poorly administered injections in his left thigh. This caused a muscle fibrosis in his hip, which makes it very difficult for him to walk. Panha is in constant pain, and he cannot easily bend or move his left leg. Panha traveled with his mother for three hours to seek treatment at Watsi's medical partner, Children's Surgical Center (CSC). On October 25, 2016, surgeons at CSC performed a quadriceplasty to release the contracted adhesions and improve the range of Panha's flexion muscle. This will allow Panha to walk more easily and without pain. $425 in funds will cover necessary medications, surgical procedures, and physical therapy. Panha shares, "After the operation, I want to go home and return to school."

"We dream that our daughter grows well, has good development so she can be a good student and have a good profession as a teacher," shares the mother of six-month-old Belinda. Belinda is the first child born to two loving parents in Guatemala. She loves to play with her cousins and mom, and she smiles when people play music. Belinda's father works as a farmer and her mother works at home, cooking and cleaning for the family. Although they both only want the best for her, they do not make enough money to provide her even with one egg, fruit, or vegetable per day - meaning they cannot afford the diet she requires to overcome malnutrition. Due to malnourishment, Belinda is far too small for her age. She has not had access to an adequate diet, and has been deprived of the protein, calories, and nutrients that she needs to grow normally. This lack of calories has left her immune system weak, meaning she is more susceptible to getting fevers, coughs, and diarrhea, all of which are life-threatening to malnourished children. In the past two weeks alone, Belinda has suffered from a severe cold and cough, which takes away her appetite and energy. Belinda's mom is worried because she has noticed that she isn't growing as well as the other kids in the neighborhood. In the future, Belinda could be at risk of stunted neurodevelopment, a low IQ, difficulty focusing, and a greater risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, hypertension, and diabetes - all of which make it less likely she could finish school and get a good job. Growth monitoring, micronutrients, food supplementation, and deworming medication will help Belinda gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children her age. This treatment will be done by doctors at Wuqu' Kawoq, Watsi's medical partner. Immediate treatment will have a large impact—she will likely be able to reach developmental milestones just like healthy kids her age, setting her up for a healthy and full life. This treatment, which costs $512 to complete, will strengthen Belinda's immune system, increase her overall caloric intake, and make it so she has more energy to play and learn. Her parents will receive the support to give their daughter the diet she needs to grow and develop; they will receive intense and motivational nutrition classes to learn what, when, and how to feed Belinda the best diet possible on a budget. This will help Belinda start to develop better both physically and mentally, giving her the chance to live a healthy and productive life.

Pablo's vision has been slowly deteriorating for several years. He was told by a doctor that he likely had cataracts, which are complicating his vision and could make him blind if he does not receive surgery. He lives in an incredibly rural Guatemalan community - 12 hours away from the only hospital in the country capable of giving him the specialized care he needs. 54-year-old Pablo is a friendly and hardworking father - he drives a pickup truck transporting wood from the fields into the city to support his four children. He lives with his family in a one-room house with a tin roof in the northern jungle of Guatemala. He makes only a couple dollars per day and, until his evaluation with the eye specialist, had never been out of his home community. His favorite thing to do when he is not working is to go out and visit his neighbors. Recently, because his vision has gotten so bad, Pablo has been having a hard time at work is worried that he will have an accident if he does not get surgery soon. This surgery, which costs $1500 and will be done with doctors from Watsi's medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, will give Pablo clear lenses so he will be capable of seeing, giving him the ability to work safely without fear of accidents. This surgery will prevent him from becoming blind, and allow him to live a full and happy life in which he is able to provide for his family. "I have been looking for support for one year and so I am so appreciative for the help that I will now get," shares Pablo.

“When I grow up, I would like to become a primary school teacher,” shares Ramadhani, a happy, hard-working, 13-year-old boy who lives with his grandparents in Tanzania. He loves going to school, where he is in class three and enjoys mathematics and science. Ramadhani was born with talipes equinovarus, a condition commonly known as congenital clubfoot. His right foot is twisted out of position due to short tendons in the foot and ankle, preventing him from stepping on the sole of his right foot as he walks. Even with his deformed right foot, Ramadhani likes to run and jump around with other children. Ramadhani’s parents are small-scale farmers who grow potatoes and cassava. They look after Ramadhani and his two younger siblings as well as their parents. For many years, they have not been able to get proper treatment for their son. It is through word of mouth that Ramadhani’s grandfather heard about The Plaster House and what it does and collected enough cash to transport Ramadhani to Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre for treatment. For $1,160, Ramadhani will undergo surgery to release the tendons in his foot and ankle. Doctors will then move his foot into the proper position and place it in a cast for up to two months. Funding also covers the costs of cast changes, braces, and a four-month stay at The Plaster House for recovery and rehabilitation after surgery. After receiving care, Ramadhani will be able to properly step on his right foot and wear shoes.

Moo Wah is a one-year-old boy who lives in a Thai refugee camp with his mother, Naw Lah. Naw Lah adopted Moo Wah shortly after he was born; his biological mother was abandoned by her husband during the pregnancy and could not care for Moo Wah in addition to her three other children. Presently, Naw Lah is taking care of Moo Wah on her own; her husband moved to the United States shortly after they were married. Naw Lah is hoping to move with her son once her husband is settled. Moo Wah was born with hydrocephalus - a condition that causes fluid to build up in the skull and put pressure on the brain. This causes vomiting, pain, and discomfort. Even with the financial help from her husband overseas, Naw Lah sometimes has to borrow money from friends to get through the month. Moo Wah only drinks milk powder instead of breast feeding and Naw Lah is not able to afford his food in addition to his other medical expenses. Naw Lah cannot afford the surgery Moo Wah needs, but without it he is very lethargic and irritable. He has had frequent fevers and requires constant attention. Naw Lah is physically and mentally tired from the frequent trips to clinics and hospitals and eager for her son to get better. With $1,485, Moo Wah will receive the operation he needs to alleviate his symptoms. A surgical shunt will drain the excess fluid built up in his skull and alleviate the pressure on his brain causing him to be tired and irritable. With this intervention, Moo Wah will get a new start on life and the chance to lead a healthy childhood.

Lifas was in a motor vehicle accident in February, and she injured the left side of her neck. She has been unable to move her left arm and hand since the accident. Lifas and her sister traveled to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) where doctors diagnosed her with a brachial plexus injury (BPI). Lifas is a 35-year-old farmer living in Cambodia with her husband. She enjoys watching TV, talking with her friends at home, and doing house work in her free time. A BPI occurs when the nerves connecting the spine to the arm are stretched, compressed, or severed from the spinal cord. In the most extreme case, a BPI can cause paralyzation of the arm, with a loss of function and sensation. A BPI surgery at CSC will involve nerve replacement and repair surgery. Surgical procedures such as nerve grafts, nerve transfers or muscle transfers can help restore function. CSC tells us that for $392, Lifas can have the surgery she needs. The total cost covers the procedure, supplies, and two days of inpatient care. Full recovery can take between three to six months. Lifas looks forward to regaining some functionality in her left arm, and resuming her work around the house.

70-year-old Rorn has seven children and ten grandchildren, and lives with his family in Cambodia. Recently, he developed a cataract in each eye. This causes him blurred vision. He can't see clearly, do work well, or go anywhere outside on his own. For $225, we can fund the two-part surgery that will correct his cataracts. First, doctors will make a small incision in both of Rorn’s eyes, and remove the clouded lens from each. Then, they will insert artificial replacement lenses that will function just as Rorn’s undamaged lenses used to. “After receiving this surgery and an implant in each eye, Rorn will have improved vision,” his medical team explains. Rorn looks forward to returning to his normal routines of working and spending time with his family without discomfort. “I hope I’ll be able to see everything clearer than I do now, so I can continue my work with rubber again can go outside on my own," he shares.

Meet Namayani, a baby girl born in mid-March who lives with her family in Tanzania. "Namayani was born with a lesion on her lower back, which is leaking cerebrospinal fluid," our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), reports. "She also has hydrocephalus." As many as 90% of children with spina bifida also present with hydrocephalus. Spina bifida is a neural tube defect where part of the tube fails to develop properly, causing defects in the spine. Hydrocephalus occurs when there is a build-up of fluid in the brain, causing the head to swell. Because Namayani has both conditions, she is in need of treatment to prevent her head from increasing in size, as well as to protect her from contracting infections. If she goes untreated, "Namayani could end up blind or completely disabled," says AMHF. Though she's living with two serious conditions, Namayani is a sweet and quiet baby. "She is feeding well and only cries when hungry, wet, or held in a position which is uncomfortable," AMHF shares. To treat both of her conditions, Namayani will undergo surgery to repair the spine defect and will need a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt to drain the excess fluid from the brain to to the abdomen. The procedures, and her hospital stay, will cost $1,200. After treatment, Namayani will no longer be at risk of contracting an infection, and her head will cease to swell. Her parents, who have seven other children, are concerned for their new baby, and are eager to get the correct treatment for their daughter. "We just hope that our daughter will get well and grow up like other children," Namayani's father shares.

Charles is an 11-year-old student in Haiti living with a congenital heart condition called Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). This means Charles has a hole between the two chambers of his heart, and a muscular blockage of one of the heart's valves. As a result, Charles's heart cannot deliver enough oxygen to his body, making him sickly and weak. TOF carries a 35% mortality rate in the first year of life, and a 50% mortality rate in the first three years of life. It can also cause delayed growth and development later in life. Charles lives with his parents, younger brother, cousins and their family. He is in fourth grade, but his illness caused him to stop school late last year. He likes math and science, and would like to be an engineer or architect when he grows up. Charles needs surgical intervention to repair his heart. The goal is to repair the defects, including enlarging the blocked heart valve and patching the hole to improve blood flow and oxygen delivery to his lungs. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, works to maintain a network of overseas referral hospitals in the United States, Canada, and elsewhere that are capable of accepting cases too complex to be attempted in-country. They organize not only the cost of the surgery, but also host family stay, airline fees, food, and travel insurance for the patient and parents for the duration of the medical care. Through Haiti Cardiac Alliance, $5,000 of the total cost has been subsidized by the Health City Cayman Islands, a medically advanced tertiary hospital located in Grand Cayman. Haiti Cardiac Alliance tells us that Charles’ family needs an additional $1,500 to cover the costs. Following surgery, normal blood flow should be restored to Charles's heart and he should not have any further cardiac symptoms. "I am excited to have this surgery so that I can go back to school and play with my friends again,” says Charles.

Meet Yesiraw, a 11-year-old boy from Ethiopia. "Yesiraw was born with a congenital anomaly in which his bladder is exposed and outside his body," our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), explains. Bladder exstrophy presents at birth, and has led Yesiraw to experience pain from irritation of the bladder and leakage. Because his bladder is exposed, he risks infection and further injury. As a result of his condition, Yesiraw has not been able to attend school and partake in many activities. With a small income and a large family to support, Yesiraw's father is not able to pay for the treatment of his son's condition. He tells us that "all Yesiraw wants to do is go to school by any means possible." The treatment for bladder exstrophy is surgery. $1,500 will cover Yesiraw's surgery, medication, lab tests, and hospital stay. "We expect that after the surgery and recovery, Yesiraw will be able to join school," AMHF informs us. "He will no longer have leakage or be at risk of direct bladder injury."