Meet Laneta, a talented and caring 42-year-old mother from the Philippines. Laneta has an enlarged thyroid gland, which has greatly affected her daily life. "She cannot sustain the tasks she used to do before as they usually result in a throbbing pain at the back of her head and neck,” says our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM). In addition, "Laneta can no longer wash their laundry as efficiently as before for her family," says ICM. "She can no longer cultivate land and clean backyards for hire and can no longer do household chores with ease." She misses doing these tasks that “she used to do with ease and confidence,” says ICM. Unfortunately, Laneta's family cannot afford thyroid surgery. A thyroidectomy will remove her entire thyroid gland and relieve her current symptoms. For $525, we can help provide Laneta with full treatment, including surgery, medication, and transportation and food for Laneta and her caregivers. Government insurance in the Phillippines has contributed $100 toward this treatment. After surgery, Laneta will “gain self confidence as a mother and seek better ways to elevate the quality of life of her family,” says ICM. “I am hoping there will be sponsors who could elevate my quality of life," Laneta shares, "so I can go back to how I used to take care of my family.”

Meet Jane, a 50-year-old widow with three children in one of the biggest slums in Kenya. "It is by God’s grace that Jane is alive today. Jane slipped and fell down the stairs of a building from the seventh floor to the fourth floor,” explains our medical partner African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “She broke her leg at the thigh. Jane was taken to Kenyatta National Hospital (the number one government hospital) where plating was done about two weeks ago. As Jane tried to walk with crutches, the plate dislodged and came out.” Jane has been experiencing a lot of pain and is unable to walk. If not treated, Jane will continue to be in pain and the bones in her right leg may fail to unite, leaving her disabled. She needs ORIF [open reduction and internal fixation surgery] to re-align the right femur so it can heal properly. Unfortunately, she works as a casual laborer doing jobs such as laundry at people's homes and drawing water at construction sites, and her wages are barely enough to feed herself and her family. ''It has been very difficult for my children since I got sick,” shares Jane. “I just received a message that they have no food to eat. I really pray that I may get help so that I can be able to walk again and fend for them.” For $1,125, Jane will receive ORIF surgery which will unite the bones, allowing Jane to walk, work and care for her family again. Let's help her get back on her feet!

Say hi to Salama, a five-year-old girl that lives in Somaliland. She enjoys spending time with her family and playing games with her friends. Salama has been living with club feet, a condition that hinders her ability to walk normally and be mobile like most children her age. ”They learned that treatment for Salamas condition was available a few months ago when a community notice was placed about the hospital and treatment,” shares our medical partner, Edna Adan Hospital. Salama’s mother is a homemaker and her father is currently unemployed, therefore they are having a difficult time raising enough money for their daughter’s surgery. For $1,185, Salama will receive surgery that will allow her to walk properly and be pain free. Let’s give Salama a chance to stand, walk, and run!

"I want to watch my children grow up, and I want to be able to work and take care of my family," says Nicholas, a 35-year-old Kaqchikel-speaking man from Guatemala. Nicholas is dealing with kidney failure thought to have occurred because of uncontrolled high blood pressure. Because of fatigue and other symptoms, he's unable to work and care for his family right now, including two young children. Which also means that he cannot afford kidney treatment for himself. He needs dialysis to get healthy. Nicholas was referred to Watsi's medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq' (WK), and the WK team is ready to help. "We'll get Nicholas' dialysis treatments on track," they tell us. "We'll fix his severe anemia and heart failure symptoms with medications. This will save his life, and it will allow him to have energy to care for his children and work to provide them with economic support."

Say hi to Susan, a 56-year-old woman from Kenya! According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), “Susan is a mother of six. Her husband abandoned her and her children almost 10 years ago. Only one of her sons is employed while the rest are casual laborers. Susan depends on two cows and a small vegetable garden for her daily needs.” “Susan injured her hand while cutting grass for her two cows,” explains AMHF. She severed a tendon and now has severe nerve damage from the cut. Without treatment, she will permanently lose the use of her hand. For $1075, Susan will receive tendon and nerve repair so that she will be able to use her right hand and palm again. Susan says, “My daughter and her three children live with me and depend on my farm for their needs. I want to get well so that I can continue taking care of my cows.” Let’s help Susan regain her health and take care of her family!

“I love teaching, and I am looking forward to working with young minds and making a difference,” says 22-year-old Caroline from Kenya. Though she grew up without her parents, Caroline has just graduated from college with support from her grandmother and community. She is now certified to teach pre-school, and is actively looking for work. When Caroline was young, she burned her foot and was unable to get proper treatment. She now wears an orthopedic boot, but cannot walk well, tires easily and gets frequent blisters when walking long distances. “If contracture release surgery is not done, Caroline will not be able to walk well, and she is likely to develop an infection whenever blisters are not well treated,” explain our partners at African Mission Healthcare Foundation. For $1,125, we can fund burn contracture release surgery and comprehensive follow-up care for Caroline’s foot, which will enable her to walk well and without risk of blisters and infections. Let’s help Caroline enjoy normal, pain-free mobility so that she can teach young minds no matter how far away they may be!

“I am working hard so that I can buy land and ensure my children’s future home,” shares Martha, a 42-year-old mother of three school-aged children. Martha lives and works at her grocery business in Nairobi with her children, while her husband lives in their rural home. Martha has been experiencing heavy and irregular abdominal bleeding that leaves her feeling weak and unable to work. Her family’s financial status has meant that Martha has had to choose between medical attention for herself or her children’s education, and she has chosen to invest in her children. Recently, Martha was connected with our medical partners at African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), who have diagnosed Martha with uterine fibroids. “If surgery is not done, Martha will continue feeling weak and not able to work, “ explains the team at AMHF. “The masses might also become cancerous, which might result in a premature death.” For $800 we can fund a total abdominal hysterectomy for Martha, which will address her fibroid and heavy abdominal bleeding. Let’s help Martha regain her strength so that she can return to work and fulfill her goal of supporting her children.

"We'll provide food, medical treatment, accompaniment, and intensive growth monitoring," Wuqu'' Kawoq (WK) tells us about their plans to treat one-year-old Isais's malnourishment. This little guy from Guatemala is the eighth-born child in his large and loving family. "Isais is extremely small," says the WK team. "He has been chronically ill for the last several months and he is not growing. He is underweight, but he is especially under-height." WK is well-equipped to put Isaias's parents at ease and help their son out in a big way. Let's cover the $535 they need to make sure this happens.

“I love working with my husband on our farm,” shares 41-year-old Jacinta from Kenya. “I want to be able to go back to work.” Jacinta and her husband support their two school-aged children by working as full-time farmers. They have planted maize and have two dairy cows. After experiencing severe back pain, Jacinta sought medical treatment but received an incorrect diagnosis. As pain continued, she visited our medical partners at African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF) who diagnosed her with cervical cancer. “If surgery is not done, the cancer could spread to Jacinta’s other organs,” explain our partners at AMHF. “This could lead to premature death.” Jacinta and her husband have worked hard to raise the funds needed for Jacinta to receive total abdominal hysterectomy surgery to remove the cancer and alleviate her back pain. For $800, we can add to the money already contributed by Jacinta’s family to fully fund her surgery. Let’s help Jacinta realize her hopes of returning to work to support her family, free from pain!

“I had lost hope of getting treated,” explains 44-year-old Mary from Kenya. “I look forward to getting well, and back to work so that I can assist my husband.” Married with eight school-aged children, Mary works hard to care for her family while her husband works as a casual laborer at construction sites. They do not own any land, livestock nor investments that can help them in times of financial need, which is why she has been unable to pursue treatment for the early stage cervical cancer diagnosis she received last year. As a result, Mary continues to experience abdominal bleeding that prevents her from leaving the house. “If surgery is not done soon, the cancer could spread and affect Mary’s other organs which would lead into premature death,” explain our partners at African Mission Healthcare Foundation. For $800, we can cover the cost of a total abdominal hysterectomy to remove the cancer and cease the stigmatizing bleeding. Let’s help Mary to return to work and realizing her hopes of assisting her husband as they raise their family.

“This is not how I planned to start my life after getting employment,” 24-year-old Philip from Kenya shares. “I planned to be financially secure, marry and start a family before this tragedy happened. I really hope I can get help from the donors so that I am treated and be well again to fulfill my dreams.” “Philip is a young single man,” according to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. “He is the last born in a family of eight children. Philip completed high school and was employed in the motorcycle taxi business.” On December 6, 2014, Philip was “hit by a motor vehicle while riding his motorbike and sustained multiple injuries and fractures,” AMHF continues. The accident left him with multiple fractures of the tibia and humerus. Philip needs two surgeries to get healthy. The treatment and procedure costs $1,125. Doctors predict that after the surgery, Philip’s bones will heal and he can start working once again.

This is Hannah, an 83-year-old woman from Kenya who is full of life! Don’t let her age fool you-- Hannah is active and stays busy by socializing and doing daily chores. Hannah recently slipped and fell, which resulted in a femoral head fracture. The femoral head is the top part of the upper leg bone, which connects to the hip. The fracture is causing Hannah pain and has left her unable to walk. Since the accident, Hannah has been unable to maintain her normal activities, and has become dependent on her niece and nephew to feed and care for her. If not treated, Hannah will remain unable to walk and eventually the fracture may not be able to heal correctly. Despite her injury, Hannah still has a smile on her face. “When I was well, I could go to the farm and get my own food. Now, my family members have to do everything for me. I want to be well and be independent,” she says. Hannah needs surgery to heal her fracture, which costs $1,125. “We expect after surgery, the fracture will unite and Hannah will be able to walk again. She will be able to take care of herself,” describes our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. Let’s help her out!