Chantrea is a 15-year-old girl and 8th grade student. Chantrea has two brothers and enjoys reading books and watching movies on TV. A few months ago, Chantrea fell from a tree and badly fractured her left elbow. She has been in pain since and cannot bend her left elbow or use her arm properly. She traveled four hours with her mother to reach Watsi's medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) for treatment. Surgeons at CSC will perform an operation to reset her bones and heal the fracture, with the help of $405. This procedure will allow Chantrea to use her arm again, free from pain, so she can regain her independence and mobility at school. Chantrea shared: "When I am healed I will go home and continue my studies."

Four-year-old Zelalem lives with his parents in Ethiopia. He loves soccer and spends all of his free time playing. Zelalem was born with hypospadias, a condition in which the urethra opens on the underside of the penis instead of at the tip. As a result, he cannot pass urine while standing like other boys. Zelalem is eager to start school, but he has been unable to do so because of his condition. Treatment for Zelalem is hypospadias repair, a procedure in which the surgeon takes tissue grafts from the foreskin or from the inside of the mouth to extend the length of the urethra so that it opens at the tip of the penis. If left untreated, Zelalem is likely to suffer urinary tract infections and may also be infertile in future. Zelalem's parents tried their best to get their child a treatment in public hospital, but they have waited for more than a year for a call so that their son can be included in the waiting list. Zelalem's father is a traditional fabric weaver, but he does not earn much money from his work and cannot afford to pay for his son's medical care. $1,155 covers the costs of surgery for Zelalem as well as a 14-day hospital stay, including blood tests, imaging, and medicine. Zelalem's parents look forward to a successful procedure and hope their son becomes as healthy as any other boy his age.

Joyce is a young, 32-year-old mother of three from Kenya. She lives in a single roomed house with her family in a slum outside of Nairobi. Her husband works at a construction site in Nairobi and this is where he gets money for the upkeep of his family. In December 2014, Joyce felt a lump on her breast and came to Kijabe hospital for a checkup. She was referred to a different facility for chemotherapy. Having finished the sessions, she now requires a mastectomy but is unable to raise the amount needed. During the chemotherapy sessions, Joyce used to walk from one place to another and would ask people to contribute to her treatment, and that is how she raised the funds to meet the cost. As she lives with cancer, Joyce has not been able to attend to her work as a beauty salonist consistently due to pain, and attending previous chemotheraphy sessions that caused her fatigue. If not treated, Joyce is at risk of having the cancer spread to other parts of her body, which might result in premature death. After treatment, the risk of cancer spreading to other parts of Joyce’s body will be lowered which might have caused death. Joyce will be able to attend to her work at the beauty salon and take care of her family. “I want to be free from cancer and have a long life so that I can raise my children," Joyce said.

Majaliwa is a quiet, three-year-old baby boy from Tanzania. He is the fourth born in the family and his mother is expecting another baby in a few months. Majaliwa likes to play with other children and he especially likes to pull his favorite wooden car, which is tied to a string. Majaliwa was born without an anal opening. An immediate colostomy was done and Majaliwa has been passing stool through a stoma on his stomach. Majaliwa needs a pull-through procedure to be done, and later on, a colostomy closure. His parents are small scale farmers and they also keep a few livestock. As much as they wanted their son to get treatment two years back, they just have not been able to save up enough to cover the cost of operations which Majaliwa needs. Majaliwa needs a three-part surgery to correct his anorectal malformation. $1,500 will cover the cost of each procedure, as well as all pre- and post-operative care. After treatment, Majaliwa will be able to pass stool normally. “My hope is that my grandson will get treatment that will allow him to live a normal life like other children,” shares Majaliwa’s grandmother.

Mi Mi, a 48-year-old woman from Burma, was recently diagnosed with uterine fibroids--noncancerous growths that develop on the uterus and cause abdominal pain. While she and her husband run a small shop from their home, Mi Mi's condition limits her everyday activities. Our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP) explains, “Mi Mi feels lethargic and finds it difficult to breathe. Also she finds it difficult to move around. When she feels pain she leaves her work and her husband has to prepare and look after the shop.” “When Mi Mi walks a lot she has to stop because it is difficult to breathe well," BBP continues. "She can eat and sleep well but she has discomfort. Mi Mi is so worried because this is the first time she has had a major medical problem and is scared of the surgery, but she knows that she needs it.” For $1,500, Mi Mi will receive a total abdominal hysterectomy. This operation will remove her uterus and cervix--preventing the uterine fibroids from redeveloping in the future. In addition to alleviating her pain, this procedure will prevent Mi Mi from developing anemia by stopping any excessive bleeding caused by her condition. Mi Mi--who enjoys praying in her spare time--plans to return to helping her husband run their small shop after her recovery.

Three-year-old Love Faela lives with her parents, grandparents, and two older siblings in Haiti. She likes wearing frilly dresses and listening to her mother sing. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), tells us, “Love Faela was born with a congenital heart condition called tetralogy of Fallot.” The condition accounts for one third of all cases of congenital heart disease in patients younger than 15 years old. “[Tetralogy of Fallot] involves several related defects, including a hole between two chambers of the heart and a muscular blockage of one of the heart's valves,” HCA continues. “As a result, Love Faela's heart cannot deliver enough oxygen to her body, and she is sickly and weak. If untreated, the condition would be fatal.” Treatment for Love Faela is surgery to close the hole between the chambers of her heart and open the obstructed heart valve. “Following surgery,” HCA explains, “normal circulation should be restored to Love Faela's heart, and she should be able to lead a normal life.” For $1500, HCA will provide the overseas preparation and transportation required for Love Faela’s treatment. Gift of Life International is donating $5000 to cover the remaining treatment costs. "We are praising God that Love Faela can have surgery for her heart problem," her mother shares.

Meet Christine, a six-year-old girl living in the Philippines with her family. “Christine loves to be with her friends and desires to play with them,” reports our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM). “She is friendly and loves to draw.” Christine has a lipoma, a benign tumor of fatty tissue on her body. “Christine is experiencing body weakness and fatigue because of her condition,” ICM explains. “This hinders her to excel and perform better at school. Also, she can’t do her daily activities well because she often feels tired.” $785 will cover the cost of the tumor removal for Christine, a procedure that will improve her health and allow her to perform better in school and interact longer with her friends. Christine’s procedure is partially subsidized by PhilHealth, the Philippines' national health insurance program. “This treatment would mean a lot to us and our daughter,” Christine’s parents share. “This will give us peace of mind that there will be nothing wrong with our child and that nothing bad will happen to her. We want to see her play more with her friends and enjoy childhood just like any other kid.”

Meet Rabira, an eight-year-old son of peasant farmers from Ethiopia. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), explains: “Rabira was born with a condition called ‘imperforated anus.’ For the last eight years he has lived with a colostomy that enables him to pass stool.” Also known as anorectal malformation (ARM), Rabira’s condition involves a blockage of stool flow and/or an incorrect alignment of the anus and rectum. Although Rabira has a colostomy, meaning that his colon is linked to an artificial opening so that he can effectively pass stool, his treatment is not complete. ARM still causes vomiting, pain, bloating, and malnutrition, and there is a stigma surrounding it. “Rabira has suffered from social stigma and colostomy complications,” AMHF reports. “[Rabira’s parents] do not have any money to cover any amount of the bills that Rabira's treatment will generate. That is why he has endured all these years without receiving treatment.” AMHF continues, “[They] are very eager to send him to school once he is cured.” This will be possible for $1,500, with which a new anal opening will be created. According to AMHF, “Rabira will undergo a PSARP (the next step following a colostomy) and then two to three months from now he will undergo the final stage of the surgery (colostomy closure).” After surgery, “Rabira will be able to pass stool normally. He will have a chance to attend school, work towards his dreams, and will no longer be under social stigma," AMHF shares. Furthermore, the discomfort caused by this condition will decrease dramatically, further improving Rabira’s quality of life. “Rabira wants to be a ball player but he has a very hard time playing with his peers because of the colostomy. He hopes to be able to play and go to school once he is well,” AMHF tells us.

Meet Ernst, a 13-year old boy from Haiti. Ernst lives in the mountains of Haiti with his mother, father, and three sisters. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), shares: “His parents are both small farmers, and he likes to help on the farm and take care of the animals.” Ernst was diagnosed with congenital heart disease at birth. He loves school, but sometimes he must miss classes because his illness makes the one-hour walk to school extremely difficult. “Ernst was born with a cardiac condition called tetralogy of fallot (TOF).” Those with TOF have four structural cardiac abnormalities, which collectively alter the heart’s normal flow of blood, preventing blood and oxygen from adequately circulating through the body. This abnormal blood flow can lead to serious health complications, including death. $1,500 will help Ernst travel to receive cardiac surgery overseas. After his surgery, Ernst will receive two months of post-operative care. $10,000 of the total treatment cost has already been subsidized by Health City Cayman Islands. “Following surgical repair of his heart defect, Ernst should be able to lead a normal life with no further symptoms from this condition,” HCA tells us. Ernst shares, “I am excited to have my heart fixed so that I can walk to school and play soccer with my friends!”

Meet Rose, a three-month old girl from Haiti. Rose's father is a laborer, working various jobs to help his family, while Rose's mother cares for their four children. Rose has hydrocephalus, a condition characterized by the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. This has caused Rose's head to grow abnormally large, and cause flu symptoms such as a fever. Rose needs a hydrocephalus shunt placement to drain the fluid and allow her head to return to a normal size. Surgery will likely save her life and restore her health, says our partner, Project Medishare. The treatment costs $1,260, but her parents are unable to afford it. Rose's mother shares, “when I saw that her head was big I was very scared because I never saw babies sick with this health condition.” Our medical partner shares that Rose's mother has lost her appetite, and is very distressed about her daughter's condition. Hydrocephalus is a treatable condition if dealt with in time -- let's help Rose fully recover, and fund this important treatment.

Meet Teresia, a 36-year-old woman from Kenya. "Teresia is married and a mother of four. Her eldest son has just finished high school and is hoping to join a college or university, while the rest are still in school," says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "Teresia lives in her matrimonial rural home and works on their one acre of land (she has planted maize) while her husband lives in the city and works at a gas station." Two weeks ago, Teresia had a mastectomy to prevent the spread of breast cancer. To fund this treatment, Teresia and her husband raised over $1,000. However, she developed post-surgical complications, and needs a second surgery to treat a post-surgical wound. Teresia needs to undergo debridement, the removal of infected tissue, and a skin graft, the transplantation of skin, to treat her open wound. She does not have the funds for this additional surgery, which will cost $940. "If the surgery is not done soon, Teresia could develop an infection which would further complicate her recovery," explains AMHF. “I thank God for sending you our way,” says Teresia. “My husband has been worrying about how we will be able to pay for this treatment. I want to get well soon so that I can go back to working on our farm."

"I am very excited for the surgery, and not scared at all," shares 12-year-old Dashka. "I am looking forward to it!" Dashka is a girl from Haiti who enjoys going to school, and watching soccer and tennis on television. She lives in Haiti with her mother, father, and two younger brothers. "Dashka was born with a cardiac condition called pulmonic stenosis, in which the pulmonary valve of her heart is too small in diameter," says our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). "As a result, blood cannot pass freely between her heart and her lungs, and backs up into her heart. This makes her tired and sickly." "She requires a surgery in which a balloon will be inserted into the valve to stretch it open to a near-normal size," HCA continues. University Hospital of Martinique has contributed $7500 to cover Dashka's medical expenses, but she needs an additional $1500 for overseas preparation and transportation. HCA tells us that "following surgery, normal blood flow should be restored to Dashka's heart and she should not require additional surgeries in the future." "She wants to be a cardiologist when she grows up so she can help other kids like her," HCA adds.