Wilmer was referred to Watsi's medical partner in Guatemala, Wuqu' Kawoq, by a government-run health care center where they cannot afford to buy formula for patients. Wilmer has not had any breastmilk for five days now, since his mother has been unable to produce milk. Wilmer has lost a significant amount of weight, and is now a pound smaller than he was when he was born less than three weeks ago. His grandmother has been giving him sugar water with anise to try to calm him down, since he cries almost constantly. Without treatment, Wilmer will not survive, and will face risks of permanent brain damage, seizures, and diarrhea if he does not receive treatment soon. Wilmer is the only child to a single mother that has special needs. Since his mother cannot care for herself, Wilmer's grandmother takes care of him. Wilmer's family has few resources, and they depend on Wilmer's grandfather to provide for the family. Many days they do not even have money to buy tortillas to eat, let alone one tin of formula that costs more than their monthly income. The treatment that Wilmer requires is simple and will save his life. For $1,016, Wilmer will receive milk formula and micronutrient supplementation to nourish his body. This will allow him to grow normally, gain weight, and avoid permanent brain damage. "I dream that my grandson will be able to grow and one day can study and pursue a profession," said Wilmer's grandmother.

Snow is a ten-year-old Burmese girl who lives in a refugee camp with her parents and older sisters. For the past eight years they have lived in the camp. Snow's family moved to the camp as they didn’t own their own home or land, and they were living with Snow’s grandmother and other members of the extended family. This situation influenced their decision to migrate to the refugee camp in Thailand. Snow and her family would like to relocate to a third country but they are uncertain whether the opportunity will present. In the camp, Snow’s mother does laundry for others for a small income. Previously her father worked as a carpenter but is unable to work now because of hemorrhoids. Their monthly income is insufficient for daily expenses, savings or health care expenses. Living in the camp, they receive food rations which offset the burden. At times the family has to borrow small amounts of money, which they repay when they can. Snow and her two sisters attend school. Symptoms first appeared with Snow when she was seven-years-old. She had severe pain in her abdomen when she was just sitting, and she was uncomfortable walking. After an examination at the camp's medical clinic, she was diagnosed with rectal polyps. On January 28th, the surgeon excised a rectal polyp. Snow’s mother didn’t receive information from the hospital regarding Snow’s diagnosis or treatment due to the language barrier. Snow was symptom-free for eight months but she had to return to the clinic on several occasions with the same symptoms. She was finally given a diagnosis of juvenile polyposis - marked by frequent recurrence of polyps in the colon and rectum with third degree internal hemorrhoids. $1500 will cover the cost of Snow's surgery to remove the additional polyps she now has. Although she is still going to school, Snow is unable to engage in active play and her appetite and sleep patterns have been disturbed. She likes to play with her dog and she enjoys singing and listening to music. "I would like to be a singer when I am older," Snow said. Let's help make it possible!

Meet Leandra, a one-month-old girl from Guatemala with a severe case of malnutrition. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK) explains, “Leandra has been losing weight and getting sick frequently, due to her severe case of malnutrition. She has lost weight since she was born because her mother cannot make enough breastmilk to help Leandra grow.” “This has made her mother very stressed and upset, because Leandra cries all the time due to her hunger. In an effort to make her stop crying, she has been giving her sugar water, which has made her gain a little weight, but puts her at risk of diarrhea, starvation, and seizures due to the lack of calories, antibodies, and electrolytes,” WK shares. “Leandra is the second child in her family. She lives with her parents and older sister in a one-room house made of wood. Her mother works at home, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of the kids. Sometimes, she goes out and helps her husband look for wood to chop and sell, all the while carrying Leandra on her back. Her husband also works fishing in the nearby lake, and sells the fish he catches. Although they work hard, they often do not have enough money to buy even basic foods for their family, and often make less in a month than what formula costs," WK continues. $1,016 will cover the cost of Leandra’s treatment, which involves supplying Leandra with formula and her mother with health education. Her mother said, "I am so thankful to the donors that think of my daughter and want to help her."

“Lencer is a young child with a long medical history,” reports our medical partner in Kenya, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). When he was nine months old, he fell sick with meningitis; he has contracted pneumonia six times since his birth; and now, at three years old, Lencer has contracted tuberculosis. “Lencer has battled his previous medical complications with zeal,” AMHF tells us. However, fighting these near-constant illnesses “has drained his family’s income,” leaving them unprepared to cope financially with the most recent medical problem that has beset Lencer: severe hearing loss in both ears. Lencer’s hearing problems are sensorineural, meaning they originate in his inner ear, and could have been caused by a variety of factors, from disease to head trauma. According to AMHF, “if not assisted with the hearing aids, Lencer may not be able to communicate effectively”—a deficiency that could have profound implications for the child’s social life, language learning, academic abilities, and career. $920 will purchase two hearing aids—one for each of Lencer’s ears. With these devices in place, “Lencer will be able to use speech and hearing for communication,” AMHF tells us. “I feel emotionally weak that my child has to pass through all these medical complications,” shares Lencer’s father. “My only wish is to have God heal him and for him to grow as a healthy child.” Let’s help make that wish a reality for this family.

Four-year-old Clarens lives in Haiti with his mother and grandmother. He was born with cerebral palsy and cannot yet walk on his own. However, he is slowly learning to walk with braces and crutches. “He is a very intelligent child and has already learned to read and write well,” says our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). HCA continues that in addition to cerebral palsy, Clarens has heart disease. “Clarens was born with a cardiac condition called valvar pulmonic stenosis, in which one of the valves of his heart is too small to allow blood to adequately pass through. As a result, oxygen does not reach his body in sufficient quantities, leaving him sickly and weak.” Heart surgery can correct Clarens' condition. Health City Caymen Islands has raised $5,000 to cover the cost of his surgery, and another $1,500 from Watsi donors will pay for Clarens' surgery preparation, transportation, and travel funds so he can receive the surgery he needs. “Following surgery, normal blood flow should be restored to Clarens's heart and he should not have any further cardiac symptoms,” HCA says. "I am so happy that this surgery will be possible for Clarens, and I thank God and everyone who is helping to fix my son's heart," says Clarens’ mother.

Meet Delinor! At four years old, Delinor is the oldest child in his family. He and his parents live in Haiti, where his father earns a wage as a road-side vendor. His mother is currently looking for work to help support the family. “Delinor was born with a condition called severe subaortic stenosis, in which part of the heart new the aortic valve is unusually narrow, causing blood to back up and leaving him sickly and weak,” explains our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). “If not stretched to a normal size, this condition could eventually become fatal.” The vast majority of Haitian people cannot access the care they need. The existing healthcare system was mostly destroyed by the major earthquake in 2010, and the services that are available are unaffordable to the average Haitian citizen. To correct his heart condition, Delinor needs care that is only available in the Cayman Islands. Pre-operative care, transport to the treatment centre, passports and visas, and the cost of the stay at the centre total $1500, a cost that is out of reach for Delinor’s family. Once there, the treatment centre will subsidize his operation that will restore normal blood flow to his heart. After the surgery, he should experience no more symptoms from his condition. “We have known that Delinor had a heart problem ever since he was a baby but we were very sad because we thought there was no way to fix it,” shares his mother. “We are glad that God is answering our prayers.”

“Maung Win is a 45-year-old man who lives in Burma with his wife and 18-year-old son,” shares our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). “He has lived in the township his entire life and works as a shop vendor with his wife. Their son is currently studying at college.” “Maung Win has rheumatic heart disease,” reports to BBP. “He is often tired and feels tenderness in his chest. It is difficult to breathe when it is hot at home. Due to his conditions, he has to take medicines every day and has to buy more medicine once a month. It is difficult to afford to costs of medicine and is sometimes difficult to work as a shop vendor due to fatigue.” $1,500 will cover life-saving cardiac surgery for Muang Win. This procedure will increase his ability to breathe and decrease his tiredness. Post-surgery, he should be able to return to work full-time. “After surgery, I want to work hard for my family, especially for my son who is studying at college,” Maung Win says. “I worry for my son and his schooling. I worry that I cannot earn as much money as I can to support my family.”

Touch is an 84-year-old grandmother from Cambodia. She spends her days taking care of the yard at her home and listening to monks pray at the local pagoda. She is mother to one son and two daughters, and grandmother to four grandchildren. “Three years ago, Touch developed a cataract in each eye,” explains our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). “This causes her to be partially blind and experience tearing and itchiness.” Cataracts develop when the clear lens of the eye becomes clouded by protein buildup. They are responsible for 51% of blindness worldwide, despite being easily treated with a simple procedure. This procedure involves making an incision in the eye and replacing the clouded lens with a new, artificial one. “It is hard to go walking by myself or do any work,” Touch tells CSC. For $225, Touch will receive cataract surgery, a hospital stay, and follow-up care to ensure proper healing. After this procedure, Touch will be able to see clearly once more and return to her daily life. “I hope my mother can see everything clearly again,” Touch’s daughter says. “I hope I won’t be worried anymore about her eyes becoming worse.”

Henry, a 52-year-old man from the Philippines, is a father who provides for his family through his job as a construction worker. According to our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM), Henry was diagnosed with a perforated typhoid ileitis after suffering from typhoid fever four years ago. This condition is marked by a hole in the patient's intestine that causes intestinal contents to leak into the abdominal cavity. Drainage of Henry's intestinal contents occurs through an external pouch—one which "is making Henry uncomfortable in a way that it needs to be changed from time to time for it may spill at any moment and make him odorous," ICM explains. “He can’t sleep well at night and is unable to perform his duties as a breadwinner of the family,” ICM explains. “Just recently, because life has been really difficult for them without any income, Henry was forced to work in a construction site in spite of his condition to somehow meet some of the family’s basic needs.” $760 covers the cost of an ileostomy closure, a procedure that will close the hole in Henry’s intestine. In addition to support from generous Watsi donors, PhilHealth is subsidizing Henry’s treatment with a $110 donation. “If his ileostomy were closed, Henry would be able to be free from the suffering it brings him and would also be able to do his usual activities as being the father and breadwinner of his family,” continues ICM. “I thank God for everything, especially those who are willing to help,” shares Henry. “My family is very much thankful and hoping that I can be operated sooner.”

Meet Eduardo, an adorable one-year-old boy from Guatemala who is dealing with the effects of malnutrition. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), introduces Eduardo: “Eduardo is the youngest of three children. His parents are separated, and his older brother left with his father while his mother kept him and his little brother. Eduardo and his little brother are attached at the hip and often play ball together or go with their mother into the mountains to help her collect wood to sell or burn to cook tortillas.” Because of the lack of access to and general availability of food, Eduardo’s weight and height are far below where they should be for a one-year-old. However, the effects of malnutrition extend far beyond stunted growth. WK reports, “Acute malnutrition can lead to extreme dehydration, a destroyed immune system, and death. The long-term effects can be devastating as well: decreased ability to learn and succeed in school, a weakened immune system, increased the risk of chronic disease, and eventual decreased economic productivity.” Many of these symptoms can cause a destructive domino effect, as well. For example, malnutrition’s capacity to weaken the immune system may allow a patient to become more susceptible to other illnesses. Furthermore, if malnutrition is tied to decreased economic productivity (perhaps because a patient is too sick from their weakened immune system), then this may increase the risk of raising children who are malnourished as well. For $535, however, Eduardo’s body will return to a healthier state and he and his family will be educated to prevent the perpetuation of malnutrition. WK explains, “This treatment will give Eduardo the micronutrient and food supplementation he needs to recoup the height and weight he lost over his first year of life. His mom will participate in education courses that will not only affect his growth but the growth of his brother. We anticipate over time Eduardo’s immune system will improve and we will see great positive changes in his overall health and energy.” With this treatment, not only will Eduardo be able to live a much happier and healthier life, but the future well being of his entire family will also be ensured. “Eduardo's mother has been through a lot...she wants a good future for her child,” shares WK.

Meet Alefa, a 57-year-old woman from Malawi. “Alefa is a housewife with eight children. She depends on farming cassava to earn a living,” shares our medical partner, World Altering Medicine (WAM). Alefa was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor. WAM tell us the tumor causes her to experience severe headaches and poor sight. Because of her condition, Alefa requires constant support. $1,500 will fund a resection of the brain, removing the tumor so that normal brain tissue can continue to grow. The funding Alefa receives will also ensure that she receives post-surgical monitoring in the ICU along with medications and further brain imaging. “Alefa says she will be very grateful if she finds well-wishers to support her to have surgery, so that she can get back to normal,” shares WAM.