Cynthia is a quiet four-year-old girl from Kenya. In September 2016, Cynthia was playing with her younger sister when she fell in hot water and burned her leg and stomach. She spent about six months in the hospital being dressed and getting skin grafting, but that was not enough. After that, her family approached our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Doctors recommended a skin graft and debridement, or the removal of damaged tissue. AMHF requests $1,129 to help Cynthia and her family cover various aspects of her treatment, such as the surgery, medical supplies, medication, and 14 nights at the hospital. Treatment will cost $1,129. “I pray my child will be well and have peace of mind," says Cynthia’s mother.

Presley is a 13-month-old baby boy from Haiti. He lives with his mother, father, and older sister. His father is a mechanic and his mother works in a preschool. Presley has recently learned to walk and likes running and playing. Presley was born with pulmonic stenosis, a cardiac condition in which one of the heart's four valves is too small. As a result, his heart has to work much harder to circulate the blood, leading to heart failure and leaving Presley sick and weak. Seeking treatment, Presley visited our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance. Although the majority of his heart surgery is being subsidized by the organization, Have a Heart Cayman, Presley is still in need of $1,500 to cover medications, exams, and heart surgery prep. Presley is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on June 16, and his mother says how she is "very hopeful that after the surgery Presley will be completely healthy and normal!"

Jhine is a seven-month-old baby girl, who lives in the Philippines with her family. She is a happy child who loves to play with anyone around her. Jhine was recently diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition, a condition that results from consuming too few calories, proteins, and nutrients. Due to her condition, Jhine has a weakened immune system, which increases her likelihood of becoming sick. Beginning on June 28, Jhine will receive at-home malnutrition treatment through our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM). ICM will provide Jhine with nutrient enriched food packs to help her gain weight and achieve optimal physical and mental development. The program will also teach her family about proper nutrition, sanitation, and organic gardening to better care for their daughter. ICM is requesting $261 to cover the cost of Jhine's ongoing care. "We hope that Jhine can recover from her malnutrition and become strong and healthy," her mother says.

Say is a 14-year-old girl who lives in Burma with with her two parents, three sisters, and brother. All of Say's siblings go to school, and Say herself is in grade six. During the rainy season, her parents grow rice on their farm. In the dry season, Say’s parents work as day laborers and save for their children's school fees. Say was born with a sac of tissue extending through a defect in her skull, a condition known as an encephalocele. She does not experience pain or other symptoms, but she has an abnormal growth on her face between her eyebrows. After being examined by a medic, she was referred to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). Say will undergo a CT scan on April 8. This scan will give her doctors information about her condition and allow them to form a treatment plan. Her family needs help to pay for this $693 procedure. Say says, “I would love to finish school and become a teacher.”

11-year-old Nong Ning is a fifth grader from Cambodia. She has two sisters and one brother. Nong Ning likes to read books, draw pictures, and watch TV in her free time. About a year ago, Nong Ning developed an ear infection of her right ear. She developed a cholesteatoma, an abnormal skin growth in the middle of her ear behind the eardrum. Nong Ning experiences hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ear), and ear discharge. It is difficult for her to hear at school, and she is often absent from class due to the ear discharge. Her parents were introduced to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), from their relative. Nong Ning traveled for three hours with her mother to reach CSC for treatment. Our medical partner requests $842 to help fund the procedure and its associated costs. On May 10, ENT surgeons at CSC will perform a mastoidectomy and remove the cholesteatoma from Nong Ning's right ear. Over time, Nong Ning's hearing can improve, and she can return to school without the difficulties presented by her ear infection.

Ida is a 45-year-old woman who lives with her husband and five children in Malawi. She helps her husband and children tend to the family farm and does the cooking and washing. When not taking care of her home and family, Ida likes to go to church and sing with the choir. For the past three years, Ida has been dealing with an epigastric hernia, which means that part of her intestine has protruded through the upper part of her abdomen. Ida experiences constant pain in her chest, and the discomfort makes it hard for her to work. Ida is currently scheduled to undergo surgery on March 3. This procedure will repair the hernia and allow her to live a full and healthy life. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $334 to cover the expenses of the operation. Expected to make a full recovery, Ida is looking forward to going back to work on the farm to support her family.

Jemar is a 13-month-old baby who loves to dance and play with his mother. He is the firstborn child of his parents, and he lives with his parents and his grandparents in a house in the Philippines. Jemar has been diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. Malnutrition threatens his growth and development and could even be fatal if not addressed. Fortunately, he will begin $268 malnutrition treatment on February 22. Jemar will be treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under five in ICM communities is either severely or moderately malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s home-based feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM’s professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. Jemar's mother hopes that he will finish school and become a policeman.

Danis is an 18-year-old boy. He is the third-born of eight children. His family members are traditional pastoralists who look after animals with a small area of crops. Danis was born with a mild right clubfoot, or twisted foot, and his family was unable to seek treatment for the condition. Recently, a missionary told them that it is possible for Danis to walk without pain and that his foot can be fixed to a normal position. The family traveled to our medical partner's care center. Danis will undergo foot surgery on February 3. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,160 to fund this treatment. After his treatment, Danis would like to join his brothers in looking after the livestock. Danis says, "I'd like my feet to be straight so that I can wear shoes and walk properly."

Dennis is a 24-year-old father living in Kenya. On New Year's Day, he was involved in a motorcycle accident that left him with a fractured jaw and wrist. Dennis was unable to receive treatment from the government hospital due to a strike by the government doctors. Fortunately, he was referred to our medical partner's hospital, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where he will receive treatment on January 6. The fracture repair surgery will cost $640. With daily expenses and school fees mounting, Dennis looks forward to receiving treatment and returning to assist his wife and parents with their work as farmers. “I hope to be treated and continue providing for my family. The pain is too much," he says.

Sok Lao is a 42-year-old man with one son and one daughter. In his free time, he likes to listen to music, watch the Khmer channel on TV, and read newspapers. On December 28, Sok Lao fell from his house and fractured his left hip. He went to a hospital in Phnom Penh for treatment, but his symptoms did not improve. It became difficult for Sok Lao to walk, and he was experiencing pain in his left hip. Sok Lao traveled for three hours to seek treatment at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). On January 3, surgeons at CSC performed a total hip replacement surgery on Sok Lao's left side. After recovery, he should be able to walk easily again. CSC is requesting $781 to fund this procedure.

Jonas is a 14-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the youngest of seven siblings. He lives with his mother, who supports the family by farming and selling firewood. The family lives near our medical partner's care center, The Plaster House. Jonas has experienced difficulty breathing since he was young. He falls ill often. His mother has sought care from many hospitals, but she has been unable to afford treatment. Fortunately, Jonas will undergo surgery supported by our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, on December 8. Now, his mother needs help to fund this $488 procedure. "I am grateful to finally find a place where my son can be cared for," says Jonas's mother.

Sophorn is a 35-year-old farmer from Cambodia who is married with three sons and two daughters. She likes to cook, look after her children, and watch TV. Sophorn heard about Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) from her brother. She traveled for three hours with her brother to reach CSC for treatment. Sophorn stepped on a landmine when she was 9 years old, injuring her right thigh. After the explosion, she was hospitalized for six weeks. One week ago, she started experiencing swelling, and pain in her thigh. Before coming to CSC, she was treated by a Khmer traditional healer, but her symptoms did not go away. It is difficult for her to walk and she is still in pain. X-rays at CSC show multiple landmine fragments in her leg. For $224, surgeons at CSC will remove the fragments from her thigh to allow her to walk normally again. Sophorn says, "When I am healed, I will go home and continue my work." Sophorn's brother says, "After the operation, I hope my sister can walk normally and without pain."