Neiyeyo is a five-year-old girl from Tanzania who “used to be very active and liked to compete with other children,” says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). However, after an accident that left her with burns in her groin area, Neiyeyo has lost some of her mobility. “One day, Neiyeyo was fighting over a ball with a friend,” says AMHF. “Each one wanted to have the ball so they were pulling each other.” As a result, Neiyeyo was mistakenly pushed over and fell onto a pot of hot porridge, splashing the contents over her groin area and lower abdomen. Neiyeyo is a previous Watsi patient who underwent surgery in October 2015 to treat the burns sustained in her accident. “After her first surgery Neiyeyo is showing great improvement, but when she came for follow-up the doctors saw there is more that can be done to make Neiyeyo walk even better and have greater flexibility of her lower limbs,” reports AMHF. Neiyeyo still has burn contractures—or areas where the skin tightens after a serious burn—around her groin area. She requires contracture release surgery, a $550 procedure that will increase the amount of tissue over the scarred area and thereby increase Neiyeyo’s range of motion. “Her parents, who are livestock keepers and small scale farmers, have done the best to help their daughter and now they cannot raise enough cash to cover the cost of operation which Neiyeyo needs,” says AMHF. “My daughter has shown great improvement and I will be happier if her lower limbs can be more flexible,” says Neiyeyo’s mother. Let’s help fund Neiyeyo’s final surgery!

“My son is not growing that well...not as well as the other kids we know that are his age,” shares Santos’ mother. Meet Santos, an 11-month-old infant from Guatemala. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), tells us, “Santos is the younger of two children. His father is a construction worker and his mother works in the house weaving textiles to sell. Santos loves to play with his sister, Shantal. She likes to teach him how to draw and paint.” Santos has acute malnutrition. “Santos is below the average height and the average weight for his age,” WK reports, ”His immune system will weaken, and he will be at increased risk for chronic diseases later in life. He will have limited energy. If his health continues to fall, his family will face an impossible financial burden to get him appropriate medical care.” As a result of food insecurity and marginalization, indigenous Guatemalan villages have the highest rates of stunting in the world. In addition to growth stunting, malnutrition can lead to lower IQ, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. $512 will fund the treatment Santos’ needs to address his nutritional deficit and improve his low energy and subsequent limited mental potential. This involves micronutrient and food supplementation, deworming medication to rid Miguel of a parasitic infection, and nutrition education for his parents. With these combined efforts, Santos will recoup his weight and height and strengthen his immune system, laying the foundation for a healthier future.

“Thol is married with four sons, three daughters, and eight grandchildren,” says our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). “She works as a rice farmer. In her free time, she does housework and plants mint plants around her home.” “One year ago, Thol developed a pterygium in her left eye, and she has a cataract in each eye,” says CSC. A pterygium is a non-cancerous growth of the conjunctiva that appears as a pink or white, fleshy, elevated mass on the eye. Cataracts are a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which lies behind the pupil. CSC explains: “the pterygium and cataracts cause blurred vision, burning, irritation, and tearing.” For $150, Thol will first receive surgery to remove the pterygium in her left eye. This amount will also cover pre-surgery consultations, as well as Thol's post-operative recovery needs. She will then return to CSC after two weeks for cataract removal surgery. After both operations, Thol will have painless and clear vision. "I hope I will be able to see everything better than now, and not experience burning, irritation and tearing any more,” shares Thol. “I want to continue my work at the farm, and be able to easily go outside too.”