Ma Hnin is a 31-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her son and husband in War Ka Yauk Village, Mae Sot District, Tak Province. Her son is a student who studies at a migrant school. Ma Hnin was diagnosed with a heart condition that involves a malformation of the mitral valve, the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle. This valve controls the flow of blood, but certain conditions may cause blood to flow backward or the valve to narrow. Currently, Ma Hnin has bad back pain, feels fatigued, experiences heart palpitations, and has difficulty breathing. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement for Ma Hnin. The treatment is scheduled to take place on December 4 and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. “If I feel better after surgery, I want to open a small shop and I want to sell snacks to increase my family’s income,” says Ma Hnin.

Christina is a young child from Tanzania. She is the youngest in a family of three children. Unfortunately, Christina's father passed way. This left Christina's mother with three children to support without a job. She started a small business of cooking food in local hotel to support her children. Christina was diagnosed with genu varus. Her legs are bent outwards at the knees. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, she experiences discomfort after walking for a short distance. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $940 to fund corrective surgery for Christina. The procedure is scheduled to take place on October 10. Treatment will hopefully restore Christina's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Christian’s mother says, “ Please help my daughter. My financial state is not good; I am unable to afford the surgery cost.”

Janet is a young student from Tanzania. She is the youngest in a family of three children. Her best subjects are biology, history, and physics. She wishes to be a lawyer when she completes her studies. For five years, Janet has been experiencing difficulty breathing, especially when sleeping. Frequent illness has affected her studies. She was recently diagnosed with enlarged adenoids, which are the soft tissue behind the nasal cavity. Without treatment, this condition will cause Janet's symptoms to persist and possibly even intensify. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $609 to fund an adenoidectomy for Janet, which is scheduled to take place on September 25. Surgeons will remove her adenoids, hopefully relieving Janet of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably. Janet’s mother says, “Her condition has affected her studies due to less sleep caused by the breathing problem. Please help her.”

Samith is a rice farmer from Cambodia. She has a daughter and three sons. She likes to spend time at home and watch TV. Thirty years ago, Samith had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Samith experiences pain, tinnitus, ear discharge, and hearing loss. It is difficult for her to hear and communicate. Samith traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On September 5, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $842 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. She says, "I hope I have no more ear pain and discharge after the surgery and I can hear well. I hope I can return to work soon."

Esther is a single mother of two from Kenya. She is under the care of her mother because she has epilepsy. Esther has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $816 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Esther. The procedure is scheduled to take place on August 8. After treatment, Esther will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Esther says, “My hope is to be treated and help my mother raise my children."

Samuel is a child from Tanzania. He is the ninth born in a family of ten children. Samuel’s father is a farmer who says the change in climate has made farming harder and more unreliable. Samuel was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus. His legs are bowed outward at the knees. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. As a result, he complains of pain after walking for a while. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $940 to fund corrective surgery for Samuel. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 6. Treatment will hopefully restore Samuel's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. Samuel’s father says, “I didn’t know my son needed treatment for his condition. Thank you for enlightenment and I am really thankful for your help."

Kennedy is a casual laborer from Kenya. He sells hats along the streets to make ends meet. Kennedy has a closed femur fracture. He is not able to walk or move and is in a lot of pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On June 5, Kennedy will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will enable Kennedy to heal and walk again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,451 to fund this procedure. Kennedy says, “I would like to be treated and resume my duties to secure my future."

Hilda is a baby from Tanzania. She is the first-born child in her small growing family. Hilda’s father works in a garage, and her mother is a stay-at-home mother. Since she was three months old, Hilda has been experiencing trouble breathing and has had frequent sleep apnea. Frequent illness has caused her parents to spend a lot of their time and money in hospitals. She was recently diagnosed with enlarged adenoids, which are the soft tissue behind the nasal cavity. Without treatment, this condition will cause Hilda's symptoms to persist and possibly even intensify. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $609 to fund an adenoidectomy for Hilda, which is scheduled to take place on May 3. Surgeons will remove her adenoids, hopefully relieving Hilda of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably. Hilda’s mother says, “Please help my daughter get this treatment so that she is able to eat, breathe, and sleep.”

Jameson is a young student from Haiti. He lives with his mother, father, and siblings in the mountains of central Haiti. He previously attended elementary school but has not gone this year due to his heart illness. Jameson has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This involves several related conditions including a hole between the two lower chambers of his heart, and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These defects prevent his body from getting enough oxygen, leaving him weak and short of breath. Jameson will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On April 12, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will close the hole in his heart with a patch, and remove the muscular blockage.. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $22,000 to pay for surgery. Jameson's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Jameson's family overseas. His father says, "Our family thinks it is a miracle that Jameson will have a chance for this surgery!"

Patrick is a child from Tanzania. He is two years old and the fourth in a family of five children. Patrick parents are farmers. Patrick has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. Without treatment, Patrick will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,238 to cover the cost of surgery for Patrick that will treat his hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 5 and will drain the excess fluid from Patrick's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Patrick will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Patrick’s aunt says, “Please help my nephew get better."

Aye is a nine-year-old primary school student from Thailand. She lives with her parents and five siblings. Last year, a teacher noticed that Aye was unable to read at long distances. Aye's mother and her teacher took her to our medical partner's care center, Mae Tao Clinic (MTC), and she was referred to Mae Sot Hospital (MSH) for further investigation. At MSH, Aye was told that she has cataracts and she needs surgery as soon as possible. Currently, Aye's eye is blurry and itchy. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund lens replacement surgery for Aye. On October 25, doctors will perform a lens replacement, during which they will remove Aye's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure.

Talusha is a student from Haiti. She lives with her parents, brothers, and sisters in a small coastal town in northern Haiti. She is in fourth grade and enjoys going to school, especially studying math and science. Talusha has a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving her sickly and weak. Talusha will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. She will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will use a catheter to close the hole in her heart with a device. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $12,000 to pay for surgery. Talusha's family also needs help to fund the costs of travel, scheduled for November 3. The $1,343 bill covers her flight to the hospital. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, will also provide support to the family as they travel overseas. We are also fundraising for her [surgical prep costs](https://watsi.org/profile/abb173404d69-talusha). She says, "I am excited to get on a plane for the first time and see another country!"