Wayen is an 8-month-old baby from Haiti. He lives with his mother, grandmother, and two older siblings in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. His mother works as a market vendor. Wayen has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus, which means that a hole exists between two major blood vessels near his heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving him weak and short of breath. The surgery he needs is not available in Haiti, so Wayen will travel to Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On September 13th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will insert a catheter into the hole and expand a device to plug it, so that blood can no longer leak through it. Gift of Life International is contributing $3,000 towards the cost of the surgery, and Wayen's family needs help with the remaining $1,500 to cover the cost of labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. This money will also support passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner International Cardiac Alliance who will accompany Wayen's family overseas. Wayen's mother shared, "I will be praying for everyone who is helping my son to become healthy."

Victor is a sweet and quiet three-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the secondborn in a family of three children. Victor's mother was recently diagnosed with arthritis and can no longer keep her previous job doing laundry for people. She is currently looking for another job. Victor's father makes and sells mandazi, a form of fried bread, by the roadside to help support their family. When Victor was two weeks old, his mother noticed that both testes were undescended. She took him to the hospital, where he was examined and diagnosed with bilateral undescended testes. He was referred to another facility in Nairobi for treatment. On arrival, he was examined and booked for a clinic. Victor attended clinics for a few weeks. Fortunately, all worked out well for him. In one of the clinic reviews, the testes were found to have descended, and his parents stopped going to the clinics.  However, when he was two years old, his mother noticed that one testis was not detectable. After seeking medical attention, Victor was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Victor has an increased risk of developing testicular cancer and fertility problems in the future. Due to his condition, he is also at risk for hernias. At his appointment, it was found that he has already developed a right inguinal hernia. Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo surgery to rectify both of the conditions. Victor will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). He is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on July 25th. AMHF is requesting $646 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Victor’s mother says, “I feel bad that I cannot raise the required amount of money to cater for my son’s treatment.”

Beatrice is a student in the fourth grade but has been unable to continue with her studies since she her injury on her right hand. She lives with her parents and four siblings in a one room rental house. Her parents are part-time workers with an inconsistent income and cannot afford her surgery. They are relying on well-wishers to pay her medical bills. Beatrice sustained a burn on her right hand in early June. She accidentally slipped on boiling water as she was getting out of the bed and sustained serious burns on her right arm. She was admitted to Kiambu Level Five Hospital and stayed there for almost three months where a debridement and a skin graft was done but failed. Her mother shares that the wound has been discharging pus. She was reviewed at our medical partner Kijabe Hospital and doctors agreed that she needs several debridement and skin grafting sessions to save the hand from amputation. She is in pain and unable to use her hand and has not been going to school since she had the accident. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Beatrice receive treatment. On October 11th, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to aid in the healing of the wound and help her use the hand again. Now, Beatrice needs help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Beatrice's mother says, “My baby has not been attending school since the accident. Her hand has a foul smell, and it might be cut if not treated.”

Bernard is a 6-month-old baby and the youngest in his family of four. His mother is a homemaker, while his father works as a businessman selling fruits at a local market in Nairobi. The family shared that they live in a two-room rental house and rely on Bernard’s father’s income for their needs. About two months ago, Bernard began experiencing an inguinal hernia. Without treatment, there is a risk that the hernia can swell or block blood flow to the intestine. Fortunately, on November 24th, Bernard will undergo repair surgery at our medical partner’s care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMH), is requesting $585 to fund Bernard’s surgery. Once completed, this procedure will allow him to live more comfortably. Benard’s father shared, “My son looks jovial and happy, but I am afraid this condition will affect his growth and future.”

Nathan is a seven-year-old 2nd grade student. His favorite subjects are math and science. He has two older brothers and his father is a vegetable farmer. Nathan likes to drink coconuts and play football with his friends. He wants to a policeman when he grows up. Nathan hasn't been feeling well for five days after he put tamarind seeds in his ear. Nathan's father took him to the pharmacy but they could not help. He's now in pain and it is hard for him to sleep. Nathan's family traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On October 29th, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), will remove the foreign body. Now, Nathan's family needs help to raise $231 to fund this procedure. Nathan's father said, "I hope doctors can remove the seeds and Nathan can get better and return to school."

Joven is a 14-month-old boy from Haiti who is very loved by his family. Joven has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Joven has been experiencing growth in his head and without treatment, Joven will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $897 to cover the cost of surgery for Joven at Hospital Bernard Mevs that will treat his hydrocephalus. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available and the procedure is scheduled to take place on November 19th. This critical treatment will drain the excess fluid from Joven's brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Joven will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Joven's mom states, "I have been so worried ever since I learned of his diagnosis. The first time I began to have hope was when I heard WATSI may be able to help Joven have surgery."

Johnson is an 8-month baby boy from Tanzania. Johnson, the last born child in a family of four, and already is a very active and friendly little boy. Johnson's parents are both subsistence farmers. Johnson was born in a local hospital where his parents were informed that his spine was not fully formed, thus resulting in a condition known as spinal bifida. Because Johnson's condition was not severe, they were informed that he wouldn’t need treatment and that it would close on its own. As their family continued to attend clinics they were told to wait till Johnson gets to five months old for him to have any kind of treatment. At five months they took him to hospital for the treatment but the cost was too high for them to afford and they had to return home. As time went by, Johnson's mother saw that his condition could end up complicated if he didn’t get treatment soon and end up greatly affecting Johnson later in life. She decided to seek treatment. She went to Mt Meru and was referred to Watsi's Medical Partner Care Center ALMC for more help.  Johnson was born with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Johnson is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,015 to cover the cost of Johnson's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on September 7th. This procedure will hopefully spare Johnson from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. Johnson’s mother says, “We are concerned if our son does not get his spine corrected, it might affect his ability to walk. Please help my son.”

Phayuok is a 10-year-old student from Cambodia. He lives with his parents and younger sister. His parents are construction workers. Phayouk is in grade three of elementary school and wants to be a policeman when he grows up. For now, he enjoys reading books to his sister and playing soccer. Eight years ago, Phayouk suffered burns on both of his hands. Since then his fingers have been contracted, and he has always found it difficult to pick things up or use everyday tools such as a spoon or a pencil. When Phayuok's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On July 8th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to to release the contracture of his fingers and help him use his hands well again. Now, he needs help to fund this $477 procedure. His mother said, "I hope after this surgery he can have a normal life using his hands, pick things up easily, and write well at school."