Two-year-old Sylvester lives with his parents in their single-room home in Tanzania. Because of the limited space, the room serves multiple purposes for the family. One day, as his mother was preparing food, Sylvester moved closer to the pot and inserted his arm into the boiling water. “I quickly grabbed him and rushed him to the nearby dispensary clinic and then the district hospital," Sylvester's mother shares. "When the wound recovered, he couldn't extend his fingers." As the skin on Sylvester’s hand healed from the burn injury, the scar thickened and tightened, forming a contracture that limits movement of his hand and fingers. The family decided to visit our medical partner, Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT). "One neighbor who once was treated at CCBRT advised us to come to CCBRT's Disability Hospital," Sylvester's mother continues. "Sylvester was examined, but we couldn't afford for him to be treated. I am a homemaker, and my husband is a laborer.” Sylvester is scheduled to undergo surgery to release the contractures on his hand on March 6. His family needs help raising $1,036 to pay for his operation, one month of hospital care, food, medicine, medical supplies, and dressing changes. With treatment at CCBRT, Sylvester has the opportunity to succeed at school, feed himself, and have a full and productive life. “I will be glad to see Sylvester’s fingers corrected so he can hold a pen properly, among other things he loves to do with his hands," says his mother. "I thank God for everything. He has heard my cry.’’

Sopheaktra is a six-year-old girl from Cambodia who is currently a student in the first grade. She has two sisters and two brothers. In her free time, Sopheaktra likes to play around her home and spend time with her grandmother. On June 16, 2016, Sopheaktra sustained a gasoline burn, which resulted in severe burns to her face, both arms, and both legs. She initially went to a hospital in Phnom Penh for three months of treatment, but her wounds did not fully heal. Sopheaktra first came to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), on September 19, 2016. Surgeons successfully performed a skin graft procedure on her legs and arms. She has returned to CSC to continue her burn treatments. On March 17, surgeons will perform a face lift and a burn contracture release procedure on both knees. These procedures will help Sopheaktra feel more comfortable and walk more easily. CSC is requesting $378 for Sopheaktra's treatment.

Christelle is a 14-month-old girl living in Haiti with her mother and two older brothers. She likes to dance and play. She loves cold drinks, and her favorite drink is milk. Christelle was born with a cleft lip, which is an opening in the upper lip. This disorder can result in feeding, speech, or hearing problems. Currently, Christelle experiences difficulty breathing. Christelle's mother worries that she will face stigma while growing up. Christelle's doctors have recommended surgical intervention to repair her cleft lip. A surgeon will connect the muscles of the soft palate and rearrange the tissues to close the cleft. The total cost of the procedure, including medications, imaging, and two days of inpatient care, is $930. Christelle will have her surgery on March 4. After the surgery, Christelle will be able to go to school and play with her friends without any worries. She will be able to breath more easily, and her quality of life will improve.

Meet Htoo, an 11-month-old baby boy from a village in Burma. He lives with his parents, sister, and his grandmother on a small piece of land that his grandmother owns. When Htoo was four days old, he developed a high fever and stroke-like symptoms. His mother took him to their local hospital, where Htoo was admitted and given intravenous medication over eight days before he was discharged. At four months of age, Htoo's mother noticed that his head was growing abnormally on the left side. She took Htoo back to the hospital and was given prescriptions for specialized medication. However, Htoo's head continued to swell. Htoo's mother took him to a private clinic to seek help. Doctors at the clinic referred Htoo to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). Htoo's mother traveled with her son for five days to reach our medical partner's care center, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, in Thailand. Once there, Htoo had a [CT scan](https://watsi.org/profile/37dbedd6b2b6-htoo) funded by Watsi and was diagnosed with congenital hydrocephalus. This is a medical condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up in the brain cavities. Htoo will undergo brain surgery on March 4. Surgeons will perform a ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion to remove the excess CSF and relieve pressure on the brain. BCMF is asking for $1,500 in donations to cover the costs of Htoo's surgery, hospital stay, and medication. This has been a difficult time for Htoo's family, but they look forward to Htoo recovering from his surgery. Htoo's mother says, "I hope he will be like a normal boy."

Lemjini is a curious young boy from a pastoralist community in Tanzania. At only six years of age, he is the eldest of his two siblings. Lemjini is currently unable to attend school or assist his family with raising livestock due to an orthopedic condition. Lemjini has a condition known as genu valgus, or knock knees. This condition causes Lemjini's knees to angle inward while his lower legs angle outward. He was diagnosed at our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC). Walking has become difficult and painful for Lemjini. If left untreated, his condition will continue to worsen. Doctors at ALMC have recommended corrective surgery to repair his legs and allow for normal growth and development. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $940 for his procedure on February 22. Lemjini says, “I pray for my legs to be straight, and to be able to walk like the rest my family.”

Ma Kyi is a 15-year-old girl from Burma. She and her parents have lived in Hpa-an their whole lives. They own their own farm, where they grow rice and beans to sell. When Ma Kyi was born, she had a mass between her eyes. Her parents did not seek treatment for the mass, as it did not cause her any health problems. They also could not afford treatment. This condition has significantly impacted Ma Kyi's life. She stopped attending school five years ago because she feels self-conscious about her appearance. Since then, she has been helping her parents around the house. Recently, a friend of her mother referred the family to our medical partner's care center, Mae Tao Clinic (MTC). She told them that MTC would be able to provide treatment for Ma Kyi. Soon after arriving at the clinic, Ma Kyi began to work with our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. Ma Kyi's condition is formally known as frontoethmoidal encephalomeningocele, or FEEM. Brain fluid and tissue are protruding through her skull. She will be receiving surgery to correct the FEEM on February 5. Now, her family needs help to raise $1,500 to fund this surgery. After recovery, May Kyi plans to return to school.

Htoo is a ten-year-old boy from Burma. He lives in a village with his parents and his three siblings. Htoo attends school and is in the third grade. In November of 2016, Htoo received treatment for abnormal swelling in his lymph nodes. At this time, he underwent a [CT scan](https://watsi.org/profile/32ad5bbaafb4-htoo) funded by Watsi. The scan was used to investigate swelling in his lymph nodes, an organ that is part of the lymphatic system and is essential to a properly-functioning immune system. Physicians diagnosed him with lymphadenopathy, a disease of the lymph nodes. They have scheduled surgery to remove the mass identified in the CT scan on January 30. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Htoo's surgery. After his surgery, the mass will be sent to a laboratory for biopsy testing to determine if it is benign or cancerous. Htoo's mother says, "I am excited. I'm happy my son is getting surgery now because I would have never been able to afford it myself, and I wouldn't know where else to look for the right treatment. I hope he will be more healthy after surgery. I love him so much. I have decided to support him in whatever he wants to be in the future."