Hamza is a 4-year-old boy from Ethiopia and the sixth child of his parents. He loves to play football. He joined school but had to stop going as a result of his condition. Hamza's father died a year and a half ago and his mom runs a small business selling charcoal in their village. His three older siblings do small business as shoe shiners and daily workers. Hamza's mom shared that most of the time, their family eats twice a day because their income can't afford three meals a day. Hamza has been diagnosed with an abdominal mass called Neurofibomatosis. This causes swelling and a change of the shape of the abdomen. It also causes abdominal discomfort, pain, and bloating. Doctors have done a CT scan and identified a mass is on the wall of his abdomen that needs to be removed. His mother shared: “Hamza wants to learn and I want him also to go to school. I hope after the treatment he'll be as healthy as others and go to school.”

Kato is a student from Uganda. He is the first of three children in his family. For four months, Kato has had a hydrocele, which is a swelling in a sensitive area. This hydrocele causes him swelling and discomfort. Fortunately, on January 22, he will undergo hydrocele repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $185 to fund Kato's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. His mother says, “After surgery my son will have peace and resume with education.”

Logan is a child from Kenya. The only child to his parents, Logan lives with his family in the Nairobi suburbs. His mother is a full-time mom while his father does casual construction jobs to sustain the family. For some time now, Logan has had a right hydrocele. This swelling causes him pain and discomfort. Fortunately, on January 25, he will undergo repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $423 to fund Logan's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. “I am praying every day and hoping that my son will recover soon. I am kindly requesting for assistance,” says Logan’s mother.

Emmanuel is a baby from Kenya. He is the youngest of two children. The family hails from Kayole, Nairobi, Kenya. His mother is a single parent and works as a vendor. Emmanuel has a rare condition called an amniotic band that requires surgery. He is unable to walk, and his mother that his condition will worsen as he grows. Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on January 27. The procedure will cost $1,165. His mother says, “I will appreciate any kind of support I receive. And God bless you for creating time to listen to me.”

Bettcherly is a student from Haiti. He lives with his mother and two brothers in a small city in southwestern Haiti. He likes attending school and listening to soccer on the radio. Bettcherly has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral and aortic regurgitation. Two of the four valves in his heart are severely damaged due to an infection suffered earlier in childhood. As a result, his heart cannot adequately pump blood through his body. Bettcherly will fly to India to receive treatment. On February 26, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will remove his two damaged valves and implant artificial replacements. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $5,000 to pay for surgery. Bettcherly'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 Bettcherly's family overseas. His mother says, "Our family is very grateful to everyone who is helping our son to be able to have this surgery."

Whenatheling is a baby from Haiti. She lives with her parents and older brother in a small city on the north coast of Haiti. Her father works for the local government, and her mother stays at home to care for her. Whenatheling has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This condition involves several related defects, including a hole between two chambers of the heart, and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. Whenatheling will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On February 1, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will close the hole in her heart with a patch, and remove the muscular blockage near the valve. Another organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is contributing $24,000 to pay for surgery. Whenatheling'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 Whenatheling's family overseas. Her mother says, "We would like to thank everyone who is helping God to answer our prayers."

Joy is a baby from Kenya. Joy lives with her mother and maternal grandparents, who are farmers. Joy has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of her condition, Joy has been experiencing an increasing head size. Without treatment, Joy will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $685 to cover the cost of surgery for Joy that will treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 17 and will drain the excess fluid from Joy's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Joy will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. Joy’s mother says, “I wish to see my child grow up like a normal child. It is my prayer."

Peter is a recently married 29-year-old man. He lives in a one-roomed house in central Kenya. He works on construction sites, and his wife works at a tea factory. Recently, Peter broke his hip bone in a motorcycle accident. He was in constant pain and was unable to move his leg. Without treatment, he was at risk of permanent disability. On November 10, Peter underwent an acetabular fracture repair. He needs help to fund this $1,042 procedure. “I want to be well and provide for my family," says Peter.

Seth is a four-year-old boy. He loves to play with toys with his four siblings. He lives with his siblings and parents in a cement house. Their house was provided to them by the government. Seth's father is a vendor. Seth has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. He began $184 malnutrition treatment on October 19. Seth is being 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 acutely 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. Seth's mother hopes that he will be healthy, active, and strong. She also hopes that he will finish school and be successful.

Denjie is a ten-month-old boy from the Philippines. He lives with his parents and six siblings. Denjie's father is a farmer, but he does not earn enough to support the family. His mother takes care of the family. Without nutritious meals, Denjie is living with moderately acute malnutrition. Denjie began $184 malnutrition treatment on October 19. Denjie is being 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 acutely 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. "I hope my son, Denjie, recovers fast from malnutrition and grows up with strong faith in the Lord," says Denjie's mother. She also hopes that he "finishes his studies and has a good job."

“We just pray that our daughter will be able to walk so that she can be independent, go to school and pursue her future career. Lord willing later on she will be helpful to us and the society at large,” Karen’s mother says. Meet Karen, a happy and friendly one-year-old baby girl from Tanzania. Karen is very energetic and likes to crawl. She also enjoys listening to music, clapping her hands and swinging her body sideways in delight. But Karen also has bilateral clubfoot, a condition that causes her to use the lateral aspect of her feet when walking. This is painful and ultimately ineffective -- without treatment she'll never walk or run normally, which will affect her ability to attend school. “If not treated, Karen’s gait will be affected and she will most likely develop early osteoarthritis of the feet,” Karen’s doctors at AMHF warn. Karen’s mother sells fruits at a kiosk close near the family's home, and her father is a self-employed constructor. "Karen’s parents both work very hard to earn enough to care for their two children, but they still find the cost of treating Karen’s condition too high for them to afford,” shares our medical partner African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Together we can ensure Karen receives access to the medical care she needs. $1,160 will cover the entire cost of treatment, including x-rays, braces, and surgery. Once treated AMHF says, “Karen will be able to walk on plantigrade; as she continues to grow she will be able to walk to school and pursue her future career.”

Meet 12-year-old Dieulephete from Haiti. He's in the fifth grade and has many friends in the neighborhood he lives in with his mother, grandmother, and two brothers. "His favorite activities are to watch soccer matches on TV, and draw sketches of cars and buildings," the Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA) tells us. "Dieulephete was born with a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus, in which a hole between the aorta and the pulmonary artery which normally closes naturally when a child is born, instead remains open," HCA writes. "Blood flows through this hole, preventing normal circulation through the body. As a result, Dieulephete is frequently short of breath and out of energy." Health City Cayman Islands has stepped up to help with Dieulephete's surgery, providing $5,000 to close the hole in his heart. But he still needs $1,500 for surgery prep and overseas transport. "Following closure of the hole, Dieulephete should be able to lead a normal life with no cardiac symptoms," HCA says. "We were told not long after Dieulephete was born that he had this problem, but we didn't know what we could do about it," says Dieulephete's mother. "We're very happy to have a chance to fix the hole in his heart!" All that's left to do is fund the remaining $1500 of Dieulephete's treatment so he can continue his life full of energy- which includes prep and overseas transport. Let's do this!