“I cannot wait to recover, when everything is done I wish to resume my activities and take care of my family,” says Rivelina. Rivelina is a 32-year-old mother who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Rivelina runs a small business with her husband in Haiti, selling cakes, pastries, and drinks. She loves cooking and using computers, and takes care of her one-year-old daughter. Her family relies on the income from her business, but her work has been interrupted by her illness and numerous hospital visits. Rivelina first felt discomfort over a year ago, but was only recently diagnosed with breast cancer. “During this period, Rivelina became unable to take care of her activities, and became weak and sad,” says Project Medishare, our medical partner. $1500 will fund surgery to remove Rivelina’s affected breast, as well as follow-up care. “Treatment will save her life,” says Project Medishare. “I am hopeful,” says Rivelina. “I know that breast cancer is a severe disease, but I know that everything will be fine after I receive treatment.” Let’s help Rivelina get healthy and return to taking care of her family!

Ambi is a 60-year-old mother and grandmother from Nepal where she lives with her family. She helps her son and daughter-in-law by looking after their children while they are away at work. Ambi also takes care of cattle to earn some income, but she earns barely enough to get by. Recently, while working in a cowshed, Ambi injured her toe on a stone. Although she applied local herbs to the small cut, hoping to heal it, her foot became infected. Ambi is unable to walk because of the pain and cannot continue with her daily activities. To get the appropriate treatment, Ambi needs a proper dressing and antibiotic, a $205 treatment. Doctors at our medical partner, Possible, say that with treatment, “Ambi will get rid of the pain and her limb will now be safe. She will be able to walk again and work to support the family.” Let’s raise the funds and support Ambi on her journey back to health!

Jackline is a 16-year-old girl from Kenya. She is the fifth born in a family of eight children, and her parents work hard as small-scale farmers to support their large family. Jackline has Hirschsprung's disease, a rare, congenital disorder, causing blockages in the intestine that prevent normal bowel movements. Hirschsprung's causes Jackline painful abdominal swelling and constipation. Our medical partners at AMHF would like to perform surgery to connect the functioning portion of Jackline’s colon to her rectum. The surgery will eliminate pain, constipation and intestinal blockage, as well as return Jackline's natural confidence and charisma. Jackline says, “this condition has made my life very difficult, and sometimes I am embarrassed when I have to go to the restroom. I wish that I can be operated on soon to help fix this problem. I would appreciate any support for my surgery.” For $1,500, Jackline can receive the medical treatment she needs. Let's help Jackline continue to shine her energetic personality amongst her loving family!

“I will be very happy to have straight feet. I will be able to wear shoes, and walking and running will be easy,” says ten-year-old Neema. Neema is from Tanzania and lives with neglected bilateral clubfeet. This condition severely impairs her gait and requires her to use the lateral aspect of her feet. Our Medical Partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, writes, “If not treated, Neema will develop early osteoarthritis”. Neema lives with her parents and six siblings. In school she likes math and dreams of one day becoming a teacher. Neema likes to skip rope with her friends, but cannot skip as long as the other children, due to her condition. Neema’s parents, who support their large family working as small-scale farmers, are not able to pay for her corrective surgery. For $715, our medical partner in Tanzania will be able to perform serial casting and bilateral posteromedial release on Neema’s feet.

Say hello to Maria, a 23-year-old woman from Guatemala! Maria's doctor at Wuqu' Kawoq, Watsi's medical partner, says, "Maria came to see us last week desperate for help. For several months she's had a rapidly growing tumor in her neck. She and her family scraped together what money they had, and were able to obtain a biopsy and diagnosis of the tumor, which is Ewing's sarcoma, a rare malignant cancer. Treatment for this tumor can be effective, with combined radiation and chemotherapy. However, the family is completely out of money and have no where to turn to." Her doctor describes her by saying, "Maria is a really lovely young woman, who has been brave and composed in the face of this frightening diagnosis. During the consultation she was laughing and smiling. She is prepared to start chemotherapy and to undergo surgery, and she has a supportive and strong family to back her up." For $1500, Maria will receive the chemotherapy needed to shrink her tumor to a size where it can be surgically removed. Let's help Maria get the care she deserves!

Say hello to Maria, a 60-year-old woman from Guatemala. Maria's doctor from Watsi's medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq says, "Maria has had diabetes for decades. This has led to clouding of her lenses and damage to the retina, making vision difficult. This interferes with her work around the house and with economic activities, such as weaving." Maria's doctor adds, "Maria is extremely motivated and her diabetes is extremely well controlled. She should be a breeze for an uncomplicated surgery, and she is very excited to get this out of her way." For $1500, Maria will receive a stabilization of the retinal disease that has resulted from her diabetes, leading to a dramatic improvement in vision with removal of the cataracts. Not only will this improve her independence, but it will also bring about a major change in her quality of life. Let's help Maria see clearly once again!

"Martina is a patient to be proud of," says her doctor at our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq. As a 60-year-old woman living with Diabetes in Guatemala, she has had little resources to control her condition. However, over the past five years, she has worked extremely hard to get her disease under control. One of the most problematic symptoms of Martina's diabetes is the deterioration in her retina and the clouding of her lenses. This severely impacts her vision, making life difficult. Her night vision is particularly poor, and she has trouble with fine work, such as weaving. Luckily, Martina's work to control her diabetes has made her a great candidate for eye surgery. For $1500, she will receive a stabilization of her retinal disease and removal of cataracts, leading to major improvements in both her quality of life and overall independence. Let's help Martina see clearly again!

Meet Jhupa! She is a lovely 60-year-old married woman who lives with her husband, her son, and her daughter. Recently, Jhupa injured her foot after she stepped on a thorn. Her wound became infected and she and her husband had to travel to Bayalpata hospital, leaving their two children at home by themselves. At the hospital, Jhupa's infection was deemed serious enough that her foot needed to be amputated. To complete the procedure, doctors need to perform a skin graft, which can only be performed at Nepalgunj Medical Teaching Hospital. For $1,465, we can fund Jhupa’s skin graft so she can walk again and get back to caring for her children!

Maria is a 20-year-old woman from Malawi. She lives with her family in a small farming village, and was attending high school until a recent incident. Five months ago, Maria noticed a mass in her abdomen. Although not terribly painful, it has been growing steadily and now gets in the way of her daily tasks. Maria has dropped out of classes since the discovery of the mass, and she is worried about her health and her fertility. If the mass is cancerous, surgery could save her life. If it is non-cancerous, it needs to be evaluated and removed. Maria’s family is very poor, and does not have the means to pay for all of the costs associated with treatment. We can make the difference by joining together to donate the $300 for her medical expenses. Maria is anxious to receive treatment and be well again. She wants to return to high school, graduate, and spend more time with her family and friends. Let’s do what we can to help Maria get back to her classes!

Gibson is a two-month-old boy from Kenya and the youngest of four children. Gibson’s mother and father are small-scale farmers raising their family in a single-room house in the coastal region of Kenya. The family does not own land, but they lease small plots of land for others to till. They rely on this money as their sole source of income. Baby Gibson has a condition called hydrocephalus, in which buildup of fluid inside the skull leads to swelling in the brain. This condition results in an enlarged head and increased intra-cranial pressure, which, left untreated, will cause brain damage. Gibson needs a shunt incision surgery, which is expected to prevent Gibson from suffering brain damage. The family is not able to raise the $980 to meet the cost of the surgery, and that’s where we all come in! With this surgery, Gibson's head size will gradually reduce and he can live a normal and healthy life. Gibson’s mother says, “I have traveled this far with hopes that my son can get the treatment that he needs.” For $980, we can give Gibson the opportunity to lead a healthy life without risk of long-term brain damage as a result of this condition.

This little guy is Jairo! He is a one-year-old boy from Guatemala. His parents are subsistence farmers who don't earn much money. Putting food on the table is sometimes a struggle, and Jairo has lost a frightening amount of weight in the past two months. Our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, writes: "Jairo has slipped into the downward spiral, so common in Guatemala, of frequent intestinal infections, complicated by malnutrition, leading to anorexia and poor food intake." Jairo needs our help to fund intensive nutritional therapy and get him back on track. For $525, the treatment will help Jairo regain lost weight, increase his energy, and help him resume normal development!

Padam Raj is a 36-year-old social worker from Nepal who is passionate about education. He teaches in a local temple and hopes to give his children the best education he possibly can. Padam has been living with a painful hemorrhoid for over a month, which could become worse and lead to serious complications if left untreated. For $965, we can give Padam the surgery he needs to get well. With your help, Padam can continue his teaching and social work, and provide the education he has dreamed of for his four children!