Cesar is a 50-year-old married father of four who lives in Guatemala's rural highlands. His and his wife's joint sales of small rings provides a source of family income. For years, Cesar worked as an agricultural laborer in the local countryside. Unfortunately, Cesar suffered an accident that resulted in the need for an amputation of his leg at the hip. For many years now, Cesar has struggled to walk, go to work, and complete daily tasks. Our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, is requesting $1,166 to cover the cost of a prosthetic leg for Cesar. The start of Cesar's fitting and molding sessions is scheduled for July 7. Receiving this prosthesis will positively impact Cesar's life, hopefully allowing him to walk more easily, comfortably, and independently. “I hope that by recovering my leg I can do something with my life. With our business we only earn pennies. Hopefully with the new leg I will be able to do something new, something unique,” expresses Cesar.

Ny is a 43-year-old farmer from Cambodia. He and his wife have three sons and a daughter. In his spare time, Ny likes to fish and plant vegetables around his home. In January, Ny sustained an injury to his left hand, damaging his ulnar nerve. The injury continues to cause Ny pain and interfere with his ability to work. With his symptoms unresolved after an initial treatment, Ny traveled with his wife to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). On February 22, surgeons there will perform a nerve and tendon repair procedure to allow him to use his hand again. CSC is requesting $450 to fund this treatment.

Reynatris is a four-year-old girl. She was diagnosed with a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus at birth. A hole in her heart, which normally closes shortly after birth, remained open. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving her sick and weak. Reynatris lives in eastern Dominican Republic with her mother, grandmother, and one younger sister. She loves to play dolls with her sister. Although Reynatris is not Haitian, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is collaborating with their partners in the Dominican Republic to offer treatment to Dominican children. She will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center. First, Reynatris will undergo a full cardiac assessment on February 15. This assessment will include physical exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Haiti Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1,500 to fund these procedures. Funding for Reynatris also covers the cost of medications and social support for her and her family. Gift of Life International is contributing $7,000 to cover additional costs associated with Reynatris's surgical care. Reynatris's mother says, "I never thought it would be possible for Reynatris to have surgery. This is like a dream come true for our family."

Dorica is a 59-year-old woman from Malawi. Dorica lives with her husband, their five children, and six grandchildren who all help to work the family farm. Dorica spends most of her day doing chores, such as cooking and washing. In her spare time, she likes to chat with her friends and go to church. Since the beginning of this year, Dorica has been experiencing pain and heavy bleeding. She went to our medical partner’s care center, Nkhoma Hospital, where she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Dorica needs a hysterectomy, a surgery that will remove all or part of the uterus. Once her surgery is complete, she is expected to be cancer-free and make a full recovery. The surgery is scheduled for February 28, and our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $650 to fund the treatment. "I need this surgery and I give thanks to Watsi for making it possible," says Dorica.

Bertha is a 41-year-old woman from Tanzania. She is the mother of five children. Early this year, a gas explosion left Bertha with burns on her hands, wrists, and upper limbs. Watsi donors have already funded treatment to release her burn contractures––shortened muscles caused by her injuries. These surgeries have been successful, and Bertha can now straighten her hand and perform activities independently. On November 9, Bertha underwent a skin graft procedure to further treat her injuries. One of Bertha's sons was also injured by the gas explosion. He has been undergoing treatment as well. Though Bertha's husband is a farmer, he cannot afford the mounting healthcare costs. The family needs help to fund this $780 procedure. Bertha says she looks forward "to going home to my kids."

"I missed a lot of school last year because my heart made me too sick to go," shares 16-year-old Alex. "I'm excited for my surgery so that I can go back to school every day." Alex lives in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, with his parents, two sisters, and one brother. He is in the ninth grade and would like to go to college in the future. He enjoys listening to soccer games on the radio and spending time with his friends. Alex has a condition called severe rheumatic mitral regurgitation. The mitral valve of his heart became severely damaged by an infection and can no longer pump blood to the rest of his body. As a result, blood backs up into his heart, leading to heart failure. Alex needs open-heart surgery to either repair or replace the valve. Alex will fly to the Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On January 24, he will undergo cardiac surgery. This $12,000 surgery is subsidized by Have a Heart Cayman Islands, an organization that helps subsidize and provide life-saving heart surgeries to children from the Caribbean and around the world. Alex'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 Alex's family overseas.

Ra Morn is a 30-year-old farmer from Cambodia who is married and has two sons. He enjoys taking care of his rice fields, feeding his chickens, and listening to music. On October 20, 2015, Ra Morn was in a motor vehicle accident that resulted in a fracture in his right forearm. Additionally, he developed Volkmann’s contracture, causing a claw-like malformation of his right hand and fingers. Despite undergoing a fracture repair surgery, using his right hand remains difficult. Ra Morn traveled for four hours to seek help from our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). On January 20, he will undergo a tendon transfer procedure to restore function in his hand. CSC is requesting $450 to help this father and husband regain the use of his hand.

Sotra is 13 years old and in the seventh grade. He has two sisters and one brother. He likes to read his school books and listen to music on the radio. On September 15, 2016, Sotra fell and fractured his left elbow. He went to a Khmer traditional healer for treatment, but his symptoms did not improve. It became difficult for him to bend his elbow, and he was in pain. When Sotra's parents learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), the family traveled for four hours to seek treatment. On December 29, surgeons at CSC performed an open reduction internal fixation procedure on Sotra's left elbow to heal his fracture. After recovery, he should be able to use his arm easily again. CSC is requesting $411 to fund this procedure.

Yom is a 73-year-old basket weaver with five sons, two daughters, and six grandchildren. In his free time, he likes to listen to monks pray on the radio and go to the pagoda. Six months ago, Yom developed a cataract in each eye, causing him blurred vision, tearing, cloudy lenses, and extreme sensitivity to light. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, working, and going anywhere outside. When Yom learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On December 5, doctors performed a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, Yom will be able to see clearly again. Now, he needs help to fund this $292 procedure. "I hope my eyes can see everything more clearly," he says, "so that I can do my work easily and can go anywhere outside by myself."

Bunguzu is a 76-year-old farmer from a village in Malawi. He farms various crops, and weaves baskets to sell for additional income. Bunguzu enjoys working on the garden at his house and spending time with his nephew, who accompanied him to the hospital. For the past year, Bunguzu has had symptoms of an enlarged prostate. His condition is benign and easily treated surgically, but he has been unable to access treatment until now. Due to his symptoms he has had difficulty working as much as he would like, causing financial hardship. $726 will cover the costs of the surgery and care Bunguzu needs. The surgery will remove part of his enlarged prostate, easing his symptoms. Bunguzu is looking forward to having the operation so he can be free from pain. Bunguzu says, "My problem [in accessing treatment] was about money. Thank you for paying for the operation. I could not have come before."

Meet Rim, a 57-year-old woman from Cambodia. “Rim is married with three sons and five grandchildren. She enjoys visiting the pagoda and listening to monks pray," shares our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). One year ago, Rim developed mature cataracts in each eye. A cataract occurs when a thin, cloudy layer forms over the eye’s lens. "This causes her blurred vision, discharge, tearing, and fear of bright lights. It is hard for her to see clearly, do work, or go anywhere outside," CSC explains. After learning about CSC, Rim and her younger sister travelled five hours to visit their clinic. They learned that a simple surgical procedure may restore Rim's sight. With $292, Rim will undergo cataract surgery, during which her old lenses will be removed and replaced with sheer artificial implants, allowing her to see again immediately after her operation.

Ivan is a cute baby boy who was born on August 15, 2016 in Tanzania. He is his mother's first child. Ivan’s mother was in a relationship with Ivan’s dad for many months, but he unfortunately was not committed to their family. Ivan’s mother decided to leave the region all together, staying with a relative who is also a single parent and lives in one rented room. Ivan’s mother's parents separated over a year ago and, combined with Ivan's health struggles, the family has been under great emotional stress. Ivan was born with cleft lip, bilateral clubfeet and undescended testes. Ivan’s mother is trying her best to breastfeed her son so that in the near future he can have his lip repaired. Ivan also needs clubfoot treatment to prevent him from using only the lateral aspect of his feet when he starts to walk. With no employment, Ivan’s mother feels lost and helpless. She has no way of paying the cost of treatment which her son needs. With $1,160, Ivan can receive surgery to correct his clubfoot and allow him to walk comfortably in the future. “I just pray my baby to be well and grow up like other children," Ivan's mother shared.