Nyemo is a shy, twelve-month-old boy who lives in Tanzania with his mother and father. He is happiest when he is trying to walk around or playing with his wooden cars. Around nine months ago, Nyemo’s mother noticed swelling around her son's scrotum when she was giving him a bath. The swelling caused him such discomfort that he began crying. Since this incident, Nyemo has continued to experience swelling—accompanied by severe pain—periodically. According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), doctors have diagnosed Nyemo with a hernia, a protrusion of organs through the abdominal cavity that usually contains them. If left untreated, the hernia will progress, leading to intestinal obstruction. Hernia repair surgery can rid Nyemo of his pain. During the operation, Nyemo’s organs will be returned to their appropriate locations, and his abdominal cavity will be repaired. $610 in funding will cover all of the surgical expenses, along with medication, a three-day hospital stay and a one-week stay in a surgical rehabilitation center. Since Nyemo's parents work as small scale farmers, "their income is minimal and unstable," explains AMHF. Therefore, they cannot afford his treatment. “All we hope is for our son to get the right treatment and for him to continue with normal growth,” shares Nyemo’s mother.

Anne is a 46-year-old woman from Kenya who has uterine fibroids. Anne lives with her three children and husband, who is also her business partner. "They go to different places where there are functions like weddings and burials and they take photos and sell to the people attending the function," our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), writes. "This business is able to meet their basic needs but the money they make is not enough to cater for this important surgery." Anne needs a total abdominal hysterectomy to relieve the backaches and heavy bleeding her fibroids cause. "If not treated," her doctors say, "Anne will continue to bleed which could lead to anaemia and other complications as the fibroids continue to grow." AMHF expects a full recovery after surgery, which leaves Anne hopeful. She says, "I pray for a successful surgery so that I can be able to continue supporting my family. Our hope is to start our own photography studio."

"Veronica is a very happy little girl," says our medical partner, World Altering Medicine (WAM). "She likes to laugh a lot with her brothers and sisters. Her mother is a small business woman who sells vegetables. Currently she is unable to do business because of her daughter’s condition and is struggling a lot to care for the family." Veronica is a 4-year-old girl from Malawi who lives with hydrocephalus -- a buildup of fluid in her brain. Her head is therefore larger than normal, and she has been delayed in reaching normal milestones. "She has not started sitting on her own and cannot talk," WAM tells us. "She has sight problems and is difficult to feed." For $992, doctors can insert a shunt in Veronica's head and drain the excess fluid. This procedure will normalize the pressure in her head and with time, it will return to a normal size. "Treatment will enable her to develop normally and participate in all the activities girls at her age enjoy," WAM adds. "Veronica is my last born daughter; I love her so much that I would be the happiest parent if her condition is treated," her mother tells us.

“Dominic is our only son and we wish for him to have straight legs, strong bones and the ability to walk properly so that he can walk to school when the time comes,” says Dominic’s father. Meet Dominic, a three-year-old boy from Tanzania who has bilateral genu varum, a bow-legged condition that can lead to osteoarthritis. “Dominic wiggles when walking and he falls down easily when playing with other children. The deformity is limiting his ability to walk properly and energetically involve himself in playing games,” reports our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “At home, Dominic likes to sit down and play with tins and cars and sometimes he will try to run around with other children,” continues AMHF. He enjoys the company of other children and would like to play with them unaffected by his condition. Dominic’s parents are both maize farmers. “The little they get from farming is not enough to cover their daily needs as well as pay for the corrective surgery which Dominic needs,” says AMHF. For $940, we can fund surgery to straighten Dominic’s legs so that he will have normal mobility as he grows up. AMHF concludes that after the procedure, “Dominic will have straight legs, a better gait, and reduced risk of developing osteoarthritis at an early age.”

“I want to continue with my studies and become a lawyer when I grow up,” says Eric. Meet Eric, a bright 13-year-old boy from Kenya. Eric is the oldest of three children and lives with his father after his mother left the family a few years ago. Eric has undescended testicles and needs surgery to correct this problem. If left untreated he will not be able to have children and he will be at risk of developing testicular cancer. Our medical partners at the African Mission Healthcare Foundation tell us, "Eric has been taken to several health facilities but they were not able to get treatment. His father is farmer and has been unable to raise amount required for surgery." For only $570, Eric will receive treatment that will allow him to grow and develop normally. Let's help this young student out!

“My wish is to see my baby sister able to walk properly like the rest of us, so that when she gets an opportunity to go to school she will not be limited by the condition of her legs,” shares Paulina’s brother. Paulina is a quiet, three-year-old girl who likes to play with her dolls and hum songs. The fourth of five children, Paulina lives with her parents and siblings in Tanzania. After her father experienced some mental health issues, Paulina’s oldest brother had to step in and support the family by working as a guard at the local school. The wages he earns provide for the family’s necessities, but the family cannot afford medical treatment for conditions like Paulina’s bilateral genu valgus. “Paulina knocks her knees when walking, causing her to feel pain and failing to walk or run as fast as she wishes,” explain our medical partners at African Mission Healthcare Foundation. “If not treated, Paulina will be at high risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knees at an early age.” For $940 we can fund proper corrective treatment and follow-up care for Paulina’s legs, which will help to improve her gait and decrease the risk of developing osteoarthritis in her knees. Let’s help Paulina enjoy an active childhood and make her brother’s wishes for Paulina to have a school experience free from physical limitations come true!

"Baraka is a very talkative little boy," writes our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "He is in kindergarten and likes to draw and color some pictures. He also likes to run around with other children as well as playing with cars." Six-year-old Baraka lives with his parents and two older siblings in Tanzania. His parents work in a restaurant in their hometown to support their family. Baraka's father is a chef at the restaurant while his mother works as a restaurant attendant. Baraka has clubfoot in both of his feet, which means they are turned inwards on each other. This affects the way that he walks and keeps him from being active or even walking long distances without experiencing pain. The AMHF team has recommended corrective surgery to make it possible for Baraka to be active. The procedure costs $1160, an expense which is out of his family's reach. “Baraka is so charming and full of life," says Baraka's mother. "We hope to see him able to walk properly and perform various activities without constraints on his feet." Watsi donors - let's help this vibrant young boy experience the pleasure of an active childhood.

Meet Binod, a 36-year-old man who lives in Nepal with his wife and three children. He is very hardworking and takes pride in his work. "Binod was traveling on a motorbike to go to the home of one of his clients when he fell off and hit a stone on the side of the road," the team at Possible tells us. Since the accident, he hasn't been able to move his right hand. $205 will cover the cost of care needed to treat Binod's hand fracture and get him back to working and being as productive as he would like to be. Let's help him get there.

Earlier this year, Kane, a newly married 20-year-old, started feeling a swelling in her left breast. She was later diagnosed with a massive breast tumor leaving her with pain, discomfort, and with a cancerous prognostic. Kane and her husband are from Kenya, they have no children and were hoping to start their family when early this year when she started experiencing the pain in her left breast. Kane has not completed high school and worked from time to time at a wild nuts company until late last year. Her husband is a casual worker at construction sites. He has tried all he could to get treatments for his dear wife, however, when they were told that surgery was necessary, he felt sad because he could not raise the funds to provide for the procedure. Kane's husband says in Swahili, "I wish I could do more for my wife. I feel helpless whenever I see her in pain. I will work hard so that I can take better care of her and our future children." For $580 we can provide the necessary surgery for Kane, and give Kane and her husband the opportunity to start a family. The surgery will remove the tumor and Kane will no longer be in pain and discomfort. Let's make sure Kane receives the medical care she needs!

Lekiwe is a beautiful two-year-old girl living in Zambia. Although this girl is bright and sweet, the other kids are leaving her out of their social circle. Lekiwe is being kept from having a fun and friendly childhood because she was born with three thumbs. Her condition, known as polydactyly, makes Lekiwe anxious and sad. Lekiwe does not enjoy being around other kids out of fear of being teased, and this is limiting her social development as a child. A deformity like hers makes people think she is cursed, and without treatment, she will be limited in what she can do within the community. We can help Lekiwe have a well-rounded life by funding a simple surgery. For $1000, doctors can remove the extra thumb on her right hand. Lekiwe’s doctors say, “When she leaves us she will do so with a boost of confidence to propel her through that glass ceiling and into her future!”

Hayat is a 13-year-old girl living in Ethiopia. She lives with a condition called genu valgum that causes her legs to fold inwards and impairing her ability to walk. It's so painful for Hayat to walk, that she had to stop attending school. Hayat enjoys reading fiction, playing with her friends, and studying chemistry. She dreams one day of becoming a doctor. Hayat says, “I am eager to heal from my operation and help others who suffer from the same thing.” She lives with her parents who work as merchants. They cannot afford to pay for her surgery while supporting their two other children. Hayat says that her brothers have taught her to be strong. $1,000 can pay for a surgery to realign Hayat's leg bone so that it no longer folds inwards. This procedure will allow Hayat to walk pain-free. Let's help Hayat return to school and continue to fulfill her dreams of becoming a doctor!