Roodensky is a toddler from Haiti. He lives with his parents and two older siblings in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. He likes listening to music and playing with toy cars. Roodensky has a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving him weak and unable to gain weight. On April 12, he will undergo cardiac surgery at St. Damien Hospital, our medical partner's care center. During surgery, surgeons will close the hole in his heart with a patch. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $5,000 to pay for surgery. Roodensky's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 requested by our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, covers cardiac exams and medications. His mother says, "Our family is very thankful to everyone who is helping our son to have this surgery!"

Vanessa is a young child from Tanzania. She looks forward to starting school. She has five brothers and three sisters. Vanessa lives with her parents, who are farmers. A few years ago, Vanessa was burned by hot porridge on her left hand and elbow. She was taken to the hospital and received treatment. She later developed burn contractures (tightened skin) and keloids (raised scar tissue). Vanessa cannot stretch her left hand because of the burn scar contractures and keloids around her elbow. She cannot carry things or play happily with her friends. Vanessa traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On March 6, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Vanessa needs help to raise $689 to fund this procedure. “I am very excited that I will receive treatment soon and join school," Vanessa said.

Zione is mother of two from Malawi. She is a widow who lives with her two children. Zione runs a small farm, and she spends her days caring for her home, farm, and family. In her free time, she likes to go to her local church and worship with her children and family. Since January, Zione has been experiencing severe abdominal pain and abnormal bleeding. She has been diagnosed with ovarian cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs on the ovaries. She needs to undergo an ovarian cystectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will excise the cysts. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $541 to fund Zione's surgery. On February 13, she will undergo gynecological surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and seven nights of hospital stay. Zione was very relieved to find out her procedure would be funded, as she has a limited income and could not afford the surgery. She says, "Thank you for this support."

Alex is an infant from Kenya. He was born three days ago after a prolonged labor. Alex’s mother is a stay-at-home mom, while his father is employed at a construction site. Alex was born with spina bifida, a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Alex is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,097 to cover the cost of Alex's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 17. This procedure will hopefully spare Alex from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. "I hope all goes well with my son," shares Alex’s mother.

Po is a 44-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and two children in a rural village. She and her husband are subsistence farmers, growing peanuts and beans. Po was diagnosed with a heart condition that involves a malformation of the mitral valve, the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle. This valve controls the flow of blood, but certain conditions may cause blood to flow backward or the valve to narrow. She began to experience frequent tiredness in 2014, and her symptoms intensified in 2017. She could not walk long distances due to heart palpitations. She often feels dizzy and even loses her appetite during extreme tiredness. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement for Po. The treatment is scheduled to take place on December 13 and, once completed, will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. Po says, “I hope to continue to work on the farm with my husband. And bring my children back to take care of them. I want to be cured of my condition and I am not worried about having to go through a surgery. I believe in the surgeon who will take care of my condition.”

Clifaite is a 10-year-old boy from Haiti. He is in the fourth grade and enjoys school and spending time with his friends. Several years ago, Clifaite contracted rheumatic fever, which caused damage to his heart. He developed a condition called mitral and aortic regurgitation, where blood backs up into his heart and does not properly circulate through his body. This condition causes Carlos to experience shortness of breath, painful breathing, fatigue, and swelling of the legs. If left untreated, his condition could be fatal. Seeking treatment through our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, Clifaite is scheduled to undergo heart surgery to correct his condition on August 2. Although Clifaite's [transportation](https://watsi.org/profile/9c7612e61dc0-clifaite) to our medical partner's care center has already been funded by Watsi, he is still in need of $1,500 to cover the cost of his heart surgery prep. The organization, Have a Heart Cayman, is also subsidizing Clifaite's surgery, donating $22,000 to cover the rest of his medical bills. "Our family would like to say thank you to everyone who is helping Clifaite get this surgery!" says Clifaite's father.

Wilson is a happy and active five-month-old boy who often pulls at his mother in order to get her attention. He lives with his parents and grandparents in Eastern Kenya. They are subsistence farmers and have no cash income. Wilson was diagnosed with spina bifida at birth. Spina bifida is a condition in which the spinal cord does not close all the way, causing cerebrospinal fluid to emerge in a pouch-like fashion from the back along the spine. If left untreated, this condition will put Wilson at risk for serious infection and hydrocephalus, and potentially prevent him from learning to walk. Surgery has been recommended. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,097 to fund Wilson's surgery. He is scheduled for treatment on October 19 at our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital. After treatment, he will be able to grow and develop normally. “I would wish to see my son well and thriving,” Wilson's mother says.

Nan is a 42-year-old farmer from Burma. Nan supports herself and her husband by planting and harvesting corn. In May of last year, Nan felt a mass in her lower abdomen. Since then, the mass has been growing in size. Due to the back and abdominal pain Nan experiences, she recently had to stop working. Doctors at a hospital affiliated with our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, have now diagnosed Nan with an uterine myoma. Nan requires a total abdominal hysterectomy, which is scheduled for September 20. As the sole breadwinner of her family, Nan needs our help to pay for her $1,500 medical bill. "I just want to get better," says Nan.

Kenson is a 12-year-old boy who lives in the mountains of central Haiti with a large extended family. His family works together to farm crops and raise animals. He enjoys going to school and listening to soccer games on the radio. Kenson was born with patent ductus arteriosus, a cardiac condition in which a hole in the heart that normally closes shortly after birth remains open. Oxygen-rich blood from the aorta mixes with oxygen-poor blood from the pulmonary artery, placing strain on Kenson's heart and leaving him short of breath. He was also born with an aortic valve that is too narrow, further complicating his heart's ability to pump blood to his body. Have a Heart Cayman is subsidizing Kenson's heart surgery, however Kenson requires overseas transport to our medical partner's care center, Health City Cayman Islands. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is therefore requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Kenson's transportation to the site of surgery, cardiac examinations, and medications. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 11 and, once completed, will greatly improve Kenson's quality of life. "I am excited for my heart to be fixed so I can do more things without getting tired," shares Kenson.

Sem is a 57-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. She has one son, one daughter, and four grandchildren. She likes to listen to monks pray at the pagoda and to plant vegetables and other crops around her home. Sem developed a cataract in her right eye about a year ago, causing her blurred vision, burning, and photophobia (extreme sensitivity to light). It is difficult for her to see things clearly, to recognize faces, to work, and to go anywhere outside by herself. Sem knew about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), because a person in her village had surgery at CSC before. She traveled for three hours with her son to reach CSC for treatment. On May 30, Sem will undergo a phacoemulsification procedure and intraocular lens implant in her right eye. This will enable Sem to see clearly again. Our medical partner, CSC, is requesting $153 to fund this procedure. The requested $153 pays for medications, surgical materials, and two nights of hospital stay.

Mesfin is a 10-year-old student from Ethiopia. He is one of eight children, and his parents work hard as farmers to support their family. Mesfin was born with a congenital urinary abnormality known as epispadias. As a result, Mesfin is unable to pass urine normally. Due to the stress and embarrassment caused by his medical condition, Mesfin is unable to go to school. This has had a great impact on Mesfin and his parents. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, has arranged for Mesfin to undergo epispadias repair surgery on May 25. Mesfin's father is unable to pay for his son's surgery and needs our help to cover the $990 medical bill. Mesfin shares that he wishes to go back to school so that he can make new friends and play soccer again.

Narith is 56 years old. In her free time, she likes to watch comedy and music programs on TV and visit relatives in her village Seven months ago, Narith developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision and sensitivity to light. Narith has trouble seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and working on her own. When Narith learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours to seek treatment. On March 29, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, Narith will be able to see clearly again. Now, she needs help to fund this $292 procedure.