Meet Salma, a one-year old girl from Tanzania. Salma is her mother’s only child. Her father left the family when he saw that Salma has a disability. Salma has an imperforate anus, which means that the opening of her anus is blocked. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), reports: “Salma is currently passing stool through her vagina. To develop as a girl, teenager and a woman she needs to have this defect corrected.” For $1500, AMHF can perform a 3-stage surgery to fix Salma's condition. The surgery will allow Salma to pass stool normally, and develop without complications. “This treatment will give me the chance to improve our lives," shares Salma's mother.

“I love my daughter very much and I want the best for her. I want her to have straight legs, be able to walk properly, get a good education and later on live a better life,” shares Diana’s mother. Say hello to Diana, an active and friendly four-year-old girl from Tanzania. Diana lives with her mother, grandparents, and younger sibling and enjoys playing with little children, making shapes out of clay. She does not like to play with older children because, due to her bowed legs, Diana cannot run fast and falls down easily when pushed. When Diana was one year old, her legs began bowing outward and, gradually, her condition has gotten worse. Her legs are weak and she in unable to walk fast or for long distances. Diana’s mother does not have a stable job and as a single mother raising two children, desperately needs financial support so that her daughter’s legs can be corrected. For $940, we can provide Diana with the treatment she needs to walk and move more comfortably. According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, “Diana will have straight and strong legs, better gait, and ability to walk without getting tired quickly.” If not treated, Diana will be at high risk of developing early osteoarthritis. Let’s pull together, Watsi donors!

“I wish to become a teacher when I grow up,” says Yohana. Meet Yohana, a shy and soft-spoken 12-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the fourth born in a family of seven children and lives with his siblings and parents. Yohana is in primary school and enjoys studying Swahili and mathematics. He also likes to play soccer, but lately it has become more difficult for him to run due to the condition of his legs. Yohana was born without any physical deformities but that changed a little over a year ago when his left leg began to bend inwards, causing his knees to knock. This condition has completely changed Yohana’s gait. If not treated, he will be at high risk for developing osteoarthritis of the knees at an early age. Yohana’s parents are small-scale farmers and cattle owners. When they are not farming, Yohana’s mother sells maize at an open market in their village and his father uses his motorcycle to transport people from one point to another, making extra money. Yohana’s parents work very hard to take care of their big family but coming up with enough money to pay for the needed surgery has been difficult. We can fund a treatment for $940. “Yohana’s gait will improve, he will be able to walk without knocking his knees and the risk of developing osteoarthritis at an early age will decrease,” explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. Let’s join together and help Yohana get back to playing soccer!

“My wish is to go back to school when my bones are strong,” shares 13-year-old Ernest from Tanzania. “I will study hard to become a doctor so that I can help others who are suffering from various illnesses.” Ernest has bilateral genu valgus, a bone deformity that causes his legs to bend and prevents him from walking. “Ernest is the third-born in a family of eight children,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “Ernest is very polite and friendly. He was born perfectly fine and had normal growth until he was eight years old. His bones slowly started to bend and became very weak to the extent that Ernest could no longer walk. He had to stop going to school and could not play soccer or run around with other children as he used to.” “Ernest’s parents are small-scale farmers– relying on growing and selling maize and beans,” AMHF continues. “Apart from farming, Ernest’s mother also buys and sells charcoal. Their income is still not enough to cover the cost of their everyday expenses as well as pay the cost of corrective surgery which Ernest needs.” Today, his doctors write, "Ernest is unable to stand or walk due to the deformity of his limbs." But with $940, they can perform surgery to improve his mobility and enable him to pursue his dreams!

“Helena makes everyone at home smile because of her activeness and cheerfulness," her mother says. "We want her to continue to be cheerful when she grows up and not look at herself as different from everyone else." Helena has congenital deformity of both feet called clubfoot. This condition will cause her to use the sides of her feet when she starts to walk; leading to a pain and early osteoarthritis if not treated now. "Helena is a happy five-month-old baby girl," her doctors write. "She is very friendly and likes to be carried around. She is the fourth born in the family and her parents are small scale farmers. They earn their money from selling maize and beans. With two children going to school, what they are earning is not enough to cover the cost of their basic needs as well as the cost for treating clubfoot. They need financial support so that their little daughter can walk like the rest of the children." Let's fund Helena's care so she can grow up walking!

Meet San, a 30-year-old mother originally from Burma! San moved from Burma to Thailand for better education and work opportunities when she was a child. She is extremely hardworking and resilient. San was recently diagnosed with an ovarian cyst. While San and her husband do their best to support their family, they are unable to cover San’s medical expenses. San first began experiencing gynecological problems ten years ago when she gave birth to her son. Since then, she has had to stop working in a food stall because she experiences constant back and abdominal pain. San’s doctors add, “She has been trying to conceive a second child for over three years, however with her current condition it is proving very difficult.” San is eager to get better, so that she can be free of pain, feel more confident in contributing to the family income, and grow her family. For $865, San will receive surgery to remove an ovarian cyst and treat her chronic pain. Together, we can ensure that San can pay for the medical care she needs!

Meet Srey Lin, a 17-year-old from Cambodia! Srey Lin is a student who "really likes to play football with her friends, and is one of the few girls that will play with the boys," according to the staff at our medical partner Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). Recently, while playing football with her friends, she fell and fractured her wrist. CSC adds, "now she can’t go to school because it is impossible for her to write without there being pain. So she can’t go to school and can’t work, and she feels like a horrible burden on her parents." Due to financial status, Srey Lin’s parents cannot afford to pay for the corrective treatment. A friend referred Srey Lin to CSC where they are certain they can help! Srey Lin’s treatment at CSC will include an Open Reduction and Internal Fixation or ORIF surgery to repair the fracture in her wrist. With this surgery, CSC says Srey Lin "will have full range of motion in her wrist and no more pain." For $405, we can fund this surgery and help Srey Lin get back to school and the football field, pain free!

Meet Jennifer, an 11-year-old girl who lives in Tanzania with her parents and three siblings. She's in the fourth grade and enjoys learning English, Swahili, geography, and history in school. Jennifer's mother is a nurse and her father is a self-employed photographer. "Jennifer’s gait has been affected because of walking by using the lateral aspect of her right foot," our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), writes. She has clubfoot in her right foot which makes it difficult to walk long distances without pain. While Jennifer's parents are very concerned about their daughter's current difficulty, they have been unable to come up with funding to provide her with the surgery and treatment, including medication, a cast, and a foot brace, which will be required in order to correct her foot. But by raising $1160, Watsi donors, we can help Jennifer pay for care. “When I grow up, I wish to become a nurse like my mother,” she says. Let's help her get there.

Calvin is an energetic and social seven-year-old from Tanzania. He is in kindergarten and likes school and being with other children. Calvin also likes to sing and color. Tightness in his Achilles tendon and knee pain keep Calvin from missing out on physical activities, though. He often has difficulty walking because of the deformity on his right foot. "If not treated, Calvin will develop early osteoarthritis of the foot," Watsi's medical partner writes. Calvin’s family wants to see him walk properly, but cannot afford the open Achilles tendon lengthening and serial casting required to address Calvin’s condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, has agreed to provide this surgery under the guarantee that Watsi donors will fund the care for Calvin. “I want to be able to ride a motorcycle like my brother,” he says. Let's help Calvin do it!

Meet Lydia, a 37-year-old woman from a small village in Kenya. Lydia is a single mother of three children between the ages of six and 20. Her career options became limited after she had her first child at only 17-years-old, and she now works as a laborer to provide the basic needs for her family. According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, Lydia has cervical cancer and “experiences severe lower abdominal discomfort. If not treated, the cancer will advance and spread to other organs.” Since Lydia works so hard to support her children, her income is not enough for the treatment she needs. Lydia confides, “My only wish is to be well, so that I can continue providing for my children.” Let’s help Lydia’s wish come true! For $885, Lydia will receive a total abdominal hysterectomy. This treatment will prevent the cancer from spreading to other organs and allow Lydia to make a full recovery. Let’s support this hard-working, single mom!