Nai is a 43-year-old woman who lives with her family in a village in Karen State, Burma. In February, Nai cut two of her toes while walking around her village. After she tried to clean the cuts, they got worse, and the tissue in and around them started to darken. A week later, Nai’s foot was in a lot of pain and her toes were swelling. She visited a medical clinic, and her left leg was amputated in March. Now, her left leg is fully recovered. However, she recently began noticing pain and itching in her right leg. The pain worsened and was replaced by numbness over the course of the summer, so she returned to the hospital for further treatment. On September 1, surgeons will operate on Nai's painful right leg. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, requests $1,500 for a below-knee amputation. Nai says, "My leg is very painful and I can't walk or sleep at all. I feel sad because I cannot work and have to spend time in the hospital. I just want to recover."

Lucas is a one-year-old baby boy who lives with his mother and grandparents in Haiti. He is a playful and happy baby who has recently started walking and likes exploring the house. Lucas was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart. Instead of oxygen-rich blood being circulated to the rest of the body, blood leaks through this hole into the right ventricle and the lungs. Extra blood being pumped into the lungs causes the heart and lungs to work harder, leaving Lucas sick, short of breath, and at risk of other complications. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to fund Lucas’s travel to the Cayman Islands for the cardiac repair surgery, which Have a Heart Cayman has significantly subsidized. "I was very scared when I found out about my son's heart problem. I am praying that everything will go well with his surgery" says Lucas’s mother. With this treatment, Lucas will hopefully be able to grow up to be a healthy and energetic young boy.

“I appreciate your support so much,” shares Shivan’s mother, a native of Uganda. “I pray that God will bless the donors in all that they do.” Shivan is a seventh grader who particularly enjoys her English and social studies classes. She hopes to continue on to secondary school. When she is at home, she enjoys weaving mats. She sells them to help raise money for her school fees. Shivan is sixteen years old, but her life has been dramatically shaped by an event that occurred when she was only a toddler. As a two-year-old, Shivan fell into a fire and severely burned her foot and ankle. Because her parents could not afford to treat the injury at the time, Shivan’s foot developed webbed toes and contractures—hardened, stiff muscles and skin. This severe scarring limits her mobility and means she cannot participate fully in many activities. To release these contractures, Shivan will need to undergo surgery on March 27. Her parents, who are farmers, cannot afford to pay for this operation. However, we can fund her contracture surgery, as well as her lab tests, medications, and two-week hospital stay, for $564. Let’s help Shivan heal now so that she can enjoy the rest of her young adulthood as a mobile, active teen.

“I don’t want to be a burden to my family anymore,” Ko Day shares. “I just want to recover so I can work again.” Ko Day is a 59-year-old farmer from Burma. In 2013, he developed a very tiny growth under his left eyelid. The lump grew over time, until Ko Day was so alarmed by its size that that he sought treatment—first with healers in his village, then with a series of doctors in and outside of Burma. Ko Day underwent surgery to remove the growth from his eye on January 30, 2017. His doctors concluded from a biopsy that the mass contained orbital lymphoma, a type of blood cancer. In order to determine whether the cancer has spread to any lymph nodes, Ko Day needs to undergo a chest and abdominal CT scan on February 24. Though this diagnostic test is crucial to Ko Day’s survival, he cannot afford to pay for it on his own. Prior to his series of eye doctor visits, Ko Day had never left his village for healthcare due to the associated travel and medical costs. Now, he needs our help to raise the $469 necessary to fund his scan, as well as the three days of travel entailed in getting to the hospital in Thailand where he will have the procedure. Ko Day is grateful for the treatment that he has received so far through the aid of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. Let’s help make sure his doctors have all the information they need to treat him.

Aung Kyaw is an 18-year-old from Bago City, Burma. He lives with his parents and a brother, who just finished university. Aung used to attend school. He stopped going about four years ago when his condition arose. Aung is a former Watsi patient. Four years ago, with the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Aung was treated for detached retinas. After the surgery, he was doing much better, regaining sight in his left eye. After a few more follow up visits, Aung's case was closed. In early 2017, Aung's vision problems returned. "I am very sad that his eyesight is gone again," says Aung's mother. "It is very bad this time because he could not even see some light." Aung returned to BCMF in late February, and BCMF organized a visit to the hospital in March. After going through several tests, the doctor determined that Aung's retina had detached again, and he needed another surgery. The surgery is scheduled for April 12. BCMF is asking for $1,500 to cover the costs of Aung's procedure. Your donation will help pay for the surgeon and nurse's fees, surgical supplies, medication, lab tests, travel expenses, and three nights of hospital stay.

Rorn is a 77-year-old woman from Cambodia. In her free time, she likes to go to the pagoda, plant vegetables, and clean around her home Three years ago, Rorn developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision, tearing, and itching. She has difficultly seeing things clearly. When Rorn learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours to seek treatment. On February 20, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, Rorn will be able to see clearly again. Now, she needs help to fund this $292 procedure.

Roberto is ten years old and lives in the outskirts of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic with his mother and two sisters. He is in the fourth grade and would like to be a pilot when he grows up. Roberto was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him sickly and weak. Although Roberto is not Haitian, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is collaborating with their partners in the Dominican Republic to offer treatment to Dominican children. He will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center. First, Roberto will undergo a full cardiac assessment on February 13. 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 Roberto also covers the cost of medications and social support for him and him family. Gift of Life International is contributing $7,000 to cover additional costs associated with Roberto's surgical care. "I want to say thank you to everyone who is helping me to get my heart fixed," says Roberto.

Sarmila is a five-year-old girl who lives with her parents and siblings. Her father is a teacher, and her mother grazes their cattle, works in the field, and looks after her young children. The yield from the field sustains their family for six months of the year. Earlier this month, Sarmila fell from the porch of her house and fractured her left elbow. Since then, she has been in pain, and her hand is swollen. She needs help with everyday tasks, such as eating and dressing. Her parents finally decided to seek medical help, bringing her to our medical partner's care center, Bayalpata Hospital. On February 20, Sarmila will be fitted with a cast to align the fracture in her elbow. The family needs help to pay for this $541 procedure. "I wish her treatment happens soon and she is relieved from pain," shares Sarmila's father.

Kajoina is a housewife from Uganda. She is the mother of seven boys. For two decades, Kajoina and her husband have worked very diligently to support the education of their seven sons. Although three of her sons have recently graduated from college, they continue to live with Kajoina and her husband. In August of 2016, Kajoina began to experience troubling gynecological symptoms. Daily activities, such as walking or bending over, became difficult. As a result of her worsening condition, she became unable to work in her garden. At the end of 2016, Kajoina was diagnosed with endometrial hyperplasia, an outgrowth of tissue in her uterus. On January 3, she will undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy to remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $268 to fund this procedure. After the surgery, Kajoina hopes to return to her garden and continue growing food for her family of nine.

Mom is 59 years old. She likes to listen to monks pray on the radio and read books on Buddhism. Two years ago, Mom developed a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision, itchiness, cloudy lenses, and extreme sensitivity to light. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, working, and going anywhere outside. When Mom learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On December 6, doctors performed a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, Mom will be able to see clearly again. Now, she needs help to fund this $292 procedure. "I hope that my eyes can see everything more clearly," she says, "so that I can easily cook and do other work by myself because I live alone. I want to be able to read books on Buddhism and go anywhere easily."

Jane Ashley is a 14-month-old girl from the Philippines. She loves to play with her doll with her sisters. Jane Ashley lives with her parents and siblings in a house made of bamboo and metal sheets. They have no access to water and electricity. Instead, they use small solar or gas lamps, and they drink rainwater. Jane Ashley's father is a fisherman. Jane Ashley has been diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. She began $268 malnutrition treatment on October 19. She is being treated by International Care Ministries (ICM), a Watsi medical partner. One out of five children under five in ICM communities is either severely or moderately acutely malnourished. Worldwide, poor nutrition is associated with nearly half of all deaths in young children. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. ICM’s Home-Based Feeding program provides nutrient-enriched food packs to ensure malnourished children get additional food to regain normal weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. After identifying a child as malnourished, staff and community volunteers make weekly visits to monitor this child’s progress. To help sustain the health of the child, ICM's professional staff educate the mother, guardian, or other family members about proper nutrition, sanitation, hygiene, and organic vegetable gardening. Jane Ashley's parents hope that she recovers from malnutrition, attends school, and completes her studies someday.

This is Andrea, a five-year-old girl with malnutrition from Guimaras in the Philippines. Andrea loves to read storybooks and lives with her parents and two siblings in a house made of bamboo. They have no electricity and they use a kerosene lamp for lighting. Her father is a charcoal maker and is the main provider for their family. One out of five children under five in International Care Ministries (ICM) communities is either severely or moderately acutely malnourished. In remote communities and urban slums of the Philippines, the lack of clean water and unclean environments add risk to potentially fatal childhood diseases. For $268, Andrea will participate in ICM’s Home-Based Feeding program that provides nutrient enriched food packs to ensure that malnourished children can regain weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. During this program, staff and community volunteers will make weekly visits to monitor Andrea's progress. Additionally, Andrea's family will be educated on proper nutrition, sanitation, and hygiene to ensure the healthy development of all members of their family. "I hope she can finish school and have a healthy life," shares Andrea's aunt.