Sophon is a 48-year-old man living in Cambodia. He lives with his wife, daughter, and two sons, and he works as a policeman. Before his hearing began to deteriorate, he enjoyed listening to programs on the radio. Sophon has hearing loss in his right ear due to a cholesteatoma he developed many years ago. Sophon’s condition started with recurring discharge from his ear, and since then it has been odorous and painful. "I get pain every day and my hearing is lost in that ear, which makes me unhappy,” Sophon shares. “I can't work anymore." A cholesteatoma refers to an expanding growth in the middle ear, which can eventually lead to damage in the bones of the ear. These growths are often infected, and can cause chronic drainage. Sophon needs mastoidectomy surgery to remove the cholesteatoma and remove either the posterior ear canal wall or the ossicles, depending upon the findings in surgery. For $809, Sophon can receive this life-changing surgery he needs. Funding also covers one day of post-operative care and three follow-up visits. After the surgery, he is expected to regain some hearing and no longer have drainage. “I hope after the operation the pain goes away,” Sophon adds.

Hok is a 21-year-old husband and father from Cambodia. Currently, he lives with chronic right ear pain, discharge, and hearing loss. Hok began having recurring ear infections when he was a child. This led to a perforated ear drum, and the same symptoms he still experiences today. His symptoms impact his ability to work at his factory job and enjoy one of his favorite activities: listening to the radio. He needs a myringoplasty - a procedure that involves repairing a hole in the tympanic membrane. Hok's mother, who was with him at his appointment, hopes for his quick recovery: "I hope my son's ear discharge will stop and he won't feel pain anymore. I wish this will bring him good hearing and health." For $399, Hok will be able to receive this treatment and improve his quality of life. He will receive treatment at Children's Surgical Centre where some of his other family members have been treated successfully in the past.

Two years ago, Naangayok underwent a mass excision for a benign tumor on his leg. This procedure was funded by Watsi donors, and was successful. Recently, however, Naangayok returned to the hospital in pain and unable to walk. Doctors discovered that the tumor had recurred and diagnosed the tumor as cancerous. Naangayok is an 18-year-old man from Tanzania, who lives with his parents and helps his father herd cattle. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), shares, “The tumor cannot be excised as there is no way of doing so without destroying some nerves and blood vessels. This would result in a non-functional limb and a high change of a recurring tumor.” Doctors recommend that Naangayok’s leg be amputated above the knee. After the wound has healed, Naangayok will need a prosthetic to walk again. $1,035 will fund the operation Naangayok needs. Even if Naangayok’s parents sell the few cattle they own, they will not be able to afford the operation for their son. AMHF says that with the operation, “We expect that the surgery will reduce the chances of the cancer spreading and save Naangayok’s life.” “I wish I didn’t have to lose my leg, but I am feeling a lot of pain that I have accepted," Naangayok shares. "My changes of healing are higher without that part of my leg. I hope I will still be able to walk when I get an artificial leg."

Two-month-old Maritu lives with her family in Ethiopia. She was born with no anal opening—a condition known as anorectal malformation. Due to this, she is unable to pass stool normally. “Maritu presented with partial bowel obstruction at the age of one week,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), explains. “A colostomy was performed urgently. Maritu has recovered both from the surgery and the obstructive symptoms but still has a colostomy and an imperforate anus. Now, she needs a definitive surgery for the correction of her anomaly.” Maritu’s father works as a farmer to provide for his six children, but he does not earn enough money to pay for the surgery that Maritu needs. For $1,500, Maritu will undergo an anorectoplasty to create a new anal opening so that she can pass stool normally. AMHF tells us that after surgery, “Maritu is expected to live a normal life.” Maritu’s father hopes that one day his daughter will be well enough to go to school.

Maria, a 17-month-old girl from Guatemala, loves to play with a doll lent to her by a neighbor. “Maria is a generally happy child,” shares our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). “Maria is the youngest of five children and her mother is pregnant with a 6th. She is cared for by her 10-year-old sister who generally watches over all of the children, while their father works on a committee for the government health center and their mother works weaving textiles to sell.” Maria has acute malnutrition, and in the last several months she has been sick often with diarrhea and a cough. “Maria is weak and she is far below the average height and the average weight for her age,” says WK. With another child on the way, Maria’s mother does not have the resources to take Maria to a doctor. Her family fears they cannot afford the protein rich foods and the medicine Maria needs to recoup her weight and height. Childhood malnutrition has serious consequences that persist into adulthood. “Her immune system will continue to weaken and mental and physical development will be compromised which will, in turn, affect her ability to succeed in school and the work force,” explains WK. With $535, Maria will be provided with micronutrients, food supplements, and medication to treat her diarrhea and cough. After treatment, she will have more energy and her risk for chronic diseases later in life will be reduced. Lastly, her mother will enroll in WK's nutrition education courses. Maria’s mother shares, “Parents want what is best for their children, but without money we just simply cannot achieve this.”

“Marcos is the only child of two very loving parents,” shares our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). The baby boy from Guatemala “loves to jump up and down and play with a little basket he found at his house,” WK shares. However, Marcos often experiences low energy levels due to acute pediatric malnutrition. Acute malnutrition occurs when the body does not intake as many essential nutrients as it needs over an extended period of time—causing a nutritional deficit. Among children, this imbalance can stunt mental and physical development. At this point, “Marco has very low height and weight for his age,” WK says. In addition, Marcos has crossed eyes (strabismus) and chronic diarrhea—further limiting his absorption of essential nutrients. Throughout early childhood, maintaining a balanced diet is crucial to experiencing healthy growth. WK explains that a nutritious diet allows young children to have “healthy physical and brain development, a strong immune system and ordinary energy levels.” Conversely, malnutrition can weaken overall immunity, increasing the risk of other illnesses such as pneumonia. Marcos’ mother does not make enough money, nor possess the nutritive knowledge, to facilitate the improvement of her son’s health. She remarks, “It is difficult to buy the things Marcos needs in a sufficient quantity to ensure he is healthy. We just don’t have the money… I feel like I have been waiting for help.” With $535 in Watsi funding, however, Marcos will receive 90 days of micronutrient support to treat his acute malnutrition. These nutrient-rich food supplements will be introduced into his diet in incremental amounts to allow his body to safely adjust to the changes. In addition, Marcos will be given deworming medication to protect him from future infections. With Guatemala having the fourth-highest rate of malnutrition in the world, education is crucial to preventing this condition in the future. Therefore, Marcos’ parents will work with a nutritionist to learn about the importance of nutrition and ensure that Marcos reaches important milestones throughout his treatment. By restoring a nutritional balance to Marcos’ diet, WK states that he will “grow better both physically and mentally. His energy levels will increase and his immune system will strengthen—preventing illnesses and infections throughout his life.” His mother shares, “I want to do all I can to help my baby!”

“I’d do anything to help my baby recover," shares Esvin's mother. Esvin is a little boy who was born less than one month ago in Guatemala. He lives with his parents and two older siblings. Esvin's family brought him to our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, where he was diagnosed with acute malnutrition. His mother has been unable to produce milk (a condition known as lactation failure), and his parents do not make enough money from fieldwork and weaving to purchase infant formula for him. “Esvin is losing weight, and at the moment barely weighs a pound more than he did when he was born,” explains WK. “Without intervention, Esvin will continue to lose weight and will be at risk of infection, illness, permanent physical and mental damage, and death,” WK shares. For $1220, Esvin will receive 12 months of infant formula. In addition, Esvin’s mother will learn to properly measure and mix the formula and how to introduce solid foods into Esvin’s diet. Esvin will be weighed frequently to ensure adequate growth. WK explains that with formula, “Esvin will immediately start to gain weight and increase in height. His brain and body will recoup the development they previously lost, and his immune system will strengthen. He will avoid the long-term affects of malnutrition and have the chance to grow and thrive like a normal healthy baby should.”

“I am hopeful that my daughter will get well soon. That is my deepest prayer right now,” shares Blessing’s mother. Blessing is a six-month-old baby girl from Kenya who lives with her parents and older sibling. Her parents are both trained teachers but her mother is currently unemployed. Blessing has hydrocephalus—a condition in which a buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain causes one’s head to increase abnormally in size and eyes to fix downward. According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), Blessing is irritable and drowsy and “if not treated, she is likely to have delayed milestones.” AMHF continues, “The accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid will keep increasing Blessing’s intracranial pressure which may result in brain damage. She is also at risk of becoming visually impaired.” The family relies on Blessing’s father’s income from teaching, but they have been unable to raise the funds needed for Blessing’s treatment. For $980, AMHF will be able to provide Blessing with hydrocephalus shunting, which will drain her brain of the excess fluid. This treatment is expected to help stabilize the high pressure in Blessing’s head and reduce the chances of brain damage, blindness, and death. Let’s help Blessing get healthy!

Meet Victor, a three-year-old boy from Kenya! Victor lives with his grandmother in a small two-room house and attends kindergarten nearby. He receives support from his father, but his mother left the family six months ago. Victor was born with hypospadias, a condition that prevents him from passing urine normally. Our medical partner, the African Mission Healthcare Foundation, says if left untreated, Victor will be unable to father children in the future. After treatment, Victor will be able to pass urine normally. “I am thankful I have finally found a hospital where my child can be treated," Victor's father says. "Victor is a very happy child and I do not want him to suffer low self esteem because of this condition." $655 will fund Victor’s treatment. Let's help Victor pay for this life changing surgery.

“I love teaching, and I am looking forward to working with young minds and making a difference,” says 22-year-old Caroline from Kenya. Though she grew up without her parents, Caroline has just graduated from college with support from her grandmother and community. She is now certified to teach pre-school, and is actively looking for work. When Caroline was young, she burned her foot and was unable to get proper treatment. She now wears an orthopedic boot, but cannot walk well, tires easily and gets frequent blisters when walking long distances. “If contracture release surgery is not done, Caroline will not be able to walk well, and she is likely to develop an infection whenever blisters are not well treated,” explain our partners at African Mission Healthcare Foundation. For $1,125, we can fund burn contracture release surgery and comprehensive follow-up care for Caroline’s foot, which will enable her to walk well and without risk of blisters and infections. Let’s help Caroline enjoy normal, pain-free mobility so that she can teach young minds no matter how far away they may be!

Meet Ferchi, a one-year-old girl from Guatemala who is suffering from malnutrition. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, reports, “Ferchi was born very premature. Since then, she’s struggled to grow. She is frequently ill with common things, like diarrhea, which further have restricted her growth.” The lack of nutrition also limits her cognitive development. Ferchi’s parents understand that they need quality nutrition to help Ferchi. The family’s financial situation prevents them from meeting this goal. For $535, we can tackle Ferchi’s acute malnutrition. Ferchi will experience an improved diet, heightened cognition, and a resumption of physical growth. Ferchi’s mother desires that Ferchi, “gets better, so that she can go to school and be successful.”

"Tatia is a quiet, sweet little girl," AMHF tells us about this five-year-old girl from Tanzania. "She had just started kindergarten when she had the fire accident and ever since the accident she hasn’t returned to school. Tatia enjoys skipping rope and playing hide and seek." Clinicians have recommended a skin graft and contracture release so that Tatia can use her arm and hand again after serious burns. The cost of care will come to $870. "Her parents are small scale farmers – they have a garden of vegetables and they also grow sweet potatoes," AMHF writes. "With three children to look after, it has been difficult to come up with enough cash to cover the cost of Tatia’s surgery as well as other basic needs." “We just hope that Tatia will get well and be able to use her arm again," Tatia's parents say. "Otherwise, to some extent she will become dependent on other people." Willing clinicians. Supportive and loving parents. All we need to do to get Tatia back up and running is fund her care. What are we waiting for?