Bikensley is a preschooler from Haiti. He lives with his parents, who are rice farmers, in a river valley in central Haiti. He enjoys going to preschool and church. Bikensley has a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This involves several related defects including a hole between two chambers of the heart, and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These prevent blood from circulating adequately to the lungs, leaving him weak and short of breath. On April 9, he will undergo cardiac surgery at St. Damien Hospital, our medical partner's care center. During surgery, surgeons will close the hole with a patch, and remove the blockage near his valve. Another organization, Gift of Life International, is contributing $5,000 to pay for surgery. Bikensley'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 father says, "We are happy that our son can have this surgery so that he will be able to walk to and from school next year."

Potifala is a farmer from Malawi. Potifala lives with his wife, and they have ten grown children. Potifala spends his days raising and caring for his livestock. In his free time, he likes to read the Bible with his wife. Since 2015, Potifala has been experiencing pain and urinary difficulty. These symptoms are caused by an enlarged prostate, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia. He needs to undergo a prostate resection surgery, a procedure in which surgeons will remove part of the enlarged gland. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $733 to fund Potifala's surgery. On February 13, he will undergo prostate surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and two weeks of hospital stay. Potifala was thrilled to find out his procedure would be funded, and he is looking forward to going home and living a pain-free life He says, "I am so happy to meet you and thank you for helping me."

Yeng is a construction worker from Cambodia. He has a sister. He likes watching music videos and TV and hanging out with his friends. In June 2017, he was in a motor vehicle accident that caused an open wound on his ankle. He has difficulty walking and is unable to work. When Yeng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On March 8, surgeons at CSC will perform a peroneus brevis flap procedure to to close the wound and allow him to walk again. Now, he needs help to fund this $606 procedure. His sister says, "I hope after the operation my brother can walk by himself and will be able to work again."

Alfred is farmer from Malawi. Alfred owns a small farm with his family, and he also sells coconuts and raises chickens to supplement the family income. In his free time, he likes to attend his mosque and spend time with his wife and their eight children. For eight months, Alfred has been experiencing pain and urinary difficulty. These symptoms are caused by an enlarged prostate, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia. He needs to undergo a prostate resection surgery, a procedure in which surgeons will remove part of the enlarged gland. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $733 to fund Alfred's surgery. On February 6, he will undergo prostate surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and two weeks of hospital stay. Alfred and his family were thrilled to find out his surgery would be funded. The cost was more than the family could afford. Alfred is looking forward to going home and again farming and tending his animals. He says, "I am very thankful and may God bless you."

Thorn is a rice farmer from Cambodia. He has five children and enjoys spending time at home looking after his rice field. Thorn has been in pain for about four years, following an accident in which he was knocked over by a cow. He has difficulty walking, including walking with his cows on the rice field, and thus is unable to work most of the time. Fortunately, Thorn learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total knee replacement to relieve Thorn of his pain and allow him to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for January 11, and Thorn needs help raising $1,025 to pay for this procedure. He says, "I want to be able to work and take care of my family."

Reginal is a young man from Haiti. He lives on an island off the west coast of Haiti with his parents and younger brothers and sisters. He helps his family raise animals and grow crops around their house. Reginal has a cardiac condition called severe aortic regurgitation. One of the four valves in his heart has been severely damaged by rheumatic fever, and can no longer adequately pump blood to the rest of his body. Reginal will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On December 7, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will replace his damaged valve with an artificial implant. Another organization, The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, is contributing $65,000 to pay for surgery. Reginal's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Reginal's family overseas. He says, "I will pray for everyone who is helping me to have this surgery!"

Bartimayo is a nine-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the fifth child in a large family of twelve children! He lives with his parents, who are both farmers and livestock keepers. When Bartimayo was seven, his parents began to notice his legs bending. He would also complain of occasional pain as his condition worsened. They use traditional medicines to help alleviate his symptoms, but this treatment was unsuccessful. Thankfully, Bartimayo's parents met a patient with the same condition who was successfully treated at Arusha Lutheran Medical Center (ALMC), a Watsi care center. At ALMC, Bartimayo was diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, which means that both of his legs bend inward, making it difficult and painful to walk. Bartimayo will need surgery to help his conditions. He will need $838 to fund the procedure. His parents were able to provide $45 out of their own pockets to subsidize his treatment. Bartimayo looks forward to being well again so he can continue his education, play with his friends, and help his family with chores.

Carminia is a 41-year-old mother and wife from Guatemala. She has one child and works as a homemaker while her husband works in the local countryside. Carminia developed cataracts in both of her eyes years ago, and they have only gotten worse over time. This has lead to blurred vision, irritation, and tearing, and she no longer feels comfortable leaving her home alone. Carminia sought treatment through our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, and is now scheduled to receive cataract repair surgery on June 23. Due to the complicated nature of her cataracts, Carminia will require more evaluations and post surgery care than usual. The $1,500 requested by Wuqu' Kawoq will cover all of the expenses of her procedure, transportation, and care. Carminia says, “I do not have the words to thank the institution for all the support we've received. All that I hope for now, is that my operation goes well.”

Alfred is a 30-year-old father of one from Kenya who loves discussing politics and watching the news when he is well. While his wife is a farm laborer, Alfred has been unable to work for the past year due to his condition. Since June 2015, Alfred has been suffering symptoms of a brain tumor. While he was first diagnosed with epilepsy, MRI test results received towards the end of 2016 indicated that Alfred has a brain tumor. In April 2017, Alfred became paralyzed on his left side. The wait for surgery at his provincial hospital was too long, so Alfred was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, for a craniotomy. Alfred complains of loss of balance and vision, painful head migraines, and altered speech. If not treated, the brain tumor might increase in size and result in brain damage or death. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,495 to fund Alfred’s brain surgery, which is scheduled to take place on June 23. Alfred says, "I wish to be treated and work hard for my family. I want my child to read and excel in future."

Prince is a seven-year-old boy from the village of Mpulasa in Malawi. Prince lives with his family and enjoys going to school and playing football with his friends. Last week, Prince told his parents about pain he was having. It was discovered that Prince has an umbilical hernia that needs to be repaired. Prince is looking forward to having surgery so that he can play with his friends and go to school again without pain. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine (WAM), is requesting $334 to fund this treatment. Prince will undergo treatment on April 4.

Thai is a 47-year-old secondary school teacher from Cambodia. He is married with two daughters and one son. In his spare time he enjoys listening to the news on the radio, researching new lessons to teach his students, and tending to his vegetable garden. Thai started experiencing hip pain 10 years ago. He was diagnosed with bilateral osteonecrosis, which occurs when the bones aren't receiving adequate blood flow. This condition can lead to bone tissue death and the bones potentially collapsing. In January 2016, Thai came to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), where surgeons successfully performed a total hip replacement on his right side. Now, he has returned to CSC with extreme pain on his left side making it difficult for him to stand without support. Thai is scheduled to have total hip replacement surgery on his left side on May 31, which will alleviate the rest of his pain. The $781 will cover the total cost of the procedure, and allow him to get back to teaching his students and spending time with his family comfortably

Kyaw Soe is a 46-year-old father from Burma. He is married and has three daughters and a son. Kyaw Soe's wife sells a traditional breakfast dish to support the family. Until recently, Kyaw Soe was working in a factory. He can no longer work after being injured on the job. Last December, Kyaw Soe was working when he fell on a fan and cut his left leg. Three years prior, Kyaw Soe had broken that leg in another workplace accident, and had a metal rod inserted to stabilize his leg. His recent wound has failed to heal properly, leaving the metal rod exposed. On March 14, Kyaw Soe will undergo surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center, to remove the metal rod from his leg. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is asking for $1,500 to fund his surgery and the accompanying medical supply, physician, and lab fees. Kyaw Soe and his wife are hopeful that the surgery will go well and that he will be able to return to work.