“When my feet are straight, I will join a tailoring class and start a business of my own later on,” says Imakulata. Meet Imakulata, a 14-year-old girl from Tanzania. Imakulata is the second born child in a family of three. Imakulata has never been to school “due to the fact that her peers used to laugh at the way she walks,” explains our medical partner at African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Imakulata has unilateral clubfoot. Instead of going to school, she stays at home and helps her parents with everyday chores such as cleaning the house, washing the dishes, and cooking. “Imakulata’s gait has been affected due to the fact that she has to use the lateral aspect of her right foot for walking,” AMHF tells us. “She is at high risk of developing osteoarthritis at a young age if remains untreated.” Imakulata’s father spends most of his earned income on alcohol, which makes Imakulata’s mother the sole provider for the family’s financial needs. Imakulata’s mother works at a market selling fresh fruits and vegetables, but the income she earns can barely cover the basic needs of the family, let alone Imakulata’s medical treatment costs. For $1,160 we can help Imakulata access the healthcare she needs. Let’s help Imakulata receive a life-changing surgery and get her into the classroom.

“I am looking forward to getting employment when I finish school so that I can help my mother and my sisters have a better life,” Chris shares. This is Chris, a 30-year-old university student from Kenya studying economics. Chris’ education is funded by the government. Chris’ mother is a retired teacher and his father passed away a few years ago. Chris has two younger sisters who work small part-time jobs. Chris has been diagnosed with an inguinal hernia. “Chris noticed the swelling a few years ago while he was in school,” his doctor at African Mission Healthcare Foundation tells us. “At the time he was not in much pain and decided not to pay it much regard. However over the past few months, the pain and discomfort have increased and this forced Chris to seek medical care. He has not been able to concentrate on his education over the past few months as a result of this condition. If the surgery I not done soon, the intestine could become incarcerated and this would lead to its death and further complicate his treatment.” “Chris had initially hoped to just get medication for this condition for now and be able to get treatment after he has finished school and found employment,” AMHF continues. “But on being informed of the risks of leaving the condition untreated, he broke down and explained that their family was not in a position of catering for his treatment.” With $440, we can help. Chris will have access to the single hernia repair procedure he needs. “We expect that after the treatment and recovery,” AMHF explains, “Chris will be able to continue focusing on his education and achieving his dreams. He will no longer be in pain.”

“I am very nervous about the surgery but I know everything is in God’s hands and I will be protected,” says Landrie. Meet Landrie, a 26-year-old woman from Haiti. Landrie has a poorly functioning aortic valve in her heart that limits blood flow. “Several years ago, Landrie fell ill with a high fever that severely damaged the aortic valve of her heart," explains our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). "As a result, her heart cannot adequately pump blood through her body at an adequate speed, leaving her very tired and sickly." Landrie lives with her mother and enjoys the company of her friends and family in Haiti. She particularly likes cooking and going to church. “Landrie studied informatics in college, but has been unable to finish her degree or work because of her cardiac condition,” continues HCA. For $1500, we can provide Landrie with an artificial heart valve to improve the functionality of her heart. Landrie will then be able to return and spend time with her friends and family. HCA adds: “Following surgery, Landrie will have to take lifelong blood thinners to maintain her artificial heart valve, but should otherwise be able to live a normal and healthy life.”

“I always imagined what it would be like to go to school, so I still hope that one day I will go to school and learn how to read and write,” said Yohana, a 15-year-old boy from Tanzania who enjoys playing soccer and is in charge of herding his father’s cattle. “When he was three-years-old, Yohana was playing with other children when he accidentally fell on hot ashes and suffered severe burn wounds,” shares our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Although he received treatment, it took a long time for the wounds to heal, leaving Yohana’s arm in an L shape. Yohana now has anterior contractor of his left elbow, limiting its mobility and flexibility. If untreated, he will continue to have a left arm that he cannot bend. Yohana’s parents keep cattle and do farming, but cannot afford to pay for the surgery Yohana needs. With $550, AMHF will be able to provide Yohana with single contracture release surgery for his left elbow. After surgery, Yohana’s arm will be straight and flexible, allowing him to easily accomplish different activities. Let’s help him out!

55-year-old Wanja is a working single mother of two living in Kenya. "I am working hard so that I can eventually have my own land and build a house that my children can call their home," says Wanja, who works as a casual laborer at a local university. Wanja has a painful lump in her breast and was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Wanja needs surgery and potentially chemotherapy to treat her condition. However, she can't afford the cost with one child still in high school and the other finishing college. "If the surgery is not done, the cancer is likely to spread to Wanja's vital organs which will lead to death," medical partner Africa Mission Healthcare Foundation explains. Her doctors are confident in Wanja's recovery though, saying "we expect that after the surgery and perhaps a few sessions of chemotherapy, Wanja will be cancer free and she can continue working hard so that she can one day own her own home."

Rocio is a three-week-old baby girl, living with her parents and seven siblings in Guatemala. “This little baby girl is in danger of severe malnutrition if not helped out,” our medical partners at Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK) explain. “Mom is on the older side, and this was a tough pregnancy for her. Her milk production never started, and so she’s come to us looking for help.” Breast milk is important for the baby’s early development in terms of gaining weight and natural immunity. A milk formula can supply Rocio with the nutrition she needs, but her parents are unable to afford it. “We just want Rocio to get better soon, so that we can watch her grow and be healthy,” Rocio’s parents tell us. Our partners at WK expect that “with milk supplementation and close growth monitoring, Rocio will gain the weight she has lost and begin to improve.” It will take $1,220 to cover the costs to ensure that Rocio grows normally. Let's come together and help little Rocio get healthy!

“I want to get strong and well again so that I can work hard for my children. I am all they have,” says Loise, a 43-year-old woman from Kenya. “Loise is a mother of six, and all her children are still in school and fully depend on her. Loise works as a traditional dancer in a local entertainment spot that embraces African culture. All the money that Loise earns goes to her children’s education and needs,” explains our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. Loise has been diagnosed with early stage cervical cancer, and deals with blood spotting and weakness as a result. These symptoms affect her ability to work; if left untreated, the cancer could spread to other organs and become fatal. For $800, Loise can receive the surgery necessary to remove the cancer from her body. Let’s help Loise get her strength and health back!

Meet Sona, a lovely 26-year-old woman from Cambodia. Sona enjoys Khmer pop music and embroidering in her free time. Sona currently struggles with the physical and emotional burden of having congenital ptosis -- a malformation of the upper lip. "She is ashamed of the way of her face looks and is very shy," says our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC)."[She] doesn't have the confidence to apply to better jobs than the factory job she has, so she relies on her parents for a place to live." For $290, our medical partner can surgically correct Sona's ptosis, which will change the appearance of her upper lip. She is very excited by the prospect of looking like other girls her age. Let's help Sona receive this treatment and gain confidence in herself!

Meet Barnabas! He is an active 11-year-old boy from a family of six children that loves to attend school! His favorite subjects are reading and mathematics. Barnabas’ family works hard to ensure that he can attend school; his father is a plumber and his mother is cook at a small café within their hometown in Tanzania. Barnabas says, “I enjoy watching soccer games and I wish that one day I can become a professional soccer player.” Before this guy can get out on the soccer field, he needs our support! Barnabas was born with a club foot. His doctors say “he is at high risk of developing early osteoarthritis of the small bones if not treated.” Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, explains, that with the little income his family makes, “they cannot afford to pay the medical cost for their son’s corrective surgery.” For $1,160, Barnabas can receive corrective surgery to allow him to walk faster and decrease his chances of developing osteoarthritis. Together we can help Barnabas achieve his dreams to play soccer with his friends!

This is Zakia, a two-year-old girl from Tanzania. She is the youngest of five siblings and lives with her mother who works hard as a small-scale farmer. Zakia was born with bilateral club foot, a congenital condition in which the feet are turned inwards about 90 degrees. The toes face each other instead of facing outwards. This has been hard for Zakia; it takes her a long time to stand up and she is not able to walk. Additionally, she is at risk to develop painful osteoarthritis in her feet. Despite these challenges, Zakia is resilient. "Zakia is a cheerful little baby girl," our medical partner writes. "Although she cannot walk, she still joins other children when they are playing by sitting close by and cheering." Zakia's mother wants the best for her daughter but is unable to pay for the corrective surgery Zakia needs. “My hope is to see my daughter able to walk like the rest of my children so that she can go to school and later get a job,” she says. Watsi donors, you can make this a reality. For $715, Zakia can receive a casting procedure and a surgery called a tenotomy to correct her clubbed feet. These two procedures will allow her walk and finally keep up with all of her friends!

Emilia is a humble 34-year-old woman from Guatemala who was born without a left arm. This has limited her independence and self-esteem her entire life. Emilia is from an indigenous community and has never had been able to afford a prosthetic device. As a result, she's been dependent on others to do basic daily tasks. “Emilia lives in a very remote area and was referred to us by one of our partner organizations. She traveled several days to come for an evaluation,” her doctor in Guatemala tells us. "She comes from a poor background, so she never thought a prosthetic arm would be a possibility. She’s excited to learn that there are people who can help!” We're raising $1255 to help Emilia afford a molded prosthetic arm. With this arm, Emilia will be able to move through life independently, something she never imagined was possible!

Thi Aye is a skillful 18-year-old young woman from Burma who has been living with a hemangioma in her left cheek her entire life. Hemangioma is a benign tumor, though it can become enlarged over time and causes pain, discomfort, and emotional side effects. As the years went by, the hemangioma began to interfere with her eating, as she would bite the growth on her left cheek when chewing her food. When she was 14, Thi Aye dropped out of school and started delivering vegetables at the market to help support her family. At work and in the evening she felt a painful tightness in her mouth, and she would have severe headaches about once a week. She carried the vegetables in a large basket on her head, but after a few months of working the basket's weight began to put pressure on the hemangioma, causing her severe discomfort. Her condition made it impossible to continue selling vegetables, though Thi Aye was determined to continue to work. Five months ago she began working at home sewing clothing until her family’s home burned down in December 2013. She now lives under the shelter of a tree with eight other family members while her father builds a new home in a new village. Thi Aye has undergone surgery twice for her condition around the age of 16, though both surgeries failed to completely remove the hemangioma. Thi Aye is now seeking permanent surgical removal of her tumor, which will free her of pain and give her a fresh start. Thi Aye is very eager to work again and looks forward to undergoing treatment so she can regain her confidence and find a new job that she enjoys. For $1500 we can help Thi Aye to live pain-free so she can focus on finding her passion!