Heszhien is an eleven-month-old baby girl who lives with her siblings and parents in the Philippines. She is a happy baby who likes to play with her siblings as much as she can. Heszhien was recently diagnosed with malnutrition, a condition that results from consuming too few calories, proteins, and nutrients. Beginning on June 28, Heszhien will receive at-home malnutrition treatment through our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM). ICM will provide Heszhien with nutrient enriched food packs to help her gain weight and achieve optimum physical and mental development. The program will also teach her family about proper nutrition, sanitation, and organic gardening to better care for their daughter. ICM is requesting $173 to cover the cost of Heszhien's ongoing care. "We hope that she will recover from malnutrition so that she can grow up and complete school," her mother says.

Diana is a five-month-old baby girl from a rural area of Guatemala. She is her parents' first child, and they are thrilled to have her join their small, loving family. Diana is a cheerful baby who enjoys playing with her toy rattle. Her parents work hard, embroidering baby clothes to sell so that they can provide for Diana. Diana's mother discovered early on that she was unable to produce breastmilk to feed Diana. They looked to other breastfeeding family members to donate breastmilk. Unfortunately, Diana has been receiving a nutritionally insufficient diet. To stabilize her condition, Diana was given a preliminary supply of formula, which will last until our medical partner's nutritionist can create a nutritional plan and formally begin treatment. Our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq, will provide Diana with formula, nutritional packets, and visits from a nutritionist and a community health worker to monitor her progress and provide one-on-one motivational education to Diana’s mother. Wuqu' Kawog is requesting $1,162 to fund Diana's nutritional program, set to start on March 16. The program will strengthen Diana’s immune system and help her to grow to be a healthy, energetic baby. Diana's mother says, "We are fighting to bring about a better life with better opportunities so that our daughter has better opportunities."

17-month-old Aicie is the only daughter of hard-working parents in the Philippines. Her father drives a "habal-habal" (motorcycle taxi), while her mother takes care of her and the household. Aicie is malnourished. Although she is thin and underweight, she loves to play outside with the neighborhood kids. Aicie will be 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 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. Aicie will begin ICM's program on February 20. Her family needs help raising $184 to pay for the program. "Someday, I hope my daughter will finish her studies," shares Aicie's mother. "I pray that she grows up strong and healthy."

One-year-old Xian loves to play with toy cars. He lives in a small wooden hut with his two older siblings and parents. They share electricity with their neighbors. His father, Guillermo, is a pedicab driver and a local safety enforcement officer. Xian has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. Malnutrition threatens his growth and development and could even be fatal if not addressed. Fortunately, he will begin $184 malnutrition treatment on February 22. Xian will be 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 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. Xian's mother says, "I'm positive that my son will recover from malnutrition soon."

Jeff is a 17-month-old boy from the Philippines who lives with his parents and five siblings. Jeff loves to play and likes to wear his father's big shoes. However, his mother worries about Jeff because he often gets sick. Jeff has been diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition. Malnutrition threatens his growth and development and could even be fatal if not addressed. Fortunately, he will begin $268 malnutrition treatment on February 23. Jeff will be 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 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. Jeff's mother says, "I am hoping that Jeff's health will improve and that he will grow strong and healthy. I am dreaming that he will finish school and become a professional one day."

Pauline is a 16-month-old baby from the Philippines. She lives in a bamboo house with her parents and siblings. With seven family members in one house, it is difficult for her parents to provide for the family. Pauline has been diagnosed with moderately acute malnutrition. Malnutrition threatens Pauline’s growth and development and could even be fatal if not addressed. Fortunately, she will begin $184 malnutrition treatment on February 22. Pauline will be 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 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. Her mother says, "I hope someday my child will finish her studies and will be a successful doctor. I am excited for the malnutrition program of ICM."

Tapesh is a nine-year-old student who lives with his grandparents. His parents live in India, and his father sends home money for Tapesh's schooling. Tapesh enjoys listening to music and singing. Tapesh was swinging on the branch of a tree when the branch snapped, and he fell to the ground and landed on his left hand. He has been in constant pain since then. He has difficulty writing in school, and he also cannot eat or dress on his own. Tapesh's uncle took a three-hour jeep ride to bring him to our medical partner's care center, Bayalpata Hospital. On February 19, Tapesh will be fitted with a cast to align the bones in his wrist. Now, Tapesh needs assistance in funding this $195 treatment.

Srey Lis is 12 years old and in the fifth grade. She lives in Cambodia with her two sisters and two brothers. She likes to watch the music channel on TV and read her school books. In October 2016, Srey Lis suffered a severe hot water burn on her lower abdomen, both of her legs, and her left arm. She went to a hospital in Phnom Penh for treatment, but her symptoms did not improve and her wounds grew infected. She has since developed contractures on both of her legs and hands, tightening the skin around the burns. Srey Lis has not been able to go to school since the accident. Srey Lis's parents heard about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), from people in their village. She traveled for four hours with her mother to reach CSC for treatment. Surgeons at CSC will perform a debridement procedure to remove the damaged and infected tissue as well as a skin graft on both of her legs. This procedure costs $378 and will take place on January 24. Post-surgery, Srey Lis will feel more comfortable again.

Srey Rey is a 19-year-old farmer from Cambodia. She two sisters and three brothers. She enjoys cooking, listening to music, and watching movies. In February of 2012, Srey Rey was hit by a car, causing a head injury that knocked her unconscious for more than 24 hours. She was taken to a local hospital and, upon regaining consciousness, found she was unable to move her arms. Over time, Srey Rey has regained some mobility in her shoulder and elbow. To this day, she has great difficulty moving both her right and left hands. Srey Rey traveled four hours to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, in hopes of regaining use of her hands. Srey Rey is scheduled to receive treatment on January 20. Surgeons will perform a tendon transfer in her right hand, restoring function to that hand. Our medical partner is requesting $450 to cover the cost of the operation, medication, and four nights of hospital stay.

Ludmisha is four years old. She lives in Port-au-Prince, Haiti with her parents and older sister. Her father is a roofer, and her mother is a market seller. She goes to preschool and likes dressing up and going to church. Ludmisha was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through her lungs to get oxygen, leaving her feeling weak. Ludmisha needs to undergo pediatric cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, St. Damien Hospital. Surgeons will operate to close the hole. First, Ludmisha will undergo a full cardiac assessment on January 17. This assessment will include physical exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to fund these procedures. Funding for Ludmisha also covers the cost of medications and social support for her and her family. Gift of Life International is contributing $3,500 to cover additional costs associated with Ludmisha's surgical care. "We have been very worried about our daughter's heart problem," says Ludmisha's mother, "and we are all praying that everything will go well this week!"

Bala is a married father of three. He works as a motorcycle taxi driver, and he uses his income to take care of his family. About five years ago, Bala developed a painful and irregular swelling in his left groin region. When he visited a hospital, he could not afford to pay for treatment. Finally, he visited our medical partner's care center, Holy Family Virika Hospital. There, he was diagnosed with a left inguinal hernia, meaning that part of his intestine has bulged through his abdomen. Bala requires surgery to repair the hernia and is currently scheduled to have the operation on January 18. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $249 to cover the expenses of the procedure. After surgery, Bala hopes to start trading in secondhand clothes so that he can increase his income and continue to support his family.

Melany is an 11-month-old girl from Guatemala. She is underweight and small for her age. Melany has malnutrition, a dangerous condition that results from consuming too little protein, calories, and nutrients. In the short term, malnutrition means Melany has little energy to grow. Her immune system is weak, leaving her vulnerable to illnesses that further compromise her growth. She may also face malnutrition’s long-term consequences, such as increased risk of chronic diseases, low IQ, and higher likelihood of dropping out of school. Melany began malnutrition treatment on October 28, 2016. Melany lives with her family in an adobe home with a tin roof. Her father works as a day laborer, and her mother cooks, cleans, and takes care of her children. While Melany's parents want the best for their daughter, their resources are already stretched thin. They cannot afford to pay for Melany's $512 treatment. While malnutrition can have devastating effects, it is also very treatable. Growth monitoring, micronutrients and food supplementation will help Melany recover. She will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children her age, and her immune system will grow stronger with the increased caloric intake. Community health workers will teach her mother about creating a nutrient-rich diet from limited resources. Treatment will give Melany's family tools to maintain nutritious diets, and it will give Melany a chance to grow healthily. Treatment will give her an opportunity to play and grow, supported by a healthy brain and body.