Dinavence is a hardworking and caring mother of five. Her oldest child is in seventh grade and her youngest is in second grade. She works as a farmer, and her husband works as a builder. Together, they all live in a single-roomed house. For the past nine months, Dinavence has had to deal with a painful hernia located just above her bellybutton. The hernia causes her pain whenever she strains, such as when she bends while farming or even when she coughs. In order to alleviate her pain and ensure that she is able to continue supporting her children in good health, Dinavence must undergo surgery. Fortunately, she is scheduled to undergo hernia repair surgery on July 5th at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $230 to fund Dinavence's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably and confidently. Dinavence shares, “I would really love to see my children acquire education to live a happy life in the future, and I hope that I will regain my health and continue with farming to make my wish come true.”

Kyaw Myat is a five-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his family in a village in Sagaing Division. Kyaw Myat’s father is a subsistence farmer and sometimes he also works as a day laborer on other villagers’ farms. His mother is a homemaker and takes care of Kyaw Myat’s brother at home. Kyaw Myat received a shunt, throught the help of Watsi, for his hydrocephalus. Because he was also diagnosed with an abnormal growth in his head, and the mass is putting pressure on an artery in his head, it affected his ability to walk properly. Currently, Kyaw Myat cannot walk properly and sometimes, he complains that he has a headache and watery eyes. Doctors want Kyaw Myat to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose his condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $469 to cover the cost of Kyaw Myat's CT scan and care, scheduled for August 23. Kyaw Myat father said, "I was told that they want a CT scan to check my son's condition. I am very worried because they just asked for it before surgery and I am afraid there might be a bad outcome."

Evenlight is a young student from Tanzania. She is the first born in a family of four kids. Unfortunately, she lost her father when she was three years old. She is in her final year of primary school education. For six years, Evenlight has been experiencing regular infections, trouble breathing, and sleep apnea. Frequent illness causes her to miss school. Evenlight was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $633 to fund a tonsillectomy for Evenlight, which is scheduled to take place on May 17. Surgeons will remove her tonsils, hopefully relieving Evenlight of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably. Evenlight’s mother says, “I wouldn’t want my daughter’s condition to hinder her from her studies. I would love for her to be able to study without being sick and be able to pass and go to high school."

Tha Zin is 13-year-old student from Burma. She attends a local school in her home village and is currently in grade seven. In her free time, Tha Zin enjoys drawing. Since 2017, Tha Zin has been experiencing regular episodes of lower abdominal pain. She has been diagnosed with fibroids, which are benign growths in the uterus. She needs to undergo a myomectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove the fibroids. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), is requesting $960 to fund Tha Zin's surgery. She is scheduled to undergo her myomectomy on April 18 at BCMF's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital. “When I grow up, I want to become an engineer,” says Tha Zin.

Meet Julio, a one-year-old baby boy from the Dominican Republic. Julio was born with a ventricular septal defect. In this condition, there is a hole in the wall that separates the two lower chambers of the heart, causing oxygen-rich blood to combine with oxygen-poor blood. This then forces Julio's heart to work harder than normal, making him feel ill. Although Julio is not Haitian, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is collaborating with their partners in the Dominican Republic to offer treatment to Dominican children. Julio will be one of the first children to receive this care. First, Julio will undergo a full cardiac assessment on February 8. 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 Julio also covers the cost of medications and social support for him and his family. Gift of Life International is contributing $7,000 to cover additional costs associated with Julio's surgical care. His mother says, "We would like to thank everyone who is helping answer our prayers for Julio to become healthy!"

Channy is 21 years old and in the twelfth grade. She has four sisters and four brothers. In her free time, she likes to read books, cook, and watch TV. When she was six years old, Channy developed a cholesteatoma in her right ear. A cholesteatoma is an abnormal skin growth behind the ear drum. It causes her ear discharge, hearing loss, pain, and itchiness. She went to a hospital in Phnom Penh for treatment, but her symptoms did not improve. When Channy learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for two hours to seek treatment. On January 3, surgeons at CSC performed a mastoidectomy procedure in Channy's right ear to remove the cholesteatoma. This procedure should improve Channy's hearing. CSC is requesting $842 to fund this treatment. "I hope to have no more pain and good hearing," says Channy. "I hope it will be easy for me to communicate with other people. I want to work in the bank in the future."

Yosef is a three-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He is a friendly child who loves to play. Yosef has a five-year-old sister, and both of his parents are teachers at the public school. Yosef was born with a condition that affects his urinary function. He experiences uncomfortable symptoms, and his parents worry that the condition will cause him trouble in the future. For the past three years, Yosef's mother has been out of work taking care of Yosef. His father's income only covers the family's essential needs. The family needs help to fund this $1,231 procedure. Yosef’s father says, “We can’t afford the medical bill because currently––and for the past three years––I was the one who worked to support our family, and my income is not enough to cover the medical bill.”

Lar is a 22-year-old woman. She was born in Burma, but her family moved when she was young, and she has lived in Thailand for almost 20 years. She and her husband farm corn on a neighbor’s land. They also work as agricultural day laborers, planting rice to earn extra money. For two years, Lar worked in Bangkok as a domestic worker. During this time, she began to experience troubling symptoms. She felt tired and dizzy, had difficulty breathing, and could not continue her work. When she did work, she experienced heart palpitations. She visited a doctor in Bangkok and underwent an echocardiogram. She was diagnosed with a cardiac condition, an atrial septal defect (ASD). This means there is a hole between the upper chambers of her heart. Recently, Lar was referred to our medical partner. She is experiencing back pain, fatigue, and difficulty breathing. She cannot work, eat, or sleep well. Fortunately, on January 8, she will undergo an ASD closure surgery. Lar has been unable to work, and her husband has taken time off from work to care for her. They cannot afford this surgery, so our medical partner is requesting $1,500 in funding.

Angelo, a 9-year-old boy, is the fifth of eight siblings. He enjoys playing with his younger sister. Angelo was born with an abnormal condition in a sensitive area. He underwent surgery when he was seven days old, but his family's financial limitations prevented doctors from completing treatment. For this reason, his activities are limited, and he often experiences indigestion and weight loss. Though Angelo finished preschool, his condition has prevented him from enrolling in first grade because school is too far from home. Angelo flew from his rural home to the city of Bacolod to receive treatment. On November 24, Angelo underwent corrective surgery. He will be monitored for two weeks and will undergo a followup surgery several months from now. Angelo's father works as a tenant on a farm, and his mother is a housewife. They cannot afford this $1,500 procedure, and they need our help. "I am so thankful for this opportunity that has come to us," says Angelo's mother. "I never thought that Angelo would be treated because of our financial situation...This has given us hope for Angelo and for his future. I am looking forward to Angelo being fully well, going to school, and fulfilling whatever dreams he has. I know he will have a better future."

Aye Aye is a four-year-old girl who lives in a refugee camp with her parents and three siblings. Her two oldest siblings attend school in the camp. Aye Aye’s stepfather supports the family working as a day deliverer. His income is not enough to provide for all of the family's needs. When Aye Aye was born, her mother noticed a bump on her nose. The bump, indicative of a neurological condition known as encephalocele, continued to increase in size. Her parents worried that it would cause her shyness as she aged, for she is a playful girl who enjoys time with her friends. The encephalocele is painful if hit accidentally, and it interferes with her vision. Aye Aye was referred to our medical partner, where she underwent surgical repair on October 30, 2016. Aye Aye’s parents have taken time off work to care for their daughter. Now, they need help to fund her healthcare costs. Of the future, Aye Aye's father says, “Aye Aye is a very intelligent child, and she will do well with an education."

“We dream that our daughter can study and become a teacher," Celina's mother shares. Meet Celina, a 15-month-old girl from Guatemala. Celina is the youngest of seven children in her family and lives with her parents in an adobe house with a tin roof. She enjoys playing with her dolls and older sisters. Celina's mother works at home, cooks, cleans, and cares for the children. Her father is a day laborer in the fields, who makes only a couple dollars per day. Celina currently lives with acute malnutrition. She is below the average height and the average weight for her age, and she currently is not consuming enough calories and enough quality foods. As a result her physical growth is stunted, and we worry her mental growth will be stunted as well. As a result of food insecurity and marginalization, indigenous Guatemalan villages have the highest rates of stunting in the world. In addition to growth stunting, malnutrition can lead to lower IQ, heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. $512 will fund the treatment Celina needs to address her nutritional deficit and improve her low energy and subsequent limited mental potential. This involves micronutrient and food supplementation, deworming medication to rid Celina of a parasitic infection, and nutrition education for her parents. With these combined efforts, Celina will recoup her weight and height and strengthen her immune system, laying the foundation for a healthier future.