"Scovia and her husband Ronald are so excited about having their first child, because they have been trying for a while," our medical partner, The Kellermann Foundation, says. Scovia is a 25-year-old expectant mother working as a small-scale farmer in Uganda. In their free time, SK tells us, "Scovia and Ronald enjoy going to church and socializing with their neighbors.” Scovia has been identified as a high-risk pregnancy because her baby is large. To help ensure a safe delivery, Scovia will require a Cesarean section, which will cost $303. Scovia and Ronald are looking forward to bringing their baby home. They hope that their child is born healthy, and they will be able to pay school fees so he or she can have a good education. "Both parents would like to say thank you to all the donors," our medical partner adds. "Having a C-section is expensive and they appreciate the help very much."

Meet Daudi! Daudi is a three-year-old boy from Tanzania. "He is the fifth and last born in the family," our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), reports. Always curious, Daudi likes to observe and play with other children. He's very quick to pick up the activities that he see's the other children participating in, and tries to do the same. Daudi has lived with an enlarged adenoid since birth, making it hard for him to breathe, especially through his nose. The adenoid is a patch of tissue at the back of the nasal passage that catches bacteria and germs trying to enter the body. "He breathes with so much difficulty, especially at night," AMHF tells us. "it sounds as though Daudi is snoring, even when he is not asleep." Coming from a large family, there are not enough resources to pay for Daudi's operation. His mother stays at home with him and his siblings while his father cares for livestock. $488 will cover the cost of treatment for Daudi, his three day hospital stay, and the necessary antibiotics. In the operation, his enlarged adenoid will be removed through his mouth. After the operation, Daudi will be able to breathe through his nose and sleep throughout the night. "If my son could become a doctor, I will be so happy," Daudi's mother shares. "For now, I wish he could breathe without difficulty."

Over four years ago, 38-year-old Nankya started feeling pain in her navel area. One year later, she was diagnosed with a supraumbilical hernia; a condition that occurs when tissues or organs bulge through a weak portion of the abdominal wall. The swelling causes her pain which gets worse when she’s carrying heavy items, during cold weather, or when she coughs. At the time of Nankya’s diagnosis, she was pregnant and medical providers advised her to wait to have the surgery after the baby was delivered. Post-delivery, Nankya was unable to save enough money for her treatment. Nankya worked in the fields for long hours, tended her garden, and weaved baskets for an income, but the hernia has hindered her from continuing. If her hernia is not treated, Nankya is at risk of serious complications such as obstruction of the intestine, incarceration or strangulation which will cause the intestinal tissue to die and can be fatal. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), can provide Nankya with a hernia repair at a treatment cost of $220. With her hernia preventing her from working, she cannot save the money for the treatment alone. Watsi funding will provide for the cost of treatment, the medicines, and her hospital stay. Doctors expect that after the treatment she will no longer experience any pain and there will be no more risk of complications. As a married mother of six, Nankya is looking forward to having the surgery, regaining her strength and returning to work to support her family. “Thank you for your assistance. God bless you,” she says.

“I am shy around my friends and I don’t feel good when I go outside and meet new people,” says Mey, an 11-year-old girl living in Cambodia. Mey was born with esotropia of the left eye, a condition that causes her eye to turn inward. Mey is the middle child in the family and is in first grade. She loves playing with dolls and drawing pictures. Mey traveled 3 hours with her mother to Children's Surgical Centre, a Watsi medical partner, where she heard she could receive treatment free of charge. With a limited income and three children to support, Mey's parents cannot afford the treatment her daughter needs. Strabismus correction surgery for Mey will cost $290. Following a strabismus correction surgery, Mey’s left eye will be aligned correctly. After surgery, Mey's mother hopes her daughter will no longer be shy around other kids due to her condition.

“Cynthia is just 12-days-old and is suffering from anorectal malformation,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us. “Cynthia is missing an anal opening and therefore cannot pass stool normally. Cynthia presently passes stool through her vagina. The opening is prone to infection and occasional leakages can occur and cause skin scarring and general irritation.” Cynthia lives with her mother, father, and six-year-old sibling in Kenya. “The father is a plumber who earns an average of $6 per day and the mother is a stay-at-home mother,” AMHF explains. “They reside in a two-room rental house and the parents own no land. With the little income Cynthia’s father gets, they are not able to raise funds required for her surgery.” An anorectoplasty for Cynthia costs $715. After the surgery is performed, AMHF expects “that Cynthia will be able to relieve herself normally, greatly minimizing damage to the surrounding anatomical structures. She will no longer be prone to infection, leakage, or irritation.” “We are glad we’ve finally found a place where Cynthia could be treated,” her mother shares. “We hope to get the support we need for her treatment.”

Mirlene is three years old, and lives in Port-au-Prince, Haiti with her mother, aunt, and cousins. She has not yet started preschool but likes to play with the kids in her neighborhood and draw. “Mirlene was born with a cardiac condition called complete atrioventricular septal defect, in which multiple holes exist between the upper and lower chambers of her heart,” says our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). “Blood flows through these holes in her heart without first passing through the lungs to get oxygen, leaving her sickly and short of breath. Because of the severity of this condition, there is a chance it may not be repairable, but the only way to determine this is by inserting a catheter into the chambers of her heart. Since this is not possible in Haiti, arrangements are being made to bring her to Dominican Republic to perform this extremely important test in the hopes that she can have heart surgery later in the year.” For $1,500, Mirlene will receive this life-saving procedure to determine the rest of her treatment plan. This cost also covers her travel and transportation costs between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. "I am so happy that there is a way forward for Mirlene,” her mother says. “We are hoping for a good result from this test."

Meet ten-day-old Simon. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), informs us that Simon, who lives with his mother in Kenya, was born with a congenital neurological condition caused hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus causes an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. In an infant, too much CSF can increase pressure in the brain and inner skull, typically leading to swelling and developmental delays. Simon's mother is a single parent. AMHF explains, “Simon’s mother hawks second hand clothes to support the family, but is not able to raise the required funds for Simon’s surgery.” For $615, Simon will undergo a shunt insertion operation. A shunt will be surgically placed into the swollen area of Simon’s brain--naturally draining the excess CSF and reducing the intracranial pressure. “Simon’s surgery will help reduce the excessive pressure on the brain, preventing visual impairment and death,” AMHF states. “It is every mother’s joy when her child is healthy and growing up well and normal and her lowest moment when her child is ill,” AMHF tells us. Simon’s mother adds, “I am hoping there will be help towards Simon’s treatment.”

3-year-old Roobens was born with a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, “which involves a hole between two chambers of the heart as well as a muscular blockage of one of the valves,” says our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). “Blood flows through the hole in his heart without first passing through the lungs to get oxygen, leaving him sickly and short of breath. Because of the severity of this condition, there is a chance it may not be repairable, but the only way to determine this is by inserting a catheter into the chambers of his heart. Since this is not possible in Haiti, arrangements are being made to bring him to Dominican Republic to perform this extremely important test in the hopes that he can have heart surgery later in the year.” Roobens lives in a valley in central Haiti with his mother, father, and one older brother. His parents are rice farmers. He likes to help around the house and sing and dance. For $1,500, Roobens will be transported to the Dominican Republic and receive a procedure to diagnose his condition with certainty. “Following the catheterization procedure, Roobens's family will know with certainty whether his condition is operable or not,” HCA says. “If operable, plans will then be made to move forward with his surgery as soon as possible.” "Our family is all praying to God that the test will give us hope for the future,” his mother says.

Joselin is a 19-year-old Guatemalan woman, who needs treatment for cataracts. She is developmentally delayed, and started to lose her eyesight due to cataracts a few years ago. Without eyesight, her ability to work and socialize is compromised. Joselin is from a large family with many young children. As she gets older, her family struggles to support her. “Although she is mentally challenged, she is an extremely capable individual, and could potentially work or contribute to the household in some way,” explains our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). “However, without eyesight life is made much more difficult, and her ability to work and assist her family is close to eliminated.” “Even though she wants to learn, Joselin has never attended school,” continues WK. “Social stigma around her appearance and weakened ability to physically see others has limited her social interactions/community acceptance, and now she spends many days sitting at home.” With $1485, Joselin will receive cataract surgery to remove the cloudy lens, which will be replaced by a clear lens implant. The cost also includes antibiotic drops as well as transportation costs. Cataract surgery is the most common surgery performed worldwide and only takes an hour. Just one day after surgery, Joselin’s vision will improve to 20/20.

“My focus is my love for my family and a hope for a cure,” says the mother of Margaret, a three-month-old girl who lives with her parents and sisters in Kenya. Margaret came to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), with hydrocephalus. “Margaret has an enlarged head size [due to] an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in her brain,” explains AMHF. This is causing increased intra-cranial pressure inside her skull. “If not treated, Margaret's head will progressively enlarge and eventually cause damage to her brain,” AMHF continues. Margaret is also likely to lose her sight and is at risk of premature death. Treatment for Margaret is surgery to place a shunt in her brain. The shunt connects to a tube that runs under the skin and empties into an abdominal cavity, where the excess cerebrospinal fluid can be resorbed by the body. Margaret’s mother is a domestic worker with long hours, and her father farms the family’s quarter of acre of land to grow food for the family. Despite their hard work, they earn just enough money to pay for school supplies and fees for Margaret’s sisters, and the harvest from their farmland barely feeds the whole family. Given their financial situation, they are not able to raise money to pay for Margaret’s surgery. With $980 in funding, Margaret can undergo surgery to place the shunt and receive five days of hospital care after surgery. AMHF tells us, “Margaret’s surgery will help reduce the excessive pressure in the brain and prevent visual impairment.” “We are determined to overcome this illness and not let it ruin her life,” says Margaret's mother. Let's help make that happen!

Meet Favian, a six-year-old young boy from a small village in Panama. “Favian was born with a small tube connecting his tear ducts to the outside of his nose, so tears or pus leak out of his skin onto his face all day,” explains our medical partner, Floating Doctors. “Sometimes the tube gets infected and blocked up, giving him conjunctivitis.” “Favian is a very quiet and introverted little boy and usually stays right next to his dad,” shares Floating Doctors. “Favian loves to color and can work for hours with a pack of crayons and coloring book.” Medical care in the remote indigenous village Favian lives in can be difficult to access. "The villagers are subsistence farmers with very little income, and everyone in the community lives well below the poverty line. A one-way journey to the nearest small clinic is about 5 hours walking in good weather, with three river crossings," explains Floating Doctors. $1,070 will fund Favian’s nasal fistula repair which will cure the fistula and prevent further infections. Favian will be able to see without discomfort and pain. Let's help make it happen!

“Khaing is a 45-year-old woman who was referred from a clinic in Burma to our treatment centre,” shares our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). “She has two daughters and one son who are all married and live with their own families. Her husband works as an unloading worker.” BBP tells us that Khaing began noticing abdominal problems two years ago. “She felt a mass in her abdomen when she touched it,” explains BBP. “She first went to the hospital in late 2013 to have her abdomen checked. The doctor performed an ultrasound and said she had a mass in her uterus.” That doctor recommended she travel to another hospital for treatment, but Khaing could not afford it. As it has gone untreated, the mass has been getting larger and Khaing is experiencing more pain. Doctors are now recommending surgery. Khaing had to stop working because of her condition, and her husband now only makes minimal income to support them both. It is not enough to cover the costs of treatment. With our support of $1500, Khaing will receive a hysterectomy to remove the mass. She will spend one to two days recovering at the hospital followed by four to six weeks recovering at home. Doctors anticipate that after the surgery, Khaing won’t experience any more pain. She will be able to get back to her family at home. Khaing is ambitious, and is eager to get back to work. “I want to build my own small shop at home and sell some snacks to generate income to be able to help my husband,” she shares with us.