Praxidis is a farmer from Kenya. She is a mother of four children and lives with her husband. Praxidis has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $816 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Praxidis. The procedure is scheduled to take place on July 4. After treatment, Praxidis will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Praxidis says, “I am optimistic that soon I will be treated and go back to the village to help my husband in the farm.”

Oliver is a student from Haiti. He lives with his parents and siblings in a neighborhood in Port-au-Prince. He is in the first grade and enjoys going to school. Oliver has a cardiac condition called pulmonary atresia. He was born with one of the four valves of the heart missing. Sometimes a surgery can be done to correct this condition, but the only way to know this is by doing a cardiac catheterization. To determine if Oliver's condition is operable, he must undergo a diagnostic cardiac catheterization, a procedure that is not available in Haiti. During the procedure, a catheter probe will be inserted into his heart to perform the necessary measurements and tests. On May 24, he will travel to the Dominican Republic to receive the scan at our medical partner's care center, Clinica Corominas. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is asking for $1,500 to cover the costs of Oliver's travel expenses, catheterization procedure, and lab work. His father says, "Our family is very happy to have this chance, and we are hopeful that Oliver's heart will be able to be fixed."

Devison is a farmer from Malawi. He lives with his wife of many years, and together they run a small farm. Devison spends his days tending goats, and he enjoys spending time with his wife and their children and grandchildren. For three years, Devison 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 Devison's surgery. On May 3, 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. Devison was thrilled to find out his surgery would be funded. He says, "I am so happy! Thank you so much."

Jean Emile is a preschooler from Haiti. He lives with his mother, father, and two brothers in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. He has been attending preschool, and likes playing with cars and action figures. Jean Emile has a cardiac condition called large ventricular septal defect. A hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole without first passing through the lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him sick and short of breath. Jean Emile will fly to Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On April 6, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will sew a patch over the hole so blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, Health City Cayman Islands, is contributing $17,000 to pay for surgery. Jean Emile'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 Jean Emile's family overseas. His mother says, "I have been praying for years that my son could have this surgery. I am very excited the time has arrived!"

Milien is a young man from Haiti. He lives with his parents, brothers and sisters in Port-au-Prince. He has not yet finished high school because of his heart condition. He enjoys going to church and spending time with his family and neighbors. Milien has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves of his heart does not function properly because it was severely damaged by a rheumatic fever he suffered several years ago. As a result, his heart cannot adequately circulate blood through his body, and he is weak and in heart failure. Milien will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On March 27, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will either repair or replace his damaged mitral valve.. Another organization, The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, is contributing $60,000 to pay for surgery. Milien'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 Milien's family overseas. He says, "I pray for God's blessings on everyone who is helping me to have this surgery."

Eng is a grandfather from Cambodia. He has seven children and twelve grandchildren. He works part time in the pagoda near his house. In May 2017, he fell and sustained multiple fractures, including his femur. He has difficulty walking and has pain at night. Fortunately, Eng learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Eng of his pain and allow him to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for January 17, and Eng needs help raising $1,025 to pay for this procedure. He says, "I hope I can complete my work and walk better."

Ten years ago, Rose was born in Kenya. However, at about two or three years of age, her parents noticed an abnormal growth bulging from Rose’s back. They initially thought the condition would normalize, but as years went by, the condition continued to progress. They sought help from different hospitals but could not get treatment for her due to high costs. Rose has been diagnosed with thoracic scoliosis—a spinal curvature in the upper/middle backbone. The condition has caused Rose hardships in attending school due to pains in her neck, back, knees, and legs. On September 6, Rose will undergo spine fusion surgery to increase movement and eliminate pain. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), requests $1,500 to help fund Rose's treatment. AMHF expects that after full surgery and recovery, pain and further curvature of the back will cease, and Rose's height will also improve. The surgery will also help raise her self-esteem and will enhance her education. Rose says, "I am eagerly waiting when this condition will leave me so I can concentrate on my studies. I am very determined to study and would like to be a doctor in the future."

Sophon is a 44-year-old farmer from Cambodia. He is married and has two sons and one daughter. Sophon plants potatoes on his farm, and he also grows vegetables behind his house. He also likes to watch TV in his free time. Sophon traveled with his older brother to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for free treatment. Sophon has experienced pain in his left hip for the past 20 years. He went to a hospital in his province, where doctors diagnosed him with tuberculosis of the joint, a bacterial infection that destroys the joint. Although he was provided with treatment, his symptoms did not improve. Sophon has difficulty walking, and has been unable to work to support his family. On August 4, surgeons at CSC will perform a total hip replacement on Sophon's left side to help him walk and work easily again. Watsi is requesting $1,025 to help fund Sophon's procedure and prosthesis.

17-year-old Harun is a secondary school student who lives in central Kenya. He is the oldest of three children in his family. His father is a farmer, and his mother stays at home. The family had been living in a rental house until they built a two-room house with the help of well-wishers and their extended family. Harun has bilateral clubfoot, a condition in which both of his feet are twisted out of position due to short tendons in his feet and ankles. As a result, Harun cannot walk for long distances. His condition was neglected because his parents feared huge medical bills that they could not afford. Treatment for clubfoot is surgery to release the tendons in the involved foot and ankle. Doctors then move the foot into the proper position and place it in a cast for up to two months. After the casts are removed, some patients wear a brace for a year or more to maintain the proper position of the foot. Harun's surgeons plan to start treatment on his left foot on August 21 and treat his right foot at a later date. "We cannot afford the bill as stipulated, and we request your help," shares Harun's father. Watsi's medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, requests $1,224 to pay for Harun's surgery, six-day hospital stay, lab tests, medicine, and surgical supplies. Hardworking and focused both at school and at home, Harun aspires to become a doctor when he grows up. Let's help fund his surgery!

Esther is a 27-year-old woman who currently lives in Thailand with her husband and their three children. The two older children are in kindergarten, and the youngest is a baby boy who is turning one next month. In 2010, Esther had an unusually painful backache while traveling in Bangladesh with her husband. She was diagnosed with a kidney stone, however, unable to afford surgery and unaware of the consequences of leaving the condition untreated, Esther did not receive treatment. Her symptoms worsened, and in June, after experiencing shortness of breath, Esther was transferred to the emergency department and administered oxygen. In critical condition, she requires surgery to have her kidney stone removed. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Esther's nephrolithotomy. The procedure is scheduled to take place on June 30 and, once completed, will hopefully spare Esther from future medical complications and allow her to live much more comfortably.

“I pray that Ezra will be treated and have a normal life so that when he is old enough, I can go back to school,” shares Ezra’s mother. “I will work hard to give him a brighter future.” Ezra is a two-month-old baby boy from Kenya, and is the only child to his young single mother. Ezra’s mother discontinued school to take care of her son, and lives with her mother in a small rented home where they live off of the yield from a small scale maize farm. “Ezra was born with a leaking cystic mass on his lower back,” explain our partners at African Mission Healthcare Foundation. “If surgery is not done soon, Ezra is likely to develop a severe infection which could lead to his premature death. He could also develop spinal complications like a tethered cord.” Ezra’s mother brought him over 225 kilometers for specialized treatment. For $805, we can fund spina bifida closure surgery which will prevent the risk of infection and tethered cord. Following surgery, physicians expect Ezra will live a normal and healthy life, and his mother will be able to return to school. Let’s help support Ezra’s mother’s hopes for her child’s wellness and her ability to resume her education and provide for her son!

Jose is a warm-spirited 39-year-old man from Guatemala. Nearly a decade ago, Jose lost his left arm below the elbow in a traffic accident. Ever since, Jose has had difficulty working, performing simple tasks and has developed low self-esteem. Because of the limited service and high costs in Guatemala, very few patients are able to afford prosthetics—even after ten years! For $940, we can help Jose get fitted for a prosthetic arm which will enable him to use his left arm again and regain his confidence.