"I am looking forward to spending my time with my child at home instead of the hospital, where he will also be able to spend quality time with his siblings,” Misheck’s mother tells us. Meet Misheck, a curious and growing baby boy. Misheck lives in Malawi and has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, the buildup of too much cerebrospinal fluid in the brain, and spina bifida, a birth defect of the spine. With these medical conditions, Misheck will experience delayed milestones and incontinence later in life. “Misheck is a bubbly child despite his condition,” says our medical partner, World Altering Medicine. For $992, Misheck will receive an operation that will improve bladder and bowel control and prevent other orthopedic conditions, like clubfoot, from emerging. Let’s help Misheck have the chance to live a happy and healthy life!

Miriam is the newest child in a large and loving family, but she is already facing a very adult battle. Miriam was born with an exposed mass on the lower part of her back, part of a condition called spina bifida. The mass reduces blood supply to her spinal nerves, and causes damage to her spinal cord. Doctors say that if Miriam is not treated, she may develop a curved spine (scoliosis) and incontinence. She is also at increased risk of infection. For $980, Miriam will receive surgery to close the mass on her back. She will be at much lower risk of infection and nerve damage. “I pray that Miriam will get well soon and be able to grow up like her siblings,” her mother says. Let's help Miriam get treatment and fulfill her mother's wishes!

Nipely is a one-year-old baby boy living in Haiti. When Nipely was five months old, he began getting sick and having seizures often. His mother took him to our local medical partner, Project Medishare. He was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a buildup of fluid in his brain that places extra pressure on his brain and puts him at increased risk of a stroke, vision loss, and death. For $1,260, Nipely will receive surgery to drain the excess fluid in his skull. Doctors say this will decrease his risk of growing up paralyzed or having nerve damage, and save his life. Let's help relieve his mom's worries and afford Nipely a normal life!

Meet Laura, a one-year-old living in Guatemala! Laura has a classic case of the "dwindles" - a common representation of chronic malnutrition in Guatemala. Laura is fighting what healthcare professionals call, "failure to thrive." Her development is slowing. She has less energy and appetite then other kids her age, and each month her growth slows. If this trajectory is not reversed, it will permanently limit her potential and prevent her from living a healthy life. Laura's family is frustrated and concerned about her. But they lack the resources to give her the medical care and nutritional support she needs. This is where we come in! For $525, Laura can receive intensive nutritional therapy that will result in improved growth, energy, appetite, and brain development. Let's help Laura get healthy!

Say hello to Solina, a one-year-old from Haiti! Solina has hydrocephalus, a condition in which fluid accumulates in her skull. As a result, she has been experiencing coughs, fevers, vomiting, and seizures. Solina's mom is a small merchant who also works as a laborer to make ends meet. As we would imagine, her daughter's condition leaves her distraught. She knows the condition is treatable but cannot afford it. For $1,260, a surgical procedure can be performed that will drain the excess fluids in Solina's skull and will get rid of all the related symptoms. Solina's mom is deeply grateful for the care Solina has already received. She says, "I thank the nurses and doctors who are taking care of my baby because I couldn’t afford the care. When I was told they had to do a CT scan I cried because I couldn't afford it, but they did it anyway. After the treatment I am looking forward to continuing my business." We've come this far, let's go all the way and get Solina the complete treatment she needs!

Marta is a six-year-old girl living in Guatemala who has been living with rheumatoid arthritis for the past three years. Her hands and knees are so inflamed and painful that she cannot walk or use her hands normally. It is painful for her to pick up objects like cups and spoons. Without treatment, Marta's joint damage can result in permanent disabilities, and the number of affected joints may increase. We're raising $750 so Marta can receive an emergency intervention to slow the disease and prevent permanent damage to her joints. Medical staff at our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, will give Marta anti-inflammatory steroids immediately and transition her onto a long-term arthritis medicine. They will provide her with eye exams to rule out potential arthritis-related eye damage. Finally, they will provide ongoing, long-term follow-up care. Let's help get Marta treatment so that she can live a healthier life with much less pain!

Grace is a gifted beautician who cares for her grandmother. Early last year, Grace’s grandmother contracted tuberculosis. Doctors were able to treat her in time, but they missed the fact that Grace was living with her. Grace was exposed to tuberculosis, and it went undetected for months. Now, Grace’s situation is serious. The tuberculosis has spread to her spine, and she can no longer feel her lower limbs. Grace uses a wheelchair to get around and is unable to work because of constant, excruciating pain. Grace's relatives are doing their best to support her. Together, they saved $1,000 to contribute to the cost of her care, an anterior compression with instrumented fusion that is expected to give her a 70-80% chance of walking again. Africa Mission Healthcare Foundation is requesting the remaining $1,500 needed to prevent Grace's permanent paralysis and give her a chance at a normal life. Grace “longs to go back to work and make a living," and this is the first step toward getting her back to the salon she loves!

Maria Alicia is a lovely five-year-old girl from Guatemala. Maria has been suffering routine fatigue and palpitations from an atrial septal defect where blood is being shunted through a hole in her heart. Amazingly, Maria Alicia is one of six siblings and doctors have detected the same heart defect in four of them. Two of the others are also Watsi patients: Dulier (who just had surgery) and Mayda (who will have surgery soon following her dental work). Talk about family based healthcare! Maria will need significant dental work prior to heart surgery to prevent infection affecting her healing. This is a vital component of her care, both in terms of time and expense required. The combined cost of dental work, surgery, medications and treatment expenses amounts to $1,300. Your donations will afford young Maria the chance to live a happy, full and productive life every girl deserves!

Leakna is a beautiful two-year-old girl who lives with her family in the remote jungle of Cambodia (she's pictured with her mother above). Two weeks ago, Leakna fell in her house and broke her jaw. Her parents, who are both farmers, say that while she's still eating, she's in severe pain and crying nonstop. Unable to find proper treatment in their jungle village, Leakna's family carried her twelve hours to the nearest clinic in Phnom Penh. Children's Surgical Centre is requesting $350 to perform open reduction internal fixation surgery, which the doctors says will "decrease pain" and "prevent further problems." In order for this surgery to have maximum impact, it needs to happen as soon as possible. Let's help Leakna get back to enjoying life as a two year-old!

Limpo has a rare, delayed presentation of hydrocephalus that Watsi's Medical Partner says will kill him if left untreated. Hydrocephalus is a life-threatening condition that is normally obvious in newborn babies. Fluid buildup in their brains causes their heads to swell, and they are treated immediately. In Limpo's case, his head gradually grew in size and symptoms slowly crept up. Today, he is too weak to stand or walk. Donations on Watsi will be used to cover the cost of Limpo's life-saving surgery. Let's give this 8-year-old boy a chance to be a normal, healthy kid.

Cynthia was born with hydrocephalus, a condition in which fluid builds up in the skull and puts life-threatening pressure on the brain. When her condition became evident, Cynthia's mother Ester was confused and scared for her child’s health. She is doing her best to seek treatment and help Cynthia grow up normally. Now, at one year old, the fluid pressure is causing Cynthia’s eyes to bulge. Her doctors say that soon she won’t be able to shut them. She needs shunt placement surgery, or an endoscopy of the third ventricle in her brain, to drain the excess fluid. By funding her treatment, we can help Cynthia avoid fatal brain damage and hopefully enable her to make her developmental milestones like a normal baby.

Oumar is facing a life-threatening condition at just 19 months old. He has meningitis, and he’s developed chronic epilepsy as a complication. Oumar’s epilepsy is treatable. Through surgery and drainage of his peritoneal ventricles to remove extra fluid from his brain, Oumar’s doctors say they can end his epileptic reactions. It will take $1370 for Oumar to get the care he needs. Oumar lives with his aunt, who takes responsibility for him and his brothers and sisters. While she works hard as a tailor to make ends meet for her large adopted family, she doesn’t make enough to cover the cost of Oumar’s treatment. Oumar’s aunt dreams of him becoming a teacher and contributing to the well being of their community. She told Project Muso, “I hope he will receive the treatment he so desperately needs. I will do everything I can to make his future as bright as possible.” Oumar deserves a chance to live a full life, and access to medical care can make the determining difference for him.