“In order to reach the closest healthcare facility to get Chai examined, the family walked for six hours, took a five hour boat ride, followed by a five hour car ride,” explains our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). Chai is a three-month-old baby girl from Burma where she lives with her three siblings and parents. "When Chai was born, her parents were immediately concerned for her health due to her congenital growth between her eyes. Chair struggles with sleeplessness, is restless and fitful as a result," explains BBP. BBP diagnosed Chai with encephalocele, a neural tube defect where portions of the brain protrude out from a hole in the skull. Chai’s parents worry about their daughter’s condition and how they can manage her longterm treatment while also looking after their three young children and their farm. "Her mother hopes treatment will allow her daughter to live a happy and healthy life. When they return home, her mother anticipates her daughter will attend school when she is older," says BBP. Chai needs a surgery to remove the herniated sac and repair the opening in the skull, a $1.500 treatment. “The immediate impact of treatment includes a happier, healthier, and more rested Chai. This will allow her parents to return to their normal lives and work, with less worry about the future,” explains BBP. Let’s help Chai have a healthy infancy and send her on her way to a great life with her loving family!

Meet Esther, a five-week-old baby girl from Kenya! She is the youngest of six children and lives with her siblings and two parents. Esther was born with Spina Bifida, a congenital disorder caused by the incomplete closing of the neural tube. A portion of the spinal cords protrudes through the skin, causing an open hole in the lower back. As a result of the Spina Bifida, Esther is at risk to develop tethered cord, a condition in which the spinal cord attaches to the surrounding tissue. This can lead to mobility issues and nerve damage if it remains untreated. Esther’s mother is hopeful that Watsi can help her daughter. She says, “It has been a very difficult time for us as a family, but I am hopeful that my daughter will find treatment soon. We’ll appreciate any support for her surgery." For $980 Esther can receive surgery to close the hole in her back. Surgery will prevent the development of tethered cord and mitigate Esther’s risk of infection. We can help her grow up to be a healthy, active child - let's make it happen.

Say hello to Chak Riya! Chak Riya is an eight-year-old girl living in Cambodia. Chak Riya fell out of a tree when she was six years old and broke both of her hips. One of these fractures has not healed, and Chak Riya is having problems with mobility. She has since had to drop out of school, but wants to return as soon as possible. Chak Riya needs osteotomy surgery to allow the fracture to heal correctly. For $375, this surgery will allow Chak Riya to regain mobility so that she can play with her sister and brother again, and return to school!

"Prince is a charismatic young boy who has high hopes for his future," a doctor at Ortho FOCUS, a Watsi medical partner, described. Prince hails from Ghana, where he lives with his parents and two siblings. He enjoys playing football and loves to read. He is currently a student in the sixth grade, and hopes to one day become a doctor. Prince has dealt with scoliosis since birth, causing him difficulty while walking and performing daily tasks. The doctor reports: "His condition has worsened quite a bit, and it is progressively making life more difficult for him. We are hopeful that successful surgery will return him to an active and long-lasting life." Surgical intervention will reduce side effects from the deformity, alleviate pain, and prevent further bending of the spine. The doctors predict a positive outcome that will allow Prince to return to a healthy, active lifestyle. Let's raise the $1500 needed to give Prince a better quality of life!

Meet Teshom, a happy eight-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He is a second grade student who loves to read and dreams of becoming a pilot when he grows up. Due to extreme scoliosis, Teshom cannot stand up straight while walking, experiences chronic back pain and has difficulty breathing. He is unable to sleep while laying on his back and has difficulty performing daily tasks. With surgery, Teshom is expected to make a full recovery. The insertion of a growing rod into his spine will allow for natural growth and will prevent any future curvature of the spine. Although he will not be able to return to contact sports , the surgery will prevent further discomfort and significantly increase his quality of life. Let's work together to help Teshom!

Beatrice may only be two-years-old, but she’s got the heart of a diva (in the best way possible). This little lady is brimming with attitude and a personality that’s just waiting to burst out. One of the things holding her back is the fact that she has six toes on her left foot. This extra digit makes wearing shoes nearly impossible and causes her pain when she tries to walk. Beatrice’s mother, Mary, hopes for an inhibition-free life for her daughter and one defined by who she is rather than the number of toes she has. For $1,000 the surgical teams at CURE Zambia will remove Beatrice’s problem toe and give her the ability to not only walk pain-free but let her personality flourish!

Erick is a six-year-old from Zambia who wants to be a doctor when he grows up. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor after intense headaches and vomiting kept him out of school for almost a year. Whereas most kids would love a year off school, Erick misses his favorite subjects; geography, science, and math. CURE International is requesting $2,000 to fund surgery to remove Erick's tumor. The surgical team is "confident that they'll be able to treat the tumor, get Erick back in school, and back on his path to medical mastery!" They're even trying to recruit Erick to consider coming to work at CURE Zambia once he gets his degree. Let's help get Erick back in school and on the path to becoming CURE's next heroic doctor!

"I want to be a professional footballer when I grow up," Gerald tells his doctors. A five-year-old boy from Tanzania, Gerald was born with a foot deformity that causes him pain while running and being active. But that hasn't stopped him from planning his football-filled future. Gerald’s father is a casual laborer and his mother sells fresh tomatoes to support the family with food and other necessities. They work hard every day, but they are unable to afford their son's medical bills while sustaining the family. Their two other children, Oliver and Neema, were born with the same condition and are also fundraising on Watsi. For $1,000, we can fund Gerald’s surgery so he can chase his dream of becoming a professional football player!

Two-year-old Akiya is a tough little guy. He was born with a congenital malformation that makes him unable to pass stool properly. Because of Akiya’s condition, Akiya’s mother quit working as a teacher to take care of him at home. Akiya and his mother now depend on his father to support the family and pay his medical bills. But even with Akiya’s father’s income, Akiya’s parents are unable to afford the surgery that Akiya requires. Akiya’s mother says, “If my son can get cured, this will be a renewal for me and my family.” For $1,000, we can fund Akiya’s surgery so he can pass stool normally and look forward to a healthy future!

Mahamad is an outgoing boy in the fifth grade. His favorite subject is English and he dreams of becoming a doctor. Mahamad has osteomyelitis, a bone infection, in his right leg. His parents have taken him to several local clinics for treatment, but his condition keeps getting worse. Mahamad had to quit school because of excruciating pain and inability to walk. A $930 surgery can give Mahamad the use of his leg again. This procedure could be the difference between a stagnated and an incredibly bright future for this young boy. Our coordinator at AMHF writes, "we expect that the surgery shall give Mahamad full function of his leg again, and he will hopefully be able to start school when the next year begins." Let's help Mahamad get the care he needs to live up to his potential!

Six months ago, Rors Han was playing at home when he tripped and fell into a cooking fire, severely burning his hand. Rors Han’s burns are now covered in a post-burn scar contracture, limiting the function of his fingers. If left untreated, doctors at Children’s Surgical Centre say Rors Han will never have full use of his hand. Fortunately, surgeons at CSC can perform a contracture release surgery and skin grafting to restore function to Rors Han’s hand. Rors comes from a very poor family of farm laborers. His parents work such long hours that they sent Rors Han to live with his grandmother, who brought him to CSC to seek treatment. Rors Han’s grandmother says her grandson loves toy cars and playing with his friends. She hopes he can get the treatment he needs to live a normal life.