“I would like to be a pilot in the future,” shares Morris, a bright 11-year-old boy from Kenya. Coupled with his career aspirations is a love for mathematics. Morris enjoys attending school and learning from his teachers and peers. Severe headaches and blurry vision have affected Morris’ performance in school lately. According to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), Morris was diagnosed with a brain tumor and “is at high risk of increased intra-cranial pressure, which may cause brain damage or death.” If his condition goes untreated, Morris may lose his vision and face decreased cardiac respiratory function, as well as eventual loss of consciousness. The youngest of six children, Morris lives with his mother and two of his siblings in a single-roomed rental house. AMHF explains, “Morris’ father abandoned the family, taking no responsibility in providing for their needs.” Three of Morris’ older siblings have already fled from home due to harsh living conditions. “Morris’ mother does any work she can get,” but does not earn nearly enough income to raise funds for Morris’ surgical care. With $1,260, we can support Morris by funding a craniotomy—a surgical procedure that involves opening his skull and removing the brain tumor. The funding will also cover labs, medication, imaging and 10 days of hospital care. AMHF expects that, with this treatment, “Morris will be relieved from risks of experiencing high intra-cranial pressure. His risk of becoming visually impaired will also be minimized.” Let’s help fund this life-saving treatment for Morris—hopefully allowing him to resume classes and pursue his dream of becoming a pilot.

Meet Daw Ma, a 47-year-old woman from Burma. For the last 20 years, Daw Ma has been a farmer. Due to prior conflict in her village, she did not have the opportunity to go to school, and never learned to read. "She gives most of the harvest as payments to the owner of the land, and to the laborers," shares our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). About one year ago, Daw Ma began to experience heavy bleeding and lower abdominal pain. She was diagnosed with uterine fibroids. "Since then she started to have dizziness, blurred vision, headaches, and back aches. She can’t do work in the farm or house chores when she has severe symptoms,” explains BBP. $1500 will fund gynecological surgery to remove the fibroids. BBP explains: "Treatment will restore her dignity, which is something she feels she has lost since falling ill. She is looking forward to not worrying about her health which she says consumes a lot of her time." "She plans to take full care of her grandchildren in the future, so her daughter can work full time," adds BBP.

“My grandchildren are very young and are fully dependent on me and my husband. I want to get well soon so that I can continue taking care of them," says Mary. Mary is a 55-year-old mother of nine and grandmother of four from Kenya. “Mary has a lump in her left breast that is slightly painful to the touch,” shares our medical partner African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). “Her left hand is also weaker due to swollen lymph nodes and she can no longer work long hours on her farm.” Mary and her husband own a cow and a farm where they plant potatoes, but it has been a dry season and the family cannot cover the full cost of treatment. Without treatment, the cancer is likely to spread to other organs which could lead to death. For $740, AMHF will be able to provide Mary with a mastectomy, a surgery that will remove breast tissue. With this surgery and chemotherapy, it is expected that Mary will lead a normal life and go back to working on her farm with her husband. Let’s help her out!

"Awar sells snacks for a living," says our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP). "On average, she makes around $2 per day. However, because she has two children to feed, she accepts half of her day's earnings in rice and the other half in money." Awar is a 37-year-old single mother from Burma. About three years ago, she was diagnosed with bladder stones and underwent surgery. Her condition has since returned. "Awar is experiencing urine obstruction, abdominal and back pain, nausea and diarrhea," says BBP. "She is very sad to be in the same situation again but is hopeful she can get the surgery she needs and be finished with urological problems for good." For $1,500, BBP can treat Awar and allow her relief from symptoms, as well as give her the chance to work and generate income again. Since seeking treatment in Thailand she has had to stop working and be apart from her two children. This trip to receive treatment has now put her into debt. Awar has big dreams for the future -- she hopes to move to Bangkok with her children, where there are more opportunities for work and education. "It hurts Awar to not be able to provide for her children the way she wants to with her present circumstance," says BBP. "She believes Bangkok will be the chance she and her children need to live a better and happy life." Let's help make it happen for her!

Meet Fednaelle, a two-year-old girl from Haiti. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, tells us that Fednaelle is from a family of seven kids, but that three of her siblings were lost during the 2010 Haiti earthquake. The family lives in the Haitian countryside and has a tough time making ends meet. Project Medishare shares with us that Fednaelle’s mother “used to sell food products from her farm in order to help the family but due to the illness of her last kid, she does not have time to do that.” Fednaelle’s mother is referring to Fednaelle’s illness. “Fednaelle was born with imperforate anus, the opening of her anus is blocked,” our medical partner in Haiti, Project Medishare, explains. This physical obstruction makes anal defecation impossible and led to an infection and ultimately an emergency surgery when Fednaelle was a baby. For $1,500, we can fund a procedure that Project Medishare explains will, “fix her bowel and reconstruct her anus and rectum; after the treatment she will be able to pass stool normally, be healthy and live a good life.” Together, we can help both Fednaelle and her family.

Say hello to Khon! He is a 76-year-old from Cambodia, who has eight children and 20 grandchildren. Khon was diagnosed with mature cataracts in both of his eyes, meaning that the natural lenses inside his eyes have become clouded. “His vision has been blurred for a year. This makes it hard for him to carry out daily tasks, and he cannot care for his family and home as he used to,” shares our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre. Because of this condition, one of Khon’s daughters often looks after him, causing her to miss work and caring for her children. All Khon wants is his independence back, and for $150, we can provide that. “I traveled six hours from my village in the hopes that my vision can be improved,” says Khon. Let’s work together to make sure he gets what he needs!

“Christina is a Kaqchikel-speaking Mayan woman from central Guatemala,” shares our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq. “She enjoys weaving and hanging out at home with friends and extended family. She is looking forward to feeling better so that she can continue to do the things she loves and to take care of her children.” “Christina has been having severe seizures for several months now,” explains Wuku’ Kawoq. “They are a great source of fear for her and they are limiting her ability to take care of her family, to engage in productive economic activities (like weaving, which she is very good at), and to enjoy life with her husband and friends. Christina and her family are very grateful for Watsi donors for their help.” Christina’s surgery costs $745 and will allow her to live the rest of her life without seizures. Let's make it happen!

“My wish is for him to be able to walk properly, get educated and live a comfortable and better life,” says Kelvin’s father. Say hello to Kelvin, an energetic six-year-old boy from Tanzania who loves learning to read and write. He also enjoys running around and playing hide-and-seek with his friends, although his condition may hinder his ability to do so in the future. Kelvin has a bilateral clubfoot, a condition that causes his feet to turn inward and can lead to early osteoarthritis. His father also has the same condition and wants his son to enjoy a better quality of life as he grows. Kelvin’s parents are small-scale farmers and cannot afford to pay for treatment. For $1,160, Kelvin will receive the treatment necessary for him be able to walk properly and develop normally without the risk of early osteoarthritis.

“I am worried that if I fail to walk, I will lose my job and fail to support my children who need to finish up their education,” shares 55-year-old Zablon from Tanzania. “Education is the only thing which will help them in the future and I want the best for them.” Zablon, a father of four children, has osteoarthritis. “Zablon is having a hard time walking due to pain on his right knee,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, tells us. “The pain is getting severe as time goes on. If not treated, Zablon will continue to suffer.” “Zablon works with the city water council. His work requires him to walk a lot, recording the readings on water meters. His condition is jeopardizing his job and he still needs to help his children who are going to school.” With a knee replacement, Zablon will be able to walk without feeling pain and continue working. Treatment costs $960. Let’s help him out!

This adorable young girl is Lesly, a seven-year-old from Guatemala. "Lesly is one of the nicest little girls that we've ever met," says our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK). "She is always extremely happy and smiling." Lesly has a developmental delay that affects her bones, hearing, mobility, and speech. She has had several bone fractures, and needs a wheelchair for improved mobility. She also requires speech therapy to improve her communication. "Lesly's parents have exhausted what limited resources they had trying to care for her," says WK. "They are happy to have found us." For $1,385, WK can work with Lesly and her family to develop treatments that will improve all aspects of her condition. After treatment, she will be able to return to school and interact with her peers again. She will also have more independence, which will be especially helpful as she grows older. Let's help this smiling young girl and her family, and fund this important treatment!

Meet Lavender, a first time mother to be from Kenya! Lavender is 16-years-old, one of six children. Our partner, Lwala Community Alliance (LCA) tells us, “She is married to a hard working farmer, she enjoys eating green vegetables for their nutritional value and she enjoys singing cheerful songs while she is working.” Lavender is having a difficult pregnancy and hopes to deliver safely in a health facility. Her doctors say that she needs specialized care to ensure the safe delivery of her baby. Lavender is excited about being a mother and keen on giving her baby the best care. She says, "a safe delivery will bring great joy to my husband and myself knowing that our child will receive all the postnatal check ups as scheduled by the clinicians!” For $290, Lavender will receive the care she needs. Let's help her deliver her baby safely!

This is Dah Si. She's 16-years-old and lives with her parents in Burma. The family works on a small vegetable farm to support themselves. Being self reliant is really important to them. "Dah Si first became aware she had a heart condition in August this year, when she went to the doctor to get treatment for a bad cold and the attending doctor detected a heart murmur," Burma Border Projects (BBP) tells us. "Dah Si said she currently feels fine and doesn't see herself as a sick person." "This is not uncommon," continues Dah Si. "Most people with mitral valve prolapse have no symptoms. One thing she does notice, however, is that she has heavy heart palpitations. Another thing she has noticed is that she has lost some weight over the last few months. She still has a good appetite but she struggles to keep food down." Clinicians at BBP have recommended a mitral valve replacement for Dah Si. The cost of this procedure is $1500 - not something the family can cover independently - but will benefit Dah Si greatly. "After receiving treatment in Thailand, Dah Shi can return to her family farm in Burma," BBP writes. "She will be able to go about her daily life without having to worry about the impact of certain activities on her heart."