Victor is a fourteen-year-old boy who lives with his mother and two sisters in Guatemala's rural highlands. Although Victor has had many health problems, he studies persistently because he wants to become a doctor one day. Two years ago, Victor contracted gangrene, and the doctors had to amputate his leg. As a result of the amputation, Victor has difficulty with his mobility and struggles every day with walking around his house and getting to school. Our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, is requesting $1,166 to fund Victor's prosthetic, which he is scheduled to receive on June 9. This will cover the cost of the prosthetic, along with the expenses of fitting and molding sessions. Victor says, “When I grow up I wish to study a lot and become a doctor. Since I was a kid I have always gotten very sick and I was always in the hospital. I met lots of great doctors and because of that I wish to be a doctor so that I can help people and then I can also take care of my Mom like she does for us.” Receiving this prosthetic will help Victor move feely like he used to so that he can continue to study and eventually achieve his dreams.

Lucy is a bright five-year-old girl from Tanzania. She enjoys playing with her friends at her orphanage. She was born with clubfoot, which means her foot is twisted. Though she underwent previous treatment, her condition has relapsed. As a result, Lucy is not able to wear shoes. Lucy's treatment includes surgery and physiotherapy and is scheduled to begin on January 17. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,160 to fund X-rays, medications, surgery fees, Lucy's cast, and her hospital stay. "We look forward to when Lucy has finished her treatment and is able to continue with her studies like her friends," says Lucy's caregiver.

Peter is the youngest in his family, and is a one-year-old boy from Kenya. He has a brother, Ainea, who is also featured on Watsi with hearing difficulties. When his mother brought Peter’s brother, Ainea, in for a hearing checkup, she was advised to have Peter checked as well. He had an Auditory Brain-stem Response test done at the age of one. He was diagnosed with severe sensorineural hearing loss, due to damage to the inner ear. Hearing aids were recommended for Peter, however his mother was not able to raise the full amount needed. His family and friends have subsidized his hearing aids by $104, but he still needs $929 in order to receive them. The hearing aids will allow Peter to hear more clearly and will give him the chance to learn to speak as he grows up. “My hope is to see my children able to hear and talk," Peter's mother said.

Nine-month-old Edgar is the first child to two loving parents. His father works in a pharmacy and his mother works taking care of him, cooking, and cleaning. Edgar has a rare genetic disease that makes him unable to convert glycogen into glucose, the form of sugar that his body can use as fuel. This has made him have chronically low blood sugar, leaving his brain and body severely starved of energy, making it likely he will get seizures if he does not receive treatment. Doctors diagnosed him with glycogen storage disease type I, meaning that he needs to consume high levels of simple sugars in order to prevent seizures and give his brain and body the energy it needs to develop. Although he is currently 9 months old, doctors say that he is developmentally only about 3 months old-- he is unable to sit up or eat on his own. Without intense support, Edgar's life is in danger, and he could face permanent developmental delays. Although Edgar's parents work hard, they do not have the resources to provide Edgar with the sugar-rich supplements he needs to maintain high levels of blood sugar. The hospital subsidized his feeding tube, but did not provide his parents with any training about the best way to care for their child, to get genetic counseling, to provide him with therapy to improve his development, or offer them long-term support for this serious disease. They feel lost and are worried about their son's well-being. Fortunately, we can help. $1,385.00 will fund the treatment Edgar needs. The treatment will give Edgar and his parents the medical and support they need to give Edgar the best life possible. Edgar will receive comprehensive genetic diagnostic testing to confirm his diagnosis. He will receive an MRI to see if his condition has caused any permanent brain damage, allowing our medical team to give him personalized care. His parents will receive intense education to ensure they know how to best care for Edgar. Without this treatment, Edgar is at an extremely high risk for seizures, and permanent developmental delays. "I hope my son can come out ahead, live a normal life and be a good man one day," his mother shares.

"Nazrawit fell inside the house about one year ago and sustained an open fracture," our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us. She is 11 years old and lives in Ethiopia with her large extended family. Since the fall, Nazrawit sustained a tibia fracture and developed osteomyelitis (infection in the bone) due to her lack of treatment. Her open wound has kept her from going to school, as she is unable to walk normally. Without treatment, she will have to leave school permanently and may develop a deformity or possibly have to amputate her leg. $1,470 will cover the surgery, cast, and medication she needs. "When the bone heals, Nazrawit will be able to walk without assistance and live a normal life," AMHF explains. Due to the size of Nazrawit's immediate family, she lives with her maternal aunt, uncle, and cousins. When possible, she likes to help out with the younger children, however it is often difficult due to her condition. "Nazrawit is very eager to learn and is looking forward to going back to school and eventually becoming a teacher," her uncle expresses.

“Sometimes I feel depressed about my current situation, and I am worried. I just want to be healthy and happy,” says Su, a 42-year-old woman living in Burma. Our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), tells us that two years ago, Su began experiencing severe abdominal pain due to a mass in her uterus, called a uterine myoma. The mass was found after a long history of pregnancy complications and vaginal bleeding. Su has sought out medical attention numerous times to no avail. Because of Su’s abdominal pain, she has been forced to stop working as a private teacher, and instead do part-time teaching. This has caused a reduction in her income, forcing her to borrow money for medical expenses. BBP can treat Su through surgeries to remove her uterus and ovaries, known as a hysterectomy and oophorectomy. For $1,500, Su will undergo these two procedures in addition to prolapse surgery to ensure that her lower abdominal organs remain in place. The cost includes a 7-day hospital stay with food, and post-surgical care. “I would like to work more and go to computer training, so that I can learn how to use a computer,” shares Su. “I want to learn new things and work hard.” “With treatment for her myoma, Su should be able to return to her work and commence paying of the debts she has incurred while she has been unwell,” adds BBP. “She can commence computer classes and following her dreams.”

Ronald is a 13-year-old boy who lives in Kenya with his mother, father, and two younger siblings. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF) describes Ronald as, “shy, calm, and quiet.” Ronald was born with hypospadias, a congenital condition in which the urethra does not grow to its full length. As a result, the urethral opening is located on the underside of the penis, which in turn causes an irregular stream. If left untreated, hypospadias can lead to frequent urinary tract infections, infertility, and social stigma. When Ronald’s parents first noticed his hypospadias when he was a baby, they took him to the nearest hospital. At the time, however, it seemed like a minor problem that may later improve. AMHF tells us, “It wasn’t until Ronald had reached the age at which many young boys in his culture transition into manhood—through a rite of passage commonly known as circumcision—that they noticed nothing had changed.” At this point, Ronald’s parents decided to, “aggressively seek treatment.” However, Ronald’s father works at a mini-market and his mother tends to their home, so they are in need of financial support. For $655 Ronald will receive hypospadias repair and 10 days of recovery in the hospital. This surgery will provide a long-term solution to Ronald’s condition by extending the length of the urethra. Ronald shares, “I can’t pass urine near my friends because I am quite sure they will laugh at me. I hope to get treated soon because I don’t want to carry that feeling with me into high school.” Ronald, who will be starting high school soon, plans to work hard, get good grades, and pursue his dream of becoming an engineer.

Emmanuel is 16 months old and lives in Haiti with his mother and father. He enjoys smiling around his family, listening to music, and eating fresh mangoes. "Emmanuel was born with only three valves in his heart, instead of the normal four," explains our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA). "The fourth, his tricuspid valve, is completely missing, limiting his heart's ability to pump blood to his body and leaving him sickly and fatigued." Emmanuel's condition requires two surgeries. Health City Cayman Islands has subsidized $10,000 of the total surgery cost, and an additional $1,500 is needed to cover transportation and surgical preparation costs. "Following surgery, Emmanuel should have increased blood circulation to his body, and should be more healthy and stable," HCA adds. "This will allow him to grow, and when he is older and bigger he will undergo a second surgery to complete the repair." "I am very thankful to everyone who is helping my son," his mother shares. "My husband would also like to say thank you so much."

Brian, a 35-year-old Kenyan man, came to our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), seeking treatment for a leg injury sustained earlier this year in a hit-and-run accident involving a motorcycle. “Since then,” explains AMHF, “he is unable to work and relies solely on his family.” Brian’s condition, chronic osteomyelitis of the right tibia, is an infection of his lower leg bone resulting from his injury. Typical symptoms include recurring pain, redness, swelling, and bone loss. Currently, “Brian is experiencing pain and inability to use his right leg,” AMHF tells us. “If not treated, Brian is at risk of pathological fracture of the tibia.” Treatment of osteomyelitis is a surgical technique to regenerate bone lost as a result of the infection. In this technique—known as bone transport—an orthopedic surgeon breaks the involved bone and attaches the bone fragments to an external fixation device. As the fracture begins to heal, the external fixator is adjusted to pull the healing fracture apart approximately one millimeter per day. Separating the fragments in this manner promotes bone growth and results in the restoration of the lost bone over time. After the accident, Brian was treated surgically, but the procedure was unsuccessful, and he cannot pay for the additional surgery that he needs. $1,500 in funding pays for the bone transport surgery as well as 12 days of hospital care, antibiotic therapy, and physiotherapy. Brian’s family has saved $110 to cover additional costs associated with his care. “We expect after a bone transport, Brian's leg will heal,” shares AMHF. “He will be able to use his leg again. Brian will be able to work.” "I had planned to marry and provide for my family before this accident,” says Brian. “I really hope I will be able to do that after this surgery.”

Meet David, a 5-month-old baby boy from Kenya. He lives in a single-rental room with his family in Kenya. His father works in a small market, and his mother is a housewife. Their daily income ranges from $6-$9. David was born with undescended testis. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), explains: "In baby boys, it is expected that the testis will descend into the scrotal sack within a few days after birth. This, however, was not the case for baby David." "David's parents had hoped that with time, their son's condition would correct itself," AMHF continues. "But on seeing months pass, they decided to seek medical assistance. They are not able to raise the monies needed for their son's treatment." David needs a double orchidopexy to move his undescended testicles to his scrotum. The surgery will cost $570. "If the surgery is not done soon, David is likely to develop testicular cancer or inguinal hernia. He is also likely to suffer infertility," AMHF tells us. David's mother looks forward to her son receiving the care he needs. "Thank you Watsi for supporting our son," she shares.

"Elvis is the only child to his young mother," says our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). "His mother dropped out of school mid last year when she became pregnant." "Elvis' father denied responsibility and abandoned his mother when he realized that she was pregnant," AMHF continues. "Elvis’ mother solely depends on her pastoralist parents for her needs and those of her son. They all live in a grass-thatched, mud-walled traditional hut." Elvis was born with spina bifida, a leaking mass on his lower back along his spinal cord. A friend of Elvis' mother told her about Watsi's partner upon hearing of his need for treatment. “Elvis is at high risk of developing infection in the exposed nerves and tissues,” AMHF tells us. “He is also at a risk of developing tethered cord that can lead to either scoliosis or kyphosis.” For $805, we can fund Elvis’s spina bifida closure surgery. Treatment will close the mass on his lower back and reduce his risk of infection. “I want my son to be healthy,” Elvis’s mother tells us. “I hope that one day I will be able to go back to school so that Elvis and I can have a better future!”

Meet Saw Klein, a 30-year-old man from Burma! Our medical partner, Burma Border Projects tells us, "He is a farmer and works on his own land. He is not married and has no children. He grows rice and beans and his family also plants a few rubber trees.” “Saw Klein is very thin and deals with severe jaundice. The big toe on his left foot causes him severe physical discomfort. Although there is little sensation, there is still a little blood flow which causes him serious pain. From below the knee there is no blood flow and so the leg is very thin – it’s just bone. He cannot stand or lie down, he can only sit. He cannot sleep and he has no appetite,” explains BBP. Saw Klein was diagnosed with human pythiosis, which is a fungal infection, a life-threatening infections disease. For $1,500, Saw Klein will receive a mid-thigh amputation to preserve the limb integrity of his left leg, and to get rid of the pain and discomfort from his leg. “At the moment, I cannot think about having a girlfriend because I am in pain all the time, but in the future I will,” says Saw Klein. Let’s help Saw start living a pain-free life, and to regain some of his independence!