Meet Mary, a seven-year-old girl who lives with her mother and older brother in a single-rental house in Kenya. “Mary was in class one and performing well, however, four months ago, her mother noticed that her eyes were reddening and she always had her head tilted,” says our medical partner African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). AMHF has diagnosed Mary with a brain tumor, which is causing severe headaches, drowsiness, loss of appetite, and frequent vomiting. Furthermore, she’s slowly losing her sight and may become completely blind. “The pressure building up in her head may lead to unconsciousness and probably death if not treated,” AMHF explains. Mary’s parents are no longer together, so her mother is the sole provider of the family. She washes her neighbor’s clothes for $2 a day, which is not enough income to cover the bare necessities, let alone Mary’s surgery. For $1260, we can help Mary pay for her craniotomy, a surgery where her skull will be opened to remove the tumor. Afterwards, she will no longer experience any pressure and the negative symptoms. AMHF is hopeful that there won’t be any permanent damage to her brain, and Mary will be able to go back to school. “It has been sad to see Mary unwell. I would do anything to see her hearty again,” says Mary’s mother. Let’s help her dream come true!

Meet Samnang, a 14-year-old boy from Cambodia. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), shares, “Samnang is a young monk who has two sisters and three brothers. He enjoys eating all kinds of food.” Samnang has been diagnosed with a meningoencephalocele (MEC). CSC explains, “Samnang’s MEC causes brain tissue to push through a bone defect in the skull at the bridge of the nose and causes a pretty severe bump.” This bump causes Samnang to feel “very self-conscious, even in a place as tolerant as his pagoda. He says he just wants to have a face like kids his age,” CSC reports. “In addition to looking abnormal, the MEC, left untreated, could cause a litany of medical complications for Samnang in the future.” Some of these potential medical issues involve hindered vision and respiratory problems. For $390 we can fund Samnang’s surgery. Samnang’s protruding brain tissue will be removed, and the opening in the scull will be repaired with a bone graft. A few months later, he will receive a reconstructive surgery to eliminate any remnants of the bump. After surgery, CSC predicts, “Samnang’s bump will become much smaller and likely fully go away after minor plastic surgery later.” Let’s fund surgery for Samnang!

"We have such limited resources, and we could definitely not do this without your help," shares Nilton's mother. "Nilton is an only child of two very devoted, young parents. Both his mother and father work in the field as farm workers, and his mother also weaves blouses at night to bolster the family income. Nilton likes to play, and is generally a very happy, active baby. He is extremely social and enjoys being held by anyone around regardless if he knows them well or not," says our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq (WK). "Nilton is below the average height and weight for his age due to malnutrition," WK explains. "Nilton is 6-months-old, the age when children should be start to integrate solid food into their diet. This switch from breast milk to solid food adds a financial stress on the family, and oftentimes the parents do not know what and how to make this integration." "Generally, children tend to fall away from their growth curve, as parents continue to rely on breast milk as the primary or only source of nutrients," WK continues. "The food supplied is low in nutrients and quantity. Without intervention we believe Nilton will fall away from his curve, and therefore experience developmental delays, physical growth limitations and a weak immune system." For $535, we can provide Nilton with food and supplementation, and provide his mother with several nutrition education classes that emphasize the importance of a diet balanced in protein, carbohydrates, fats, and vitamins. With treatment, "Nilton will begin to recoup the height and weight he has lost," WK explains. "Over time his energy and ability to concentrate will improve. His immune system will strengthen and we anticipate he will have the ability to go far."

“Our greatest wish for our daughter is to get better and go to school,” say the parents of Lah Ku, an 11-year-old girl who lives in Thailand. Lah Ku came to our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), with thalassemia—a genetic condition in which the body does not make enough red blood cells, and the existing red blood cells do not transport oxygen efficiently. This is problematic because red blood cells carry oxygen to all of the body’s organs. When an organ’s oxygen supply is inadequate, the organ cannot function properly, and symptoms such as fatigue, pallor (pale skin), and slow growth rates can result. To help control these symptoms, individuals with thalassemia receive frequent blood transfusions. “Lah Ku is visibly jaundiced and currently has frequent nosebleeds and fever, headaches, and abdominal pain,” reports BBP. “Immediately after she receives her monthly blood transfusions, she plays a lot at first and has good energy, but her energy decreases over time, and most of the time she is very fatigued.” BBP adds, “Lah Ku does not attend school because the pain from her condition is too great.” “Now,” BBP tells us, “Lah Ku’s spleen is enlarged and needs to be removed.” An enlarged spleen, known as splenomegaly, is common in individuals with thalassemia. The spleen is responsible for destroying old and defective red blood cells. In thalassemia, the rate of destruction is increased in response to the abnormal and transfused red blood cells in circulation, and the spleen grows larger due to the increased activity. Lah Ku’s parents work as farmers and barely earn enough money to pay for food and daily expenses for themselves and their four children. As a result, there is no money to cover Lah Ku’s medical care. With $1,015 in funding, Lah Ku can undergo a splenectomy (removal of the spleen) and receive seven days of hospital care and follow-up appointments after surgery. “Surgery will relieve Lah Ku's pain and allow her to attend school,” shares BBP. “She will have more energy and a much better quality of life, as she will no longer require monthly blood transfusions.” Let’s help fund surgery for Lah Ku!

Meet Cindy, a 13-year-old girl who lives with her parents and five siblings in Guatemala. “Cindy is unable to see because she has glaucoma in her right eye, and phthisis bulbi and a cataract in her left eye,” explains our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). The most urgent of these conditions is phthisis bulbi, in which trauma, infection, or inflammation causes irreversible scarring and hardening of the eyeball. “Phthisis bulbi in Cindy’s left eye is threatening to permanently render her eye as non-functional,” reports WK. “Cindy has never been to school due to her eye condition but has a strong desire to learn," WK adds. "Her neighbor is helping her develop her motor skills so she can eventually learn to write.” Cindy’s older sister acts as her primary caregiver and companion. Cindy’s family does not own any land, and they cannot afford to pay for her care. With $1485 in funding, however, Cindy will undergo eye surgery to halt vision loss in her left eye and restore vision in her right eye. “Without this surgery, she will lose all ability to see, thus decreasing her ability to work as well as severely lowering her quality of life,” explains WK. After surgery, “Cindy will be able to see clearly in one eye, which will make it easier for her to learn and have a shot at going to school,” shares WK. “Above all, Cindy’s quality of life will dramatically improve as she becomes more able to observe the world around her." “I would love to see my sister—see her face clearly and say ‘thank you,’” says Cindy.

“Yese is eager to start going to school but his condition won’t let him," his mother shares. Meet Yese, a happy six-year-old who lives with his parents and three siblings in Tanzania. Yese has hydrocephalus—a condition in which a buildup of fluid within the brain leads to an increase in intracranial pressure, causing swelling of the head. Yese was born without any health problems, but this onset condition has affected his vision and mobility. If his hydrocephalus goes untreated, it could lead to brain damage and premature death. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us that Yese “was growing well, he even started to crawl, but close to a year, the size of his head started to increase,” and he stopped crawling and walking. Yese appeared to be recovering by the time he was three years old, but now at age six his symptoms have worsened and AMHF reports, “He cannot walk without support and his vision is blurring.” “Yese is a good storyteller and enjoys singing and listening to the radio,” AMHF shares. Yese’s parents work hard—his mother sells avocados at a local market and his father makes and sells pottery—but their joint income is not enough to support their other children and Yese’s medical bills. With $775 in funding, Yese will undergo surgery to drain the excess fluid from his brain and alleviate the built-up intracranial pressure. Doctors will insert a shunt into Yese’s brain that will redirect the fluid to his abdominal cavity where it can be reabsorbed. This operation will reverse Yese’s symptoms—his vision will return so that he can walk well again. "I hope my son will regain his vision and ability to walk so that he can go to school like other children," his mother adds.

Meet Tuy. He’s 75 years old and a proud father of eight children and grandfather of eleven. Tuy lives with his wife in Cambodia and according to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), “Tuy likes to spend his days reading books.” In addition to reading, Tuy likes to watch TV and walk to the local pagoda. These activities, among others, have become more difficult for Tuy to enjoy now that he has a mature cataract in each of his eyes. A cataract occurs when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, making it difficult to see. If his cataracts go untreated, Tuy could lose his vision entirely. For $225, Tuy will have the cataract in each of his eyes surgically removed. Doctors will replace his cloudy lenses with artificial implants so that his vision will no longer be blurry. With Watsi support, Tuy will be able to see clearly once again and regain his ability to read and lead a more independent life. CSC adds, “After surgery Tuy is hoping to be able to read his books more easily, watch TV, go to the pagoda and do more things on his own.”

"I really am saddened by Angel’s condition. My greatest prayer is that she gets treated soon,” says the mother of Angel, a three-month-old baby girl who lives with her parents and two older siblings in Kenya. Angel was born with spina bifida, a condition characterized by the incomplete closure of the backbone and membranes around the spinal cord. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us, “Angel has a mass swelling on her lower back. She is at risk of developing tethered cord syndrome that can lead to either scoliosis and or kyphosis and getting severe infections on the exposed nerves. She may possibly lose muscle function in the lower limbs if not treated.” Angel’s parents are laborers who some days cannot find work. The money that they do earn is not enough to pay for rent, food, and school fees for the older children. Given their financial situation, they cannot afford medical care for Angel. With $805 in funding, Angel can undergo a surgical procedure known as spina bifida closure. Doctors place the spinal cord and nerves back inside the backbone and cover them with membranes before closing the opening on Angel’s back. Funding for Angel’s treatment also includes a five-day hospital stay and three days of physical therapy. “Angel’s treatment will reduce the risk of infections, development of tethered cord, and loss of muscle function in her legs,” says AMHF. Let’s help fund surgery for Angel!

Meet Sautso, a 36-year-old businessman from Malawi. Sautso has a brain tumor that causes memory loss, frequent headaches, seizures, and red eyes. He has been unable to do his business and take care of his family as his condition has worsened. For $1,500, our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, can remove Sautso's tumor with a surgery called a brain tumor resection. Funding covers direct surgical care as well as lab costs, medicinal costs, and travel costs. Also included are two days of examination in the Intensive Care Unit after the surgery. Sautso tells us, “I am so excited to have the operation done as this will improve my life. I will now be able to go back to my normal life, doing business operations so I can continue supporting my family.”

“I love my son for being the smallest, most beautiful baby I have ever seen, but I wish he was not sick,” says the mother of Jose, a four-year-old boy who lives with his parents and eight older siblings in Guatemala. “Ever since Jose was born premature, he has struggled,” shares our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK). “At two months old he began having regular seizures, which led to large developmental delays. At four years old, Jose is still unable to talk and has problems walking.” WK adds, “Jose is also malnourished, and his family does not have the resources to afford the appropriate nutritional support or medical treatment.” $1,385 in funding pays for a thorough diagnostic work-up and treatment phase, followed by ongoing therapy. This includes imaging and blood work to identify conditions contributing to Jose’s delayed development, anti-seizure medication to help prevent future seizures, and therapy—physical, speech, and nutritional—to support Jose’s growth and development. Funding also covers the cost of a case manager to help Jose’s family coordinate his care and monitor his progress. WK tells us, “This treatment will give Jose the support he needs to thrive. With time he will be able to operate more independently and even be able to work and contribute to his family’s economic well-being. With the help of Watsi support, we will be able to supply him with the right medical and educational support to recover his health and begin to grow normally.” Let’s help fund treatment for Jose!

Aye Aye, 43, was born in Burma and moved to Thailand for work when she was thirteen. She sells small goods in a store in exchange for room and board. She considers herself part of her employer's family. She also works in a garment factory in Bangkok. Aye Aye experiences severe pain in her lower abdomen due to a benign tumor called a myoma. During her menstrual cycle, she also has such extreme cramps such that she can't work at the factory. Fortunately, the shop owner she works for is supportive, helping her with day to day tasks, which have become difficult for her. For $1,150, Aye Aye will receive a hysterectomy and the pain in her abdomen will subside. Her ambition is to take on more responsibility at the store, a job she values and wants to keep. Let's help rid Aye Aye of her daily pain!

This is Ma Thein, a 37-year-old mother of three living in rural Burma. Ma Thein and her husband work as farmers to pay for their childrens' education, but this doesn’t allow them to save much money for other needs. Ma Thein has been diagnosed with cervical cancer, which causes her tenderness in her cervix, and keeps her up at night as she thinks about her condition and future. She worries about her children's future without their mother, and does not want to take draw the money saved for her children’s education for healthcare. Her doctors write that Ma Thein is worried about who will look after her children if she were to die. "Her friend says everyone who gets her condition dies. Even people with curable cancer die, because healthcare in Burma is so terrible." For $1,150, Ma Thein can undergo a hysterectomy, after which she will be able to work full time and take care of her children. Let's help Ma Thein get back in good health so she can then focus on creating a great life for her children!