Charlina is a baby girl from Haiti. She lives with her parents in a city on the southern coast; her father works in construction, and her mother currently stays home to care for her. Charlina has a cardiac condition called double outlet right ventricle. one of the major blood vessels carrying blood from her heart is attached to the heart at an anatomically abnormal location, which prevents blood from circulating normally through her heart and body. She also has Down syndrome. Charlina will fly to the Dominican Republic to undergo surgery on March 18th. As Charlina's heart is still too small to completely repair this condition, she will undergo cardiac surgery, where doctors will implant a shunt in her heart that will help blood circulate more normally, and keep her safe and healthy until she has reached an age where a full repair is possible. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $4500.00 to pay for the surgery. Charlina's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. They need help raising $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Charlina's family overseas. Charlina's mother shared, "I am hopeful that after this surgery Charlina will have more appetite and energy than she does now!"

Jeffrey is a single parent from the Philippines who supports his two children financially as they live with their mother. After being unemployed for three months, Jeffrey recently returned to work as a call center agent. As the main provider, his health condition has added to his family's struggles. Jeffrey was also diagnosed with high cholesterol, which he believes contributed to the growth of a lump, and has since been following his doctor's advice to change his diet. Jeffrey used to wind down during his free time by playing games online to relieve stress; however, he now works a night shift and must rest during the day. Jeffrey needs to undergo a surgical procedure called a parotidectomy to treat a mass. He will undergo this surgery on May 22nd through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines. To support his health and financial stability, Jeffrey is requesting assistance raising $635 to cover the remaining cost of his treatment. Jeffrey shared that this will allow his family to focus their limited resources on their daily needs. Jeffrey said, "This free surgery means so much to me and my family. It saves us from debt, lets us focus on our daily needs, and inspires me to one day give back and help others, just like how WATSI has helped me."

Martha is 46 years old and a mother of four from Ethiopia. Martha and her family are refugees who have been granted asylum by the Government of Kenya. Martha’s husband recounts how he narrowly escaped death and walked long distances to reach the border. Although he holds a master’s degree, securing formal employment has been extremely difficult. Currently, he earns a living through small-scale hawking within the neighborhood, while Martha works informally as a cook at a roadside kiosk. Six years ago, Martha began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small swelling on her neck that gradually continued to grow. Initially, it was painless, but over time she began experiencing headaches, eye pain, and sensations such as a rapid heartbeat. She sought medical care at a hospital, where tests were conducted, but she was informed that the results were inconclusive. She was diagnosed with multinodular goiter. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Martha receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on February 24th. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $633, and she and her family need help raising money. “We are refugees with no family members who can support us. We are praying for help so that I can undergo surgery, return to my normal life, and continue supporting my family,” said Martha.