Werknesh is 60 years old and a mother of ten from Ethiopia. She has spent her life working on her farm to support her family. She has long been active and independent, managing daily responsibilities for her household and land. About seven years ago, Werknesh developed a cataract in her right eye, resulting in progressively cloudy and reduced vision. The condition has made it increasingly difficult for her to farm, carry out household tasks, and maintain her independence. Werknesh is raising $150 to fund cataract surgery with the support of our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital. On April 4th, surgeons will remove and replace the blurred lens, and after recovery, she is expected to regain clear vision. Werknesh said, "I hope to restore my ability to work safely on my farm, tend to my household, and move about independently once again."

James is an 11-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the third-born in a family of seven children and currently lives with his mother, as his father passed away. His mother supports the family through small-scale farming, and household resources are limited and depend heavily on seasonal harvests. James was diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, causing misalignment at the knees and ankles, which makes walking long distances difficult and painful. Several factors could cause this condition, such as growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found in contaminated drinking water. As a result, the knees can be angled inwards or outwards, making it difficult to walk and may cause long-term joint damage. Due to his condition, he has not been able to attend school consistently and eventually stopped going altogether. Despite these challenges, James is known in his community as a polite and determined child who dreams of becoming a teacher in the future. With proper surgical care and rehabilitation, James has a strong chance to walk more comfortably and pursue his educational goals. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $777 to fund treatment for James. The procedure is scheduled to take place on February 10th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore James's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease his risk of future complications. James says, “I want to go to school every day, but my legs hurt when I walk far, and I cannot keep up with other children.”

Christie is a four-year-old girl from Haiti, who lives with her parents and two older siblings in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. She is in preschool, and is learning to read. She loves dressing up and playing with her friends. Christie has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two major blood vessels next to her heart; blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. Christie will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On May 13th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which doctors will use a device on the end of a catheter to plug the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization, International Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $4,000 to pay for surgery. Christie's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $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 Christie's family overseas. Christie's mother says: "Our family is so thankful that our daughter has this chance to travel and to get her heart healed!"