Emernica is a two-year-old girl from Haiti. She lives in Port-au-Prince with her mother, father, and grandparents. She likes to play dress-up and to go to church with her family. Emernica was born with a heart condition called valvar pulmonic stenosis, which means that one of her heart's valves is too small to allow enough blood to flow. As a result, her body does not receive enough oxygen, so she is sickly and weak. Emernica flew to the Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On December 7, she underwent cardiac surgery, during which surgeons inserted a balloon into the valve and inflated the balloon to stretch the valve. This $10,000 surgery was subsidized by Have a Heart Cayman Islands. Emernica's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who accompanied Emernica's family overseas. Emernica's mother shares, "We are very excited to know that there is a way to fix Emernica's heart problem!"

Sokhoeun is a 56-year-old farmer who is married with three daughters and four sons. He likes to read books about Buddhism and listen to the radio. One year ago, Sokhoeun developed a mass on his right eyelid. Since then, it gradually increased in size. Sokhoeun had difficulty seeing from his right eye, and he was in pain. When Sokhoeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for five hours to seek treatment. He was diagnosed with melanoma. On November 28, surgeons at CSC performed an excision and flap procedure to remove the mass. This procedure will allow Sokhoeun to feel comfortable again. Now, he needs help to pay his $450 medical bill. "I hope to have a normal eye again and no pain," he says.

Marianaelle is a 16-month-old girl and lives in Leogane, a city in southwest Haiti, with her mother, father, and an older sister. Her mother works in the market, and her father is currently seeking employment. Marianaelle was born with a cardiac condition called double outlet right ventricle, in which both major arteries emerging from the heart are attached to just one of the heart's chambers, instead of two. This leads to heart failure and can be fatal if not corrected surgically. $1,500 in Watsi funding, and an additional $10,000 subsidy from Have a Heart Cayman Islands will fund the life-saving heart surgery that Marianaelle needs to grow up healthy. "Marianaelle has been sick ever since she was born, but I am excited and hopeful that she will become a normal child after her surgery," her mother shared.

Meet Chim, a 56-year-old rice farmer from Cambodia. “Chim is married with three sons, four daughters, and ten grandchildren. He enjoys watching boxing on TV and listening to music," shares our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). Four years ago, Chim developed mature cataracts in each eye. A cataract occurs when a thin, cloudy layer forms over the eye’s lens. "This causes him blurred vision, discharge, tearing, and fear of bright lights. It is hard for him to see clearly, do work, or go anywhere outside," CSC explains. After learning about CSC, Chim and his son travelled two hours to visit their clinic. They learned that a simple surgical procedure may restore Chim's sight. With $292, Chim will undergo cataract surgery, during which his old lenses will be removed and replaced with sheer artificial implants, allowing him to see again immediately after his operation.

Vincent is a 44-year-old man who lives with his wife and three children—ages two through eight—in a two-room rental house in Kenya. He used to work as a city council guard—commonly called council askaris—before he broke his right lower leg in a road accident in May 2007. After the accident, Vincent underwent a plating surgery to treat his broken leg. Five years later, he noted an area of swelling on his right leg. He sought medical attention for the swelling and learned that it was a cancerous tumor. Vincent started radiotherapy sessions in March 2013 at Kenyatta National Hospital. In 2015, after receiving a total of 24 radiotherapy sessions for his leg, Vincent came to Kijabe hospital with a wound on his right leg. Doctors performed an incisional biopsy and determined that Vincent has a wound ulcer that requires a skin graft and debridement. If not treated, Vincent is at risk of a severe infection, which may result in amputation of his leg. Vincent has not been able to work since the accident in 2007. House rent and other household expenses are met by his wife, who sells vegetables at a small green grocery. Given the family's financial situation, Vincent is unable to raise the amount of money needed for the treatment. $940 pays for the surgery that Vincent needs as well as 14 days of hospital care, including meals, pain medicine, antibiotics, and lab tests. Vincent's family and friends are contributing $156 to cover additional costs associated with his care. “I want to be treated and be able to provide for my family," shares Vincent. "My medical journey has been long, and I want to be able to start helping my family as I used to do."

47-year-old Phon lives in Cambodia with his wife and two sons. When he is not working on the farm or at the factory, he enjoys spending time at home and cleaning the grounds around his house. Last year, "Phon was in a moto accident and fractured his right tibia," reports our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). "He walks with crutches now and is in pain." Phon needs surgery to properly fix his leg. However, even working two jobs, Phon does not make enough money to pay for these medical expenses. He travelled three hours with his wife to reach CSC, and for $405 doctors will perform an ORIF procedure to align Phon's fractured bones. Once aligned, the bones will be secured with pins so that they can properly heal in the right position. After his operation, Phon will be able to walk again free of pain. "When I am healed I will go home and find a job," Phon shares.

25-year-old Kristine has a happy and outgoing personality. She lives in the Philippines with her mother, and she is loved by her family and fellow church members. She also loves to sing and dance with the other children in their church and community. If the church has an activity, she eagerly offers herself to help with any chores in the activity area. Kristine was born with congenital clubfoot, a condition that impacts her gait. Our medical partner, International Care Ministries (ICM), explains: "Kristine has difficulty in walking because of her left foot deformity. She also has seizure disorder but it is currently managed with medication. Her mother said that she was frequently teased by her classmates when she was still in elementary school because of the way she walked. Since then, she has not joined school; and everyday, she wishes that she could go back even in her age." Treatment for Kristine will cost $1,211, and consists of a surgery to correct her deformity give her a balanced gait, as well as boost her self esteem. It will also fulfill her wishes to go back to school if time and situation permits. Kristine's family was unable to have Kristine undergo surgery earlier because of lack of finances. At their pre-operative interview with ICM, Kristine's mother shared: "I really hope that my child can get treatment. We want to see her well and live normally, but we could not make it happen. She even stopped schooling to avoid bullies because we don't want to see her have emotional pains. We are praying that there could be someone that could help her."

Meet Baston, a carefree and talkative three-year-old boy from Tanzania. Since birth, Baston has lived with unilateral clubfoot, where his right foot is turned inward. He uses the lateral part of his foot to walk, which has affected his gait. "He will be at risk of developing osteoarthritis at a young age if untreated," reports the staff at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. "Despite his condition, Baston likes to walk and run around with other children." Baston started clubfoot treatment when he was 18 months old. Unfortunately, the person in charge of the treatment left Baston's village, and his family was unable to afford care at a different hospital. Baston's mother cares for the children at home and owns a kiosk where she sells drinks, while his father farms peanuts and maize. Baston will need to undergo further treatment to fix his clubfoot. Treatment will consist of stretching and manipulating the foot into the correct position, followed by casting, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation. After four months, Baston will no longer use the lateral part of his foot to walk. $1,160 will cover the cost of the treatment and four-month rehabilitation stay. "He will have better gait and reduced risk of developing osteoarthritis," AMHF explains. "I love my little brother very much, we all do," Baston's older sister shared at their pre-operative interview. "I will be happy to see him able to walk like we do."

Sophon is a 48-year-old man living in Cambodia. He lives with his wife, daughter, and two sons, and he works as a policeman. Before his hearing began to deteriorate, he enjoyed listening to programs on the radio. Sophon has hearing loss in his right ear due to a cholesteatoma he developed many years ago. Sophon’s condition started with recurring discharge from his ear, and since then it has been odorous and painful. "I get pain every day and my hearing is lost in that ear, which makes me unhappy,” Sophon shares. “I can't work anymore." A cholesteatoma refers to an expanding growth in the middle ear, which can eventually lead to damage in the bones of the ear. These growths are often infected, and can cause chronic drainage. Sophon needs mastoidectomy surgery to remove the cholesteatoma and remove either the posterior ear canal wall or the ossicles, depending upon the findings in surgery. For $809, Sophon can receive this life-changing surgery he needs. Funding also covers one day of post-operative care and three follow-up visits. After the surgery, he is expected to regain some hearing and no longer have drainage. “I hope after the operation the pain goes away,” Sophon adds.

Mayda, a 10-year-old girl from Guatemala, is the fourth of seven children. "Mayda's father works as a farm hand, harvesting coffee on their neighbor's plantation," our medical partner, Wuqu’ Kawoq (WK), tells us. “Mayda’s mother cooks, cleans, takes care of the children, and helps harvest coffee.” Two years ago, Mayda underwent successful surgery for a heart murmur, which was funded by Watsi. Recently, she was also diagnosed with epilepsy. Mayda was doing well until last December. "She came home one day from school with a note from the school nurse saying that she had a seizure that lasted several minutes,” WK explains. “She had lost consciousness and did not remember anything. Since then she has had two more seizures at home." Because of these seizures and the resulting symptoms, Mayda has been unable to attend school. With $967, Mayda can receive the medical care and anticonvulsant medications that she requires for a healthier life. She will receive a brain MRI and other diagnostic workup for preliminary testing. She will also receive anti-epileptic medication to control her spastic episodes and to improve her mobility and independence. With treatment, “Mayda will gain control of her body,” WK continues. “This will increase her quality of life and put her on track to receive the education she deserves and live a healthy and productive life.” "We want her to grow well and be healthy,” Mayda’s parents share. “She has already been through so much with her surgery and now her seizures. We just want her to get better."

Meet Daudi! Daudi is a three-year-old boy from Tanzania. "He is the fifth and last born in the family," our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), reports. Always curious, Daudi likes to observe and play with other children. He's very quick to pick up the activities that he see's the other children participating in, and tries to do the same. Daudi has lived with an enlarged adenoid since birth, making it hard for him to breathe, especially through his nose. The adenoid is a patch of tissue at the back of the nasal passage that catches bacteria and germs trying to enter the body. "He breathes with so much difficulty, especially at night," AMHF tells us. "it sounds as though Daudi is snoring, even when he is not asleep." Coming from a large family, there are not enough resources to pay for Daudi's operation. His mother stays at home with him and his siblings while his father cares for livestock. $488 will cover the cost of treatment for Daudi, his three day hospital stay, and the necessary antibiotics. In the operation, his enlarged adenoid will be removed through his mouth. After the operation, Daudi will be able to breathe through his nose and sleep throughout the night. "If my son could become a doctor, I will be so happy," Daudi's mother shares. "For now, I wish he could breathe without difficulty."

Edna is a mother of seven from Haiti. Four years ago, she lost her husband and now raises their children alone. Until recently, she managed a small business selling clothes on the street. Two years ago, Edna noticed a lump in her breast but did not seek treatment for some time. Recently, she visited our medical partner, Project Medishare, and was diagnosed with breast cancer. “She is scared of the cancer diagnosis and can’t wait to have the treatment,” they share. The cancer made her ill to the point she could no longer work, and now has no income for her family and the treatment. “She has significant physical limitations as a result of the cancer,” explains Project Medishare. “Her children are in school and cannot help her with everything and she is unable to afford her treatment.” With our support of $1,500, Edna will undergo a mastectomy to remove the cancer in her breast and chemotherapy to ensure that it does not come back. These funds will cover the necessary pre-operative care, surgical costs, chemotherapy drugs, and hospital stay. “She hopes to get back to work selling clothes and to get back to caring for her children,” Project Medishare shares. “Since her husband died, she is their sole caretaker.” Let’s help Edna get well and return to enjoying time with her family.