Hapyness is a charming 9-month-old girl, born to hardworking farmers in the remote village of Igot, in the Ulanga district of Tanzania. Her family's daily life revolves around the cultivation of maize and millet, which not only sustains their meals, but also provides a modest income for the family’s necessities. Unfortunately, her father, who is advancing in age, cannot work extended hours, so her mother toils diligently on the farm, to ensure they yield bountiful harvests. Hapyness was born with a clubfoot, a condition in which the foot is abnormally twisted, making it difficult for her to crawl and eventuall to walk. At the time of her birth, the nurse in attendance recommended immediate medical attention. However, locating such specialized care in their isolated village proved to be impossible. After months of searching, Hapyness' father crossed paths with a young boy who had had a clubfoot which had been successfully treated, and he was able to provide Hapyness' father with the information he had been seeking. As a result of this meeting, Hapyness' parents brought her to the Plaster House, where her treatment will begin on October 6th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Hapyness' clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to crawl and to walk comfortably as she grows. Hapyness’s mother says: “I am glad there is a chance for my daughter to get treatment. I hope she doesn't have to live with this disability for the rest of her life.”

Babi is a cute toddler from Ethiopia. He is an only child and loves to play with toy cars; he pushes the toy making the sound 'uuuuuvvvv', saying it's a car. His father, who has a 5th-grade education, used to work in the horticulture industry as a laborer, but he lost his wife a year back to tuberculosis and has been trying to balance everything on his own. After his mom's death, Babi had no one to take care of him besides his dad, so his dad decided to leave his job to take care of his child and try to get him the necessary treatment. Babi experienced a bowel obstruction, and he got three surgeries at Negele Arsi General Hospital, but he still had complications with his bowel. There is a small window for corrective surgery, but colostomy closure is preferred since the opening is too small. Babi's father has suffered with the whole process and feels he is highly affected psychologically as Babi cannot make a stool in a normal way. Earlier, Babi underwent a colostomy, in which the end of the colon is brought through an opening in the abdominal wall. This surgery is often performed to bypass bowel malformations, but colostomies are usually temporary and may call for closure. In Babi's case, his colostomy requires closure to restore bowel function and prevent future complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,009 to cover Babi's colostomy closure cost. Once completed, he can grow up more comfortably and confidently. Babi's dad said, "After he gets the treatment and heals, I hope he will go to school and lead a good life in the future."

Neema is a 2-month-old baby girl from Tanzania. She is the firstborn child of her parents, who are still quite young themselves. Her mother is a homemaker, while her father is a farmer and livestock keeper. Whenever necessary, the young parents receive assistance from Neema’s grandfather, who steps in to help due to their relative youth and inexperience. Neema has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Neema and her parents traveled to visit our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH), and she is scheduled to begin clubfoot treatment on August 11th. AMH is requesting $935 to fund Neema's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to achieve independent and comfortable mobility when she grows older, allowing her to wear regular footwear. Furthermore, successfully implementing this treatment plan will alleviate the concerns and anxieties of her parents regarding her future. Neema’s mother says: “I wish my daughter to have normal legs. I am hoping this treatment will be fast and go on smoothly.”

Catherine is a three year old toddler and is the second child in a family of two children. She lives in Tanzania. She is a quiet and laid-back child who doesn’t speak much. She enjoys spending time with her mother, who is employed as a pharmacist. This sometimes requires her mother to take her to work. Catherine’s father is a carpenter, crafting furniture in Mpanda. Both parents work diligently to meet their family’s needs, but their income is limited, preventing them from covering substantial medical expenses. Catherine has clubfoot of both legs. She began displaying signs of bowed legs when she started walking. Her legs gradually bowed outward, and while the defect was mild, it worsened as she grew older. This condition causes discomfort when she walks, making it challenging to ascend stairs or squat. During one of our partner's outreach visits, the medical team had the opportunity to meet Catherine and her parents. After a brief assessment, the team diagnosed her with fluorosis and bilateral bowleggedness. Following our visit, the family was advised to seek treatment at the medical centre. In August, after a two-day journey, Catherine arrived at the centre. She quickly felt at ease, as she was familiar with some of the medical team members. Following an initial meeting, she was scheduled to see an orthopaedic surgeon. Fortunately, Catherine's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, The Plaster House NGO. There, the team will begin clubfoot treatment on September 14th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund Catherine's clubfoot repair. After treatment, her legs will be corrected and she can grow up active and healthy. Catherine’s mother says, “I wish my daughter to be better, this condition limits her so much and I feel sorry for her because she has a hard time keeping up with her friends.”

Jesca is a 16-year-old girl who was born with clubfoot of the right foot. At two years old, Jesca’s mother recognized the severity of her condition and took her to Nkuaranga for treatment. However, sadly her mother fell seriously ill and passed away. Left without her mother’s care and support, Jesca’s father couldn’t continue with her treatment plan. The weight of her condition and the financial burden caused Jesca to abandon her education in secondary school. Her father, a casual laborer, provides for the family by working in the fields. Fortunately, Jesca's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, The Plaster House NGO. There, the team will begin clubfoot treatment on September 15. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund Jesca's clubfoot repair. After treatment, her bent right foot will straighten, and she will be able to walk comfortably. Jesca says, “It has been my wish to get treatment for my condition, I wish to be able to walk confidently without worrying how people are looking at me.”

Nan Ei is a sweet 2-year-old toddler from Burma who loves playing with toys. Her father works as a delivery man, serving as the family's breadwinner, while her mother is a homemaker. In February 2023, Nan Ei developed a fever and a painful mass appeared in her neck. The mass has been increasing in size. With the help of Watsi, Nan Ei underwent a CT scan of her neck, which revealed a suspected thyroid cyst or infected branchial cleft cyst. Nan experiences painful swelling in her neck, accompanied by frequent fevers, making her mother concerned for her wellbeing. Nan Ei sought treatment through our medical partner Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), and she is now scheduled to undergo a mass removal surgery on October 11th. She and our medical partner BCMF need help raising $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Nan Ei's mother said, “I am thankful to you for assisting my baby’s treatment. I am hoping for the best. I would like to see my daughter grow up to become a doctor.”

Jonah is a 7-year-old active and inquisitive primary school student from Kenya. He and his twin sister are the third born in a family of 5 children. His mother is a laborer tending farms and washing clothes for a living, while his father works as a security guard. In June 2019, Jonah slipped into boiling tea. He was rushed to a nearby hospital for first aid after sustaining serious burns on his back, thigh and hand. He was treated in the hospital for several months, but now burn scar contractures have developed, tightening the skin around the burn. He is unable to hold anything with the affected hand. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Jonah receive treatment. On October 2nd, surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery so that Jonah will be able to use his hand with ease again. AMH is asking for $1,500 to fully fund the procedure and medical care. Jonah's mother says, “Jonah cannot use his left hand at all because of the burns. He is only dependent on the right hand. He needs this procedure to be able to use his hand.”

Levi lives in a mining city in the mountains of central Bolivia, and he loves exploring and trying new things. His parents are both industrial mining engineers. Levi was born with a serious heart condition that leaves him weak and short of breath. Through surgery, doctors can close the hole in his heart so he can continue to be his happy and playful self. Levi's mom shared: "Our family is so relieved to know that it is possible to fix the problem with our son's heart. Thank you."

Hadassah is a sweet 3-year-old from Central Kenya. She is the youngest in her family of three children and is absolutely adored by her family. Hadassah’s mother runs a business selling curtains and bedding materials at her local shopping center to provide for her family. Hadassah was born with congenital clubfoot, a condition in which both of her feet are turned inwards. This condition can cause difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Hadassah’s mother was first referred to a pediatric orthopedic doctor, who explained that Hadassah could undergo serial casting as a non-surgical way to treat this condition. Hadassah started weekly serial casting; however, the condition did not improve and instead recurred. Then, at a mobile clinic in their local area, Hadassah’s mother met our medical partner’s care team. After review by the doctor, our medical partner was able to schedule clubfoot repair surgery for Hadassah on September 27th. After undergoing surgery, Hadassah will be able to walk easily, play with friends, and enroll in school without any hindrances as she continues to grow. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $1,286 to fund Hadassah’s surgery. Hadassah’s mother said, “I am appealing for help from well-wishers to assist my daughter in undergoing surgery so that she can walk like other children and join school.”

Pendo, a baby girl, resides in the Ngorongoro region of Tanzania. Her family follows the Maasai tradition and sustains themselves primarily through subsistence farming and livestock rearing. Pendo was born with clubfoot, a congenital condition that causes her foot to be twisted inward and downward, which causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Unfortunately, due to limited medical facilities and awareness in her village, the condition went unnoticed by doctors at birth. Pendo's mother noticed her bent leg a few days later. Despite the concern of the village grandmothers, her father initially believed it was part of God's plan and resisted any intervention. However, during an outreach program conducted by our medical team in her village, Pendo's mother learned about the treatment options available for her daughter. Realizing the potential for improved quality of life for Pendo, she sought medical assistance and brought her to our partner's center. Fortunately, Pendo is now being seen by our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on June 16th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, requests $935 to fund Pendo's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she'll be able to walk easily as she grows and live a full life ahead. Pendo's mother says, "Thank you for the chance to receive the treatment for my daughter. I hope her future will be good."

Nekanisa is a jovial and social 11-year-old girl. She attends Marlal primary school in Kenya and loves reading and playing with her friends. She aspires to become a nurse in the future and help hospital patients. Nekanisa is the child of a single mother, who depends upon farming to earn a living. Nekanisa was healthy at birth. However, about one year ago, she developed a problem with her leg that led to the contortion of her right knee, greatly affecting her mobility. Nekanisa visited Loitoktok General Hospital in Kajiado County for review, but due to financial challenges, she was discharged before she could be treated. As she walks with a lot of discomfort and is unable to run, Nekanisa sought help from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. She is now scheduled to undergo a distal femur osteotomy on May 8th at AIC Cure International Hospital. She needs your help to fund this $1,224 procedure, which will enable her to walk pain-free. “I am requesting support from the donors to help me undergo surgery so that my foot can be corrected and I can resume my usual walking style,” Nekanisa told us.