Success! Goodluck from Tanzania raised $689 to fund a removal of a dermoid lipoma.

100%

$689 raised, $0 to go

$689

raised

to go

Goodluck's story
Goodluck's update

February 6, 2020

Goodluck is a six-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the last born child in a family of three children and is currently in class two. Goodluck is a very active and playful boy who loves playing football with friends. His mother is a livestock keeper and she is able to sell the milk she gets from her two cows and through this she is able to support her family. His father is in Kenya working as guard.

Goodluck was born a healthy baby without any problem, but at the age of two months his parents noticed he had a small swelling on the upper side of his left eye. His parents thought it would disappear with time but to date, the swelling has not disappeared and it keeps increasing in size. If not treated, the mass will continue increasing in size and cause facial deformity, pain, and discomfort.

Goodluck traveled to our medical partner’s care center to receive treatment. On February 14th, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Goodluck needs help to raise $689 to fund this procedure.

Goodluck’s mother says, “The mass keeps growing. We are worried, please help treat our son.”

Goodluck is a six-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the last born child in a family of three children and is currently in class two. Goodluc...

Photo of Goodluck post-operation

March 12, 2020

Goodluck underwent a removal of a dermoid lipoma.

Goodluck had a successful surgery that helped remove the mass that was on his left side of the face. Through this surgery, Goodluck was saved from having his face deformed by the mass as it continued growing in size. His post-surgical wound is healed and has been discharged home from the hospital.

Goodluck ’s mother says, “Thank you very much for all your help and support. My son is now healed, I am very grateful.”

Goodluck had a successful surgery that helped remove the mass that was on his left side of the face. Through this surgery, Goodluck was save...

February 6, 2020
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Goodluck was submitted by Joan Kadagaya, SAFE Senior Program Coordinator at African Mission Healthcare.
February 7, 2020
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Goodluck received treatment at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC) in Tanzania. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.
February 17, 2020
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Goodluck's profile was published to start raising funds.
March 12, 2020
TREATMENT UPDATE
Goodluck's treatment was successful. Read the update.
September 20, 2020
FULLY FUNDED
Goodluck's treatment was fully funded.

Funded by 20 donors

Treatment

Mass Excision

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $689 for Goodluck's treatment

Hospital Fees

$577

Medical Staff

Medication

$11

Supplies

$49

Labs

$52

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Broadly speaking, masses come in two types: benign (not cancer) and malignant (cancer). The types of tumors are many and could range from osteosarcoma of the jaw (a bone tumor) to thyroid enlargement to breast lump to lipoma (benign fat tumor), among others. The symptoms vary depending on the type of tumor. Not all tumors, cancerous or benign, show symptoms. A common benign tumor, such as a lipoma (fatty tumor), may cause local pressure and pain, or may be disfiguring and socially stigmatizing. An ovarian mass may be benign or cancerous and may cause pain, bleeding, or, if malignant, death.

What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

If the tumor is cancerous, it is usually aggressive and invasive. If not treated (like certain skin cancers, for example) there could be great tissue destruction, pain, deformity, and ultimately death.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

There are so many different kinds of masses so it is difficult to state what the significance is.

Process
Impact on patient's life
Risks and side-effects
Accessibility
Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

The process depends on the location of the mass and whether it is cancerous or benign.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

In the case of cancer, the procedure can be life-saving. In the case of benign tumors, patients can be free of pain or social stigma.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

If the tumor is cancerous, the surgeon will only try to remove it if the procedure would be curative. If cancer has already spread, then surgery cannot help. Most of these surgeries are not very risky.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

There are few qualified facilities and surgeons to perform this procedure.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Alternatives depend on the type of tumor. If the tumor is cancerous, chemotherapy may help, but that treatment is even less available than surgery. If the tumor is benign, it depends on the condition but just watching the mass would be one option.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Victorino is a hardworking father from the Philippines who works as a motorcycle taxi driver. One year ago, Victorino began to experience troubling symptoms, including excruciating pain in the lower left part of his ribs making it difficult for him to breathe, stand, or walk. This directly affected his work and his income. Victorino was diagnosed with stones in his gallbladder and has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, his symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Victorino is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on April 5th. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation and WSFP is raising the remaining $1128 to cover the cost of Victorino's surgery and care. Victorino shared, "Thank you to Watsi and Our Lady of Peace Hospital for all the help they have extended to me. This surgery will not just help me but also my family. I am very grateful. I hope you will be able to help more people like me."

Margaret is a shopkeeper and a single mother of three. Her kids are all adults. She used to work at a small shop selling exam papers. However, she has not been able to go to work since December because of her pain. She is currently at home without a source of income and does not have medical coverage. She lives in a three-room house which her family shares with her elderly mother. Margaret has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1110 to cover the cost of a mastectomy for Margaret. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 23rd. After treatment, Margaret will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Margaret says, “I am currently experiencing a lot of pain. This condition has caused me not to be able to work at all. I need this surgery to stop the disease from spreading.”

Aymy is a loving housewife and mother of two children. A year ago, Aymy began to experience severe pain and frequent acid reflux. During these bouts of pain, her husband misses work to stay home and care for their children. Aymy was found to have gallstones and was advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, her symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications. Aymy is scheduled to undergo the procedure on March 5th with our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP). The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is supporting a portion of the cost of the procedure and WSFP is raising the remaining $1128 to cover the cost of Aymy's surgery and care. Aymy says, "I am grateful to everyone who will donate for my surgery. We cannot afford the treatment, especially when the necessities are costly. Thank you for making this possible for me and my family."

Goodluck's Timeline

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Funded by 20 donors

Treatment

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.