Success! Kato from Uganda raised $187 to fund a cyst removal.

100%

$187 raised, $0 to go

$187

raised

to go

Kato's story
Kato's update

April 20, 2020

Kato is a young child from Uganda. He is a twin and last born in a family of four children. His mother operates a small roadside canteen where she sells items like sugar cane, potatoes, and avocados. His father is a police man and they stay all together in a single-roomed rental home.

Kato was accompanied by his mother to hospital presenting with a swelling around the proximal intergluteal region for about eight months. He feels pain whenever sitting on the affected side, spends sleepless nights crying due to pain, and also presents with mild fevers.

Kato traveled to our medical partner’s care center to receive treatment. On April 21st, surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Kato needs help to raise $187 to fund this procedure.

Kato’s mother says, “I hope that my child will be healed from his condition after his surgery is done.”

Kato is a young child from Uganda. He is a twin and last born in a family of four children. His mother operates a small roadside canteen whe...

Photo of Kato post-operation

June 22, 2020

Kato underwent a cyst removal.

Kato’s surgery was successful! His doctors performed an excision treatment to remove his gluteal cyst. He is doing well with little pain at the incision site. He is now more comfortable, will be able to play with his 3 siblings, and continue with school.

Kato’s mother shared, “I will always praise God for His power and the blessing he gave me through the donors who supported my son’s surgery. With God, anything is possible. He can work through people you don’t even know to save you. Thank you, Watsi. My son will continue with school and be able to play.”

Kato's surgery was successful! His doctors performed an excision treatment to remove his gluteal cyst. He is doing well with little pain at ...

April 20, 2020
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Kato was submitted by Joan Kadagaya, SAFE Senior Program Coordinator at African Mission Healthcare.
April 20, 2020
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Kato's profile was published to start raising funds.
April 21, 2020
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Kato received treatment at Karoli Lwanga Hospital, Nyakibale in Uganda. 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.
June 22, 2020
TREATMENT UPDATE
Kato's treatment was successful. Read the update.
August 9, 2020
FULLY FUNDED
Kato's treatment was fully funded.

Funded by 4 donors

Treatment

Mass Excision

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $187 for Kato's treatment

Hospital Fees

$96

Medical Staff

Medication

$29

Supplies

$28

Labs

$34

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?

Due to lack of accessibility to treatment facilities, some of the patients have lived with masses for a long time. Access to medical facilities is difficult for people living in remote parts of Uganda.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

The patient is usually admitted for three days. They undergo three- to five-hour surgery depending on the location of the mass and whether it's cancerous. After surgery, they are continuously monitored in the wards.

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.

29-year-old Nathaniel is a hardworking father from the Philippines. Through his work as a housekeeper, he supports his wife, daughter and stepdaughter. Nathaniel has been living with an indirect inguinal hernia for many years. He has been doing hard, physical work ever since he was eight years old, and has been experiencing symptoms for quite a while. When his pain increased dramatically, he sought medical advice for the first time, and has been advised to undergo hernia repair surgery. Our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, is helping Nathaniel access the treatment that he needs. He is now scheduled for surgery on January 20th, at Our Lady of Peace Hospital. While a portion of the cost of Nathaniel's procedure will be paid for by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, World Surgical Foundation Philippines is seeking your help to cover the remaining $1,103. Nathaniel said: "Thank you very much for your help. Your help will not go in vain because when I recover, I will still continue to be a provider and a good father to my daughters. I am not the only one who will benefit from this surgery, but my family too, so I am very grateful."

Angelica is a loving and open-minded tailor from Uganda. She grew up with her father and five siblings. After completing primary school, she joined a tailoring school and attained a certificate in tailoring. She currently lives with her husband and three school-age children. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. Angelica is currently expecting a new baby to arrive soon. Since her previous deliveries were done via C-sections, her doctors recommend that she deliver via a cesarean section to protect the health of both the mother and the child. During her prenatal visits in Ibanda Hospital, she was told about the services of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Angelica undergo a C-section on February 22nd. This procedure will cost $207, and Angelica needs your support. Angelica says, "I'm very happy for I know I will have a safe surgery, and I will hold a live baby. May God bless you. After surgery, I can continue tailoring, and one day, we shall have our own house and land."

Pi is a 14-year-old boy who lives with his aunt, uncle, grandmother, and nine-year-old cousin in a village in Karen State, Burma. His uncle and aunt are subsistence hillside farmers, and their family has barely enough food. Pi usually helps his aunt with farming and household chores. They receive free basic healthcare at the clinic close to their village. On April 20th, 2024, Pi had climbed a Marian Plum tree to pick some fruits. Unfortunately, he fell from the tree, sustaining an injury to his lower back. Pi's aunt immediately brought him to the local clinic, where he was examined and referred to a hospital for treatment. Following the advice, Pi's aunt promptly took him to the local hospital where the doctor conducted a physical examination, x-ray and ultrasound. He was treated with intravenous infusion and pain medication. After reviewing the assessment results, the doctor diagnosed him with a fracture of two or three spine vertebrae in his lower back. Pi's aunt was informed that Pi might need surgery and was advised to go to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot Hospital (MSH) in Thailand, for further treatment. On April 21, 2024, Pi and his aunt arrived at MSH, where the doctor conducted a physical examination and scheduled Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) on April 22, 2024. Pi's family is unable to fund the cost and needs your help to raise the $681 required for the procedure. Currently, Pi cannot stand or walk; he has to lie on the bed, and a urinary catheter has also been inserted. He also experiences pain in his lower back. Pi's aunt expressed her gratitude, saying, "I did not know how to manage his injury. I am glad to receive help from the Burma Children's Medical Fund and donors." "Thank you for your assistance." Pi added, "Thank you for helping me with my treatment costs."

Kato's Timeline

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Funded by 4 donors

Treatment

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100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.