Watsi | Fund healthcare for people around the world

Fund healthcare for people around the world

Meet a patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Fernanda is a five-year-old girl who lives in Bolivia with her parents and younger sister. Her mother and father are citrus farmers. When she was around three years old, Fernanda’s parents began to worry that she was sick more often than other children. Her mother took her to a health center, and doctors discovered that Fernanda had a heart murmur, signified by extra sounds in her heartbeat. They were not able to detect any underlying condition causing the murmur, and Fernanda’s family was left with uncertainty. About two years later, Fernanda was diagnosed with a heart condition called discrete subaortic stenosis. Tissue forms just below the aortic valve, narrowing the passage through which blood can flow and putting strain on the heart. This leaves her weak and short of breath and can lead to heart failure. On October 7th, Fernanda will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will remove the blockage so that blood can flow normally through her heart and body. Fernanda's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to help cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Fernanda's mother shared, “I’m so glad I found this hospital. The cardiologists are so kind, and they gave me peace. We traveled 11 hours by bus to be here, and I’m so grateful that my daughter will have her surgery soon.”

91%funded

$1,371raised

$129to go

Seang Ly is a 15-year-old Grade 10 student from Cambodia. He is the eldest of two children and lives with his parents, who sell coffee. He enjoys studying Khmer literature, playing football with his younger brother, and helping his mother at the family shop. His favorite foods are fried egg and caramelized pork. When Seang Ly was one year old, he crawled into a cooking fire in the kitchen and suffered a severe burn to his right hand. About a month later, his fingers began tightening, eventually causing severe contractures of all five fingers. All five fingers on his right hand are severely contracted and firmly attached to his palm. This makes it difficult for him to move his fingers and use his right hand normally. When Seang Ly's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, they traveled for six hours seeking treatment. On September 15th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help loosen the contracted fingers and improve movement in his right hand, making it easier for him to use his hand in everyday activities. Now, he needs help to fund this $652 procedure. Seang Ly's mother said, “I hope this surgery can help release my son’s fingers so he can move and use his right hand more easily. He has lived with this problem for many years, and I hope he will be able to use his hand more comfortably and do more things on his own.”

48%funded

$318raised

$334to go

Ulemu is a friendly 11-year-old boy, the firstborn of two children from Malawi. The family lives in a small, single-room mud-built house with a thatched roof. His mother earns a living by selling tomatoes from a small bench outside their home, and the family depends largely on this income to meet their daily needs. Ulemu's mother shared that he has been experiencing pain that often starts in his groin area, and travels up towards his abdomen, around the navel. She noticed that the pain is particularly severe during cold weather. She took him to the referral hospital several times in search of medical help, but unfortunately the surgery list was always long, and he has not been able to receive the surgery he needed. After hearing from several friends that Nkhoma Hospital was providing surgical services, she decided to bring him there. Getting to Nkhoma was not easy for the family. Because of their limited resources, even finding transport was a challenge. The journey took around five hours, and during the trip, his mother had to carry Ulemu on her lap at times. At Nkhoma Hospital, Ulemu was assessed and diagnosed with a left inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles, causing a bulge in the groin area. Doctors explained that he would need surgery to correct the condition. For Ulemu's mother, finally receiving a diagnosis brought some relief, but learning about the cost of treatment brought another worry. The family could not afford the surgery fees. Ulemu's illness has also affected his education. For a boy who has recently completed his primary school examinations, his mother hopes that treatment will allow him to continue with his education without the interruptions caused by pain. Fortunately, Ulemu is scheduled to undergo hernia repair surgery at Nkhoma Hospital. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $421 to fund Ulemu's hernia repair surgery. The procedure will take place on August 13th and, once completed, will provide Ulemu relief from the pain that has affected his childhood and education. Ulemu's mother said, “I want my son to receive the help he needs, so that he can be well again and continue with his education.”

58%funded

$248raised

$173to go