United States
Aaron's Story

Aaron joined Watsi on February 20th, 2015. Eleven years ago, Aaron joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Aaron's most recent donation traveled 8,200 miles to support Hana, a one-year-old boy from Ethiopia, to fund corrective surgery for a birth condition.

Impact

Aaron has funded healthcare for 149 patients in 15 countries.

Patients funded by Aaron

Huzeyefa is a playful and cheerful 13-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He enjoys reading religious books with his brother and sisters, and helping his parents in their farming work. Huzeyefa and his family live in the Central Region of Ethiopia. He is the third child in a family of six children, and is currently in Grade 3. Huzeyefa condition was first noticed by his aunt when he visted her in Addis Ababa. While bathing him, she noticed that something was quite not right. Concerned, she took him to the nearest health centre, where he was referred to a higher-level hospital for further evaluation. “I was very anxious. My heart was broken, and I couldn’t sleep well. I was very worried when I heard that Huzeyfa needed surgery," his aunt shared. Huzeyefa was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. The doctors placed Huzeyefa on a long surgery wait list, and informed the family that he might have to wait for up to a year to undergo surgery. This news worried his aunt because Huzeyfa needed to return home to continue his education. In addition, his family could not afford the cost of surgery at a private hospital. Three weeks later, Huzeyfa’s aunt received encouraging news. The higher-level hospital had referred Huzeyfa to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). At BKMCM, Huzeyfa was scheduled for surgery on August 10th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Huzeyfa receive treatment, and is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Huzeyfa's aunt shared: "Thank you so much for all your support, kindness, and care. May God bless you with good health, long life, and abundant blessings. I am truly grateful to each one of you. My prayer is that Huzeyfa will recover well, continue his education, and grow into a successful person with a bright future. Thank you all so much."

$1,095raised
$198to go

Rodirick is a 61-year-old man from the Philippines. He was the primary provider for his family, but was forced to stop working because his health no longer allowed him to perform his job safely. Without a regular income, his family has relied on his retirement benefits and social pensions to cover their daily expenses while he awaits treatment. Despite his condition, Rodirick stays active by helping with light household chores and taking daily walks to maintain his strength. Access to surgery would give him the opportunity to recover, reduce his family's financial burden, and help him regain his independence. For seven years, Rodirick has dealt with an inguinal hernia. This hernia causes him immense pain that prevents him from moving freely. Fortunately, our medical partner can help him receive the care he needs. On July 24th, Rodirick will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is supporting a portion of the cost of Rodirick's treatment. Our medical partner is raising the remaining $1,038 to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Rodirick said, "The foundation is a great help, especially for people like me who have no job and do not have enough money to pay for medical expenses. I am very thankful for their program, and I hope they can continue helping many more people who are facing the same situation as I am."

$1,038raised
Fully funded

Mitchelle is a 12-year-old girl from Kenya. She is shy but determined. Mitchelle is in eighth grade and dreams of becoming a teacher one day. Her inspiration comes from her English teacher, whose passion and eagerness in the classroom motivate Mitchelle to pursue the same path and help others learn. We met Mitchelle at CURE Children’s Hospital, where she had come for treatment, accompanied by her parents. Her mother is a peasant farmer who works hard to support the family and ensure her children have the opportunity to go to school. Mitchelle was born healthy and grew up like any other child. However, last year, while visiting her aunt, something unusual was noticed. As Mitchelle bathed, her aunt noticed a pronounced bend in her spine, affecting her posture while standing, walking, and causing pain while bending. Concerned, she immediately informed Mitchelle’s parents and advised them to seek medical help. Her aunt also told them about the CURE mobile clinic in Kabarnet, encouraging them to attend so that Mitchelle could be examined by specialists. Physicians at AIC Cure International Hospital determined that Mitchelle should undergo a procedure called a spinal fusion. This surgery fuses two or more unstable vertebrae together to reinforce the back structure with the goal of reducing pain and easing symptoms. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on March 19th, and once completed, it will hopefully improve Mitchelle's quality of life. “I am looking forward to getting better so that I can stand upright, return to school comfortably, and continue working hard to become a teacher one day,” Mitchelle shared softly.

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Srey Neang is 18 years old and a twelfth-grade student from a small village in Prey Veng Province, Cambodia. She lives with her parents, who are rice farmers. She is the second of four siblings; her older brother works in a garment factory, while her two younger siblings are in school. She enjoys studying literature, which is her favorite subject at school, and she hopes to become a teacher in the future. In her free time, she likes listening to music and helping with housework. Her favorite food is spicy stir-fried chicken. Srey Neang has had scoliosis since she was 13 years old, a condition in which the spine curves abnormally to one side, often forming a “C” or “S” shape. As she has grown, the curve in her spine has progressively worsened and now bends toward the right side. This condition causes frequent pain and makes it difficult for her to sit for extended periods. Because of this, she struggles to concentrate in class and feels worried about being bullied by her classmates due to her appearance. She also experiences difficulty walking, which further affects her daily life. In the past, Srey Neang had not sought hospital treatment because her family could not afford the cost. Recently, a relative informed her family about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). On February 6th, surgeons at CSC will implant a metal “growing rod” into her spine to help correct the curve and allow for continued spinal growth. Her family can only afford to contribute $75 and needs help with the remaining $1,425. This will cover the costs of surgery, the implant, and post-operative care, including physiotherapy. Srey Neang's mother said, “After the surgery, I hope that Srey Neang will no longer have any pain so that she can do a good job at school and focus on her studies.”

$1,425raised
Fully funded