Y
Yong Pin LimUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER

Australia
Yong's Story

Yong joined Watsi on June 27th, 2013. Twelve years ago, Yong joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Yong's most recent donation traveled 4,100 miles to support Shwe, a factory worker from Burma, to fund mass removal surgery.

Impact

Yong has funded healthcare for 148 patients in 14 countries.

Patients funded by Yong

Shwe is a 26-year-old woman from Burma, living in Thailand. She is a factory worker. She migrated from Yangon to seek better job opportunities. At that time, her mother had cancer and needed treatment. Her mother passed away, and Shwe is now on her own. In February 2026, Shwe felt a mass in her breast. The mass continued to grow and started to cause her pain, forcing her to seek medical consultation. Doctors recommended she undergo surgery to remove the mass. Her current situation affects her both physically and emotionally. She is worried that it could be cancer. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Shwe undergo treatment. She is scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on October 30th, and needs help raising $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Shwe said, “If I stop working, nobody will support me. Because of this, I feel a lot of stress. Physically, I feel uncomfortable and cannot sleep on the right side because of the pain caused by the mass.”

$612raised
$888to go

Rebira is a 14-year-old student who lives in Ethiopia with his parents and three siblings. His father works as a guard, and his mother stays home to care for the children. Before his recent health challenges, he enjoyed playing football with his friends. About two years ago, Rebira injured his left leg while playing football. Because his family could not afford medical care, the injury went untreated. Unfortunately, the leg did not heal properly, and Rebira continues to suffer from intermittent swelling, severe pain, and difficulty walking. The pain has become so debilitating that he struggles to make the walk to school. His parents fear that, if left untreated, he may be forced to abandon his education, trapping him in a cycle of poverty. Recently, Rebira and his family attended our medical partner’s care center, Saglan Wajee General Hospital. Following an investigation, doctors determined that he needs a sequestrectomy, a surgical procedure involving the removal of fragments of infected dead bone or tissue. Without treatment, Rebira may suffer from recurrent infections, which can result in life-threatening complications. On August 24th, Rebira will undergo repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $900 to fund Rebira's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will alleviate his symptoms and prevent serious long-term complications. Rebira's parents shared, "We hope that our son will be able to easily walk to school and return to playing football with his friends again."

$360raised
$540to go

Kerventz is a high school student from Haiti. He has been raised in an orphanage in central Haiti since he was a small child, and still lives there today. He wants to pursue a career in science. In his free time, he likes playing video games and watching soccer on TV. Kerventz has a cardiac condition called mitral regurgitation. One of the four valves of his heart does not open and shut properly as a result of an infection he suffered as a child. This has led to heart failure, leaving him weak and short of breath. Kerventz needs to fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On August 11th, he will undergo heart surgery, during which surgeons will attempt to repair his damaged valve; if unable, they will replace it with an artificial valve. Another organization, Haitian Hearts Foundation, is contributing to pay for the surgery. But Kerventz's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Kerventz's family overseas. Kerventz says, "I am so glad to finally have this opportunity, I have been worrying about my heart for a long time!"

$984raised
$516to go

Phanna is a 26-year-old factory worker from Cambodia. He lives in Kampong Thom Province with his widowed mother, who is a rice farmer. He is the second child of four siblings, and his siblings all work as factory workers. In his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball with his friends in the village. In April 2026, Phanna was involved in a serious motorcycle and truck collision while traveling to his hometown. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his left side, causing paralysis in his left arm. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. He is unable to lift his arm, bend his elbow, or move his wrist normally. This makes it difficult for him to perform daily activities independently and prevents him from returning to his job as a factory worker. Phanna traveled to our medical partner's care center, Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, to receive treatment. This is the only center in the whole country where this treatment is available. On July 16th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, the procedure is expected to help him regain movement in his shoulder and elbow, improve his arm function, regain independence, and return to work. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is asking for help to fund this procedure. Phanna's family can contribute $50, but needs help raising $687 more. Phanna said, “Since the accident, I have not been able to use my left arm, and it has changed every part of my life. I hope this surgery will help me regain movement so I can return to work, take care of myself, and live more independently. I am grateful for the chance to receive this treatment.”

$172raised
$515to go

Sha is a 56-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife, two daughters, and two sons in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. Sha and one of his sons are day laborers in a village near the camp. His wife and one of his daughters are homemakers, while his other daughter is a teacher in the camp. His other son is still a student in the camp. The family has a vegetable garden around their home, and they raise chickens and pigs to sell and for their own consumption. Their combined monthly income of 5,000 THB is often not enough to cover their daily needs. They currently have a loan of 3,000 THB, money borrowed due to Sha's illness. A few days ago, Sha began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe abdominal pain with the pain radiating to his back and a fever. He has been diagnosed with appendicitis, and now needs surgery to prevent his condition from worsening. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Sha receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo an appendectomy, a surgery to remove the appendix when it becomes infected, on May 14th at Mae Sariang Hospital. This procedure will cost $1500, and Sha and his family need your support. Sha says, “I never experienced pain like this before. When the pain is very severe, I can’t breathe easily. I would like for this pain to stop.”

$957raised
$543to go

Hadassa is a seven-year-old girl from Haiti. She is the middle child in her family, with an older sister and a younger brother. She does not currently attend school but enjoys helping her parents around the house and watching cartoons. Hadassa has a cardiac condition called a partial atrioventricular canal defect. A hole exists between the chambers of her heart, causing blood to leak between them instead of properly circulating through the lungs to receive oxygen. This leaves her weak and short of breath. Hadassa also has Down syndrome. Hadassa needs to fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On June 24th, she will undergo heart surgery, during which doctors will repair the hole in her heart. Another organization is paying for the surgery, but her family also needs help with travel and surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Hadassa's family overseas. Hadessa’s mother shares, “Our family is so happy to know that there is a way to fix our daughter’s heart, and we hope everything will go well!”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Helen is an eight-year-old girl from Colombia. She is currently in the 3rd grade, and enjoys participating in school activities, and reading stories. Helen dreams of becoming a doctor one day. Helen has an inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles. The condition makes it painful for her to play, and limits activities that require physical strength. She sometimes experiences discomfort or tenderness in the affected area. Fortunately, on April 16th, our medical partner, Clínica Noel, will perform Helen's hernia repair surgery to help her live a healthier life. Helen's family is unable to raise the required treatment costs, and are seeking support to raise $786 to fund her surgery and care. Helen's mom said, "I am deeply grateful to all the kind and generous-hearted people who are supporting my daughter's treatment. Thank you very much in advance. Your support not only addresses a medical need, but also fills our hearts with hope."

$786raised
Fully funded

Eh is a 14-year-old girl from Burma who lives in an internally displaced persons camp in Karenni State with her sister’s family. She attends school there, where her sister works as a teacher, and her family relies on her brother-in-law’s work to meet their basic needs. Eh’s health challenges began in October 2025, when she developed persistent skin irritation and loss of appetite. At a local clinic, a physician identified signs of jaundice, including yellowing of her skin and eyes, and referred her for further care. Eh’s brother-in-law took her to a hospital at the end of January 2026, where she was diagnosed with a large cyst in her liver. Her doctor explained that the cyst is putting pressure on her liver and causing her symptoms, and that surgery is needed to remove it. Today, Eh continues to experience jaundice, skin irritation, and occasional headaches and stomach pain. Eh sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. She is now scheduled to undergo surgery on March 24th to remove the cyst. Eh's family is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. This procedure will relieve the pressure on Eh's liver and help resolve her symptoms, allowing her to return to her daily life. Eh's brother-in-law says, “I consider Eh as my own daughter, as she has been living with me for six years, and I feel bad for her that she has to suffer from this disease. I also worry for my wife and my son, who are living in the camp while I accompany her [Eh] for her treatment. Thank you to all the organizations that support us with her treatment.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Fabiano is a 14-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the third child in a family of eight children. His parents depend on small-scale farming and seasonal work to support the household, which makes it difficult to afford advanced surgical care. Despite these challenges, Fabiano remains active and motivated. He attends primary school and performs well in class. He enjoys reading and participating in group discussions, and he hopes to become a religious leader in the future. When he was one year old, Fabiano sustained a burn injury to his hand in a household fire. He received first aid at a nearby clinic, but as the wound healed, thick scar tissue formed and tightened, limiting the movement of his fingers and thumb. The contracture in his hand makes it difficult for him to write for long periods, grip objects firmly, and participate fully in practical school activities. His doctors recommend an amputation of the forth finger on his right hand and contracture release for the other fingers. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,088 to fund Fabiano's surgery. After recovering, Fabiano is looking forward to doing his daily tasks such as holding tools, carrying items, and helping with chores. Fabiano says, “I want to use my hand like other students—to write well in class and hold things without pain. Treatment will help me continue my studies with confidence.”

$1,088raised
Fully funded

Jennifer is 34 years old and a mother of three from Romblon, Philippines. She makes and sells rice cakes in town. When she gave birth to her youngest child in 2015, Jennifer noticed a lump in her breast. Since then, the lump has been growing, worrying her. She is in pain, which she manages with painkillers. She has been unable to seek care, as she knows she cannot afford it. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, can help. On January 28th, Jennifer will undergo surgery to remove the mass. This procedure should address her symptoms and allow her to live more comfortably. She needs help to raise $1,416 to fund her treatment. Jennifer shared, "I am very thankful that I can finally be treated for the lumps in my breast. Thank you so much to everyone for your help."

$1,416raised
Fully funded

Goldstein is a preschooler from Haiti. He lives with his parents on the outskirts of Port-au-Prince. His parents are both vendors. He is a very curious and outgoing boy who makes friends easily. Goldstein has a cardiac condition called atrioventricular canal defect. A large hole exists between the chambers of Goldstein's heart, causing blood to leak between all four chambers of the heart without circulating through the lungs to obtain oxygen. This leaves him weak and short of breath, and will lead to heart failure if not corrected. Goldstein will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On December 16th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will close the hole with a patch so that blood can no longer leak through it. Another organization is contributing to pay for his surgery. But Goldstein's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Goldstein's family overseas. Goldstein's mother shared, "Our family has been praying for this surgery ever since our son was a small baby, and we want to say thank you to everyone!"

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Jovari is a one-month-old baby boy from Kenya. This was Jovari’s mother second pregnancy, and it was a typical and smooth pregnancy. She eagerly anticipated the joy of welcoming a healthy baby boy, however, she was heartbroken to hear that Jovari had to remain in the hospital due to a condition called spina bifida. Spina bifida is a type of neural tube defect in which the spine does not properly close around the spinal cord. Without treatment, Jovari is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. As Jovari's mother is still recovering from her C-section, she remains with her child and comforts him as he cries in discomfort from his condition. Jovari was referred to our medical partner facility, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital, for further treatment as he urgently needs spinal repair surgery to close the opening in his back and prevent further complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $856 to cover the cost of Jovari's spina bifida closure surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on November 13th. This procedure will hopefully spare Jovari from the risks associated with his condition, instead allowing him to grow and develop along a healthy trajectory. “He has been restless and cries often," Jovari’s mother shared. "It’s painful to see such a tiny baby enduring so much discomfort.”

$856raised
Fully funded