K
Kristjan Mar GunnarssonUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER

Kristjan's Story

Kristjan joined Watsi on April 23rd, 2018. Eight years ago, Kristjan joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Kristjan's most recent donation supported Sophen, a welder from Cambodia, to fund surgery to improve his strength and mobility.

Impact

Kristjan has funded healthcare for 155 patients in 13 countries.

Patients funded by Kristjan

Kenawaka is a playful and cheerful 15-month-old boy from Ethiopia, who enjoys spending time with his older sister. He lives with his parents and sister in a rented home. His father works as an accountant to support the family, while his mother is a homemaker. Kenawaka's mother first noticed that something was different when she took Kenawaka to the hospital for circumcision. After examining him, the doctor told them that he would need specialized assessment and treatment, and referred them to a public referral hospital in the capital city. Following the referral, Kenawaka's parents waited another year due to a long surgical wait list. Though they were increasingly anxious, they could not afford care in a private facility so they continued hoping that they would be attended to soon. Recently, the referral hospital informed Kenawaka's parents to bring him to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Kenawaka was diagnosed 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. Fortunately, Kenawaka is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on September 25th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Kenawaka's father said, “Thank you so much to everyone at BethanyKids. We are truly grateful to all the staff for their kindness and care. Everyone has treated us with so much respect and made us feel comfortable throughout this journey. We are very happy and thankful for the support Kenawaka has received. We love our son so much, and our greatest wish is to see him healthy and happy after his surgery.”

$1,128raised
$164to go

Bopha is a nine-year-old girl from Cambodia. She is a third-grade student and lives in Kampong Thom Province with her parents, who are rice farmers, and her four siblings. She is the fourth child in the family. Her oldest brother serves in the army, her second brother is a car repairman, and her younger siblings are students. She enjoys playing hide-and-seek with her friends, her favorite subject is mathematics, and she dreams of becoming a police officer. Bopha was born with weakness in her right arm after a difficult delivery, which damaged the nerves controlling her arm. She has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on her right side. 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. She has difficulty lifting and moving her right arm, using her hand, holding and grasping objects, writing, dressing herself, and performing daily activities independently. Bopha 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 21st, she will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, she will be able to use her arm more easily for school, play, and daily activities, helping her become more independent. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $737 to fund this procedure. Bopha's mother said, “I hope this surgery will help my daughter use her arm better so she can enjoy school, play with her friends, and grow up with confidence.”

$737raised
Fully funded

Emily is five-year-old student who lives with her family in Medellin, Colombia. Her joy and curiosity shine through every day at preschool, where she interacts with her classmates with enthusiasm and tenderness. Her energy is contagious, and her sweetness leaves a special impression on those around her. When she grows up, she dreams of becoming a firefighter or a veterinarian. Emily was born with an inguinal hernia, a condition in which a small portion of abdominal tissue protrudes through the abdominal wall near the groin. This condition causes discomfort and tenderness, especially when coughing or exercising. Because she has to be cautious with her movements, Emily has begun to feel insecure, particularly during physical education classes and when playing at the park. Without surgery, Emily will continue to experience symptoms, will have difficulty fully enjoying her childhood, and will be at risk of future complications. Fortunately, on April 27th, Emily will undergo repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $1,005 to fund the surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. Emily's mother shared, "I want to express my deepest gratitude to the people that will support her surgery. Thank you for extending your generous hand without even knowing her personally. This gesture is, without a doubt, one of the purest expressions of human kindness. May God bless you abundantly, may He multiply your generosity with blessings in your life, and may He continue to guide every endeavor you undertake. Your support not only covers a medical need but also fills our hearts with hope and peace. Thank you for giving us hope that Emily can once again live out her childhood with freedom and confidence."

$1,005raised
Fully funded

Michael is a 10-year-old student from Kenya. When his mother was pregnant with him, she went through a very hard time. She had married into a different tribe, and this brought her a lot of pain. “I was rejected because I was seen as a foreigner,” she said quietly. “This made my pregnancy very difficult. Then my only son was born with clubfoot, and life felt too heavy to bear.” Clubfoot is a condition where one or both feet turn inward, affecting the bones and muscles. Michael lived with this condition on both of his feet for almost ten years without treatment. As he grew older, walking became painful and tiring. “My feet are very sensitive,” Michael said. “I cannot walk without my slip-on shoes. I want to walk fast or even run, but I cannot.” Many times, he leaned on walls for support while watching other children walk and play freely. His mother's pain grew deeper when her in-laws rejected her and her husband, saying their child was cursed. Michael’s father supported them at that time. But after everything they went through, they stopped looking for treatment, and Michael grew up with the condition. Even so, they still hoped that one day things would change. In 2025, that hope came back when they moved to a new village. A neighbor told Michael's mom about CURE Children’s Hospital of Kenya. Fortunately, Michael traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. At the clinic, the doctors examined Michael and quickly scheduled him for surgery. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on March 25th. While Michael is scheduled for surgery, his family cannot afford it. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Michael's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily and attend school without disruptions. "I am looking forward to getting better so that I can continue with my studies and engage with my friends in playing football," Michael told us.

$1,286raised
Fully funded

Eh Mu is a 26-year-old woman from Burma who lives with her husband, her parents, older sister, older brother, younger sister, younger brother, her son and her nephew in a refugee camp in Thailand. Eh Mu and her family fled to the refugee camp in 2022 due to an airstrike and fighting in her village. Her parents are retired while her older brother and husband sometimes went to work outside of the camp as day laborers, while her older sister looks after a dormitory in the camp. Her son is a nursery school student. Eh Mu is a homemaker and makes custom dresses on order. During her free time, Eh Mu loves to play with her three-year-old son, spend time with her family, and listen to music on her phone. Eh Mu is currently expecting her second child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Eh Mu undergo a C-Section on December 22nd at our medical partner's care center, Tha Song Yang Hospital. This procedure will cost $1500, and Eh Mu needs your support. Eh Mu said, “When I noticed my pregnancy, I started feel stress instead of happy. I worry that if I need to deliver my baby through surgery, then I cannot afford to pay for the surgery. When I gave birth through c-section in Burma for my first baby, at that time the treatment cost is less but here in Thailand is very expensive for what I heard from my friend. At first, I was thinking of returning to Burma to give birth, but fighting continues in my village and it is not safe to return so I have no other option. After I learned from the doctor that there will be an organization who will support my surgery cost, I feel like all my stress and worries are gone. I am happy and thankful to BCMF and all their donors who are available for me during this difficult time”.

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Nyi is a 38-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife and two children in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. Now he is a general day laborer, while his wife is a homemaker. One of his children is attending kindergarten, and the other one is too young to enroll in school. Their monthly income is just enough to cover their expenses, and sometimes, their wife’s friend, who works in Bangkok, supports them with their household's basic needs. In May 2024, Nyi noticed a swollen mass that caused him pain and discomfort. He visited the local clinic, where he underwent a physical examination, and after that, he had excisional surgery and was treated with oral antibiotics and painkillers. After the surgery, the symptoms initially disappeared, but in April 2025, the symptoms reappeared. His symptoms persisted, so he was referred to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot Hospital (MSH), in October 2025. Doctors advised him that he needs surgery to remove the mass. Currently, Zaw experiences pain, swelling, and discomfort. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Zaw receive treatment. He is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on November 6th. He is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Nyi expressed his feelings and said, “I feel depressed due to anxiety about my health. As a result of my condition, I have been unable to work properly, further reducing my family’s income. As a migrant, I faced financial difficulties and could not afford my treatment. However, thank you very much to the Burma Children's Medical Fund and the donors for assisting with my treatment costs. After I fully recover, I can go back to work and support my family.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded