H
harsha vardhanUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER

harsha's Story

harsha joined Watsi on July 21st, 2023. Three years ago, harsha joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. harsha's most recent donation supported Beyene, a farmer from Ethiopia, to fund prostate surgery.

Impact

harsha has funded healthcare for 40 patients in 9 countries.

Patients funded by harsha

Kidus is a cheerful, active, and sociable two-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing with other children, and enjoys toy cars. As the first child in his family, he brings immense joy to his parents. His mother is a homemaker, while his father works as an assistant to transport drivers. Their income is limited, and the family lives in a house owned by a relative. Kidus was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. His condition was discovered shortly after birth while he was still in the hospital. The doctors informed his parents that he should not undergo circumcision, because corrective surgery would be required in the future. They advised the family to seek further medical review at a higher-level hospital. The news was very difficult for Kidus's parents. His mother became deeply distressed, and often cried because she worried about her son's future. His father was also greatly affected by the situation. Determined to find help, they took Kidus to a public referral hospital, where doctors assessed his condition and informed the family that Kidus would likely require two surgical procedures. However, because he was still young, he was put on a surgical waiting list. The family patiently waited for two years before receiving a call from the hospital. They were referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM) for surgical treatment. Fortunately, Kidus is now scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on June 8th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of Kidus' procedure and care. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms, and he will be at risk of future complications. Kidus' mother expressed her gratitude, saying: "I pray that Kidus will recover well, and have a healthy future. Thank you very much for this opportunity and support. May God richly bless you, reward your kindness, and bless the work of your hands. We are truly grateful for all that you have done for our family."

$1,293raised
Fully funded

Riya is a 13-year-old student from Kompong Cham province, Cambodia, who lives with her parents and two siblings. Her father works in a plywood factory, and her mother stays at home to care for the family. Riya is in the 9th grade and enjoys studying Khmer literature. She dreams of becoming a teacher in the future. Riya has been living with chronic wounds on both of her feet since the age of three due to spina bifida, a condition that caused nerve damage and loss of sensation in her feet. Because she cannot feel injuries, her wounds have persisted and worsened over time, which has made daily life challenging, especially as her home has stairs, increasing the risk of further injury. Riya first received treatment for spina bifida at a government hospital. However, as complications developed, she experienced ongoing wounds and infections. Determined to find proper care, her family traveled four hours to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), where she underwent debridement and toe amputations. Now, Riya needs to undergo flap surgery to help close her wounds, prevent further complications, and improve her quality of life. Fortunately, CSC is supporting her treatment. On April 7th, surgeons will perform flap surgery to help her wounds heal properly and allow her to live a safer and healthier life. CSC requests $859 to fund this procedure. Riya's mother said, "As a mother, it hurts deeply to see her suffer for so many years. I hope this surgery will finally help her heal, prevent more wounds, and allow her to live a safer, healthier life without pain."

$859raised
Fully funded

Brian is 10 years old and a student from Kenya. He is the youngest of four children. He was born with a condition known as Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy (CP), which has greatly affected his mobility. Brian cannot walk and only crawls from one place to another. This has made daily activities difficult for him and his family. After his birth, his mother was referred to a nearby hospital for specialized care. Brian underwent several physiotherapy sessions, hoping to see improvement. Unfortunately, his condition did not get better. As a widow, Brian’s mother works tirelessly, taking on casual jobs like crushing stones into ballast and selling them, to provide for her family. Despite the hardship, she has never given up on finding help for her son. Brian attends a special school within their village that supports children with different disabilities. Brian was diagnosed with clubfoot on his right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Brian traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on February 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Brian's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk on his feet, play with other children, become more independent, and continue with his education without limitations. “When I first learned about my son’s condition, I was in great shock. I did not know what the future would look like for him,” Brian’s mother recalls softly. She added, I hope to see my son receive treatment, walk on his own, play and interact freely with other children, and continue with his education without any challenges.”

$1,286raised
Fully funded