Diane Yaski
Diane's Story

Diane joined Watsi on February 7th, 2016. 16 other people also joined Watsi on that day! Diane's most recent donation supported Htet, a student from Burma, to fund heart surgery.

Impact

Diane has funded healthcare for 23 patients in 8 countries.

Patients funded by Diane

Htet is a 14-year-old boy who lives with his parents in a village in Burma. Htet’s father peels coconuts for a living, while his mother works in a betel leaf garden. Their combined income is just enough for daily expenses. When Htet was nine months old, his mother noticed that his lips often turned blue when he cried. His symptoms were still there on his first birthday. His parents took him to a clinic in Yangon, where they were informed that Htet has a congenital heart disease. His father tried to treat him with traditional medicine, but Htet’s symptoms did not improve. When Htet is active, he feels very tired and has heart palpitations. He also eats very little and is often sick. Unfortunately, Htet has had to stop attending classes. He really enjoys school and hopes to become a teacher when he grows up. Htet and his parents visited our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, where they learned about Watsi and the possibility of having surgery. Htet's surgery is now scheduled for November 17. Htet's surgery will cost $1,500, which is too much for Htet's family to afford. Htet’s father says, “As a parent, both my wife and I feel very sad and guilty to see our son in this condition. I don’t care how long the treatment will take but if my son recovers, I can give my full time to him. My wife is worried and told me that she will work and that I must look after my son. If there is any way for my son to recover, I would sacrifice my life for him."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

"I am desperate to get treated because of my children,” shares Shiela, a single mother of three from the Philippines. Two years ago, Shiela was hit by a tree that fell through her house during a storm. She was rushed to the hospital to undergo emergency surgery. Since then, she has undergone several more operations to address various injuries she sustained in the accident. However, her right leg still has still not healed properly, and she must use a crutch to walk. Shiela’s walking issues pose a major problem for the family. She has not been able to keep a job, and her family’s sole earnings now come from the herbal medicine that she sells informally. Because of their low income, Shiela and her children are presently living with her older brother. This can change if Shiela receives the proper surgery. Our medical partner's physicians have concluded that her fractured tibia can be fully repaired with an open reduction internal fixation procedure. On February 21, doctors will surgically realign the broken parts of Shiela’s leg bone and secure it in place using an internal nail. This will ensure that her leg heals properly. We can sponsor this procedure, as well as the three-day hospital stay and medications Shiela will need to recover safely, for $1,500. Shiela is looking forward to walking again without pain or limping. “This will really help us and change my life and the future of my children,” Shiela says. “Thank you so much in advance."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Yi Swe is a 55-year-old woman who has been diagnosed with a cardiac condition, mitral valve stenosis. This means that a valve in her heart has narrowed and blocks blood flow. Throughout her life, Yi Swe has lived in nine different cities and towns in Burma, and for the past three years she has lived the capital. She has worked for a government agency since 1981. She lives with her two sisters. Their monthly income is enough to cover their daily expenses, but they cannot afford expensive healthcare. In 1990, Yi Swe noticed the symptoms of her cardiac condition for the first time. She grew tired easily and was sleeping poorly. She first sought care at a local clinic. The clinic gave her medication, which helped to improve her symptoms. In December of the same year, Yi Swe’s condition grew more severe. She was very tired and had difficulty breathing. She visited a hospital in Rangoon, where she underwent blood and urine tests and an x-ray. The doctor drained fluid from her lungs and performed a mitral valvotomy to open the narrowed valve. The surgery greatly improved her condition. For the next 25 years, Yi Swe’s condition was markedly better. However, in 2015, her original symptoms returned. She sought care at a local hospital. Over three visits, she underwent blood and urine tests, an x-ray, an echocardiogram, an electrocardiogram, and an ultrasound. She was advised to undergo a mitral valve replacement, and she was scheduled to receive surgery three years in the future, in 2019. Yi Swe started to look for an alternative treatment option and was eventually referred to our medical partner. On December 19, 2016, she underwent a mitral valve replacement. Throughout this whole process, Yi Swe has been working to pay for her treatments. Now, she needs help to fund this final $1,500 surgery.

$1,500raised
Fully funded