Torstein SaltvedtUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER
Torstein's Story

Torstein joined Watsi on October 16th, 2014. Seven months ago, Torstein joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Torstein's most recent donation traveled 4,800 miles to support Su, a 12-year-old girl from Burma, to fund surgery to remove her spleen.

Impact

Torstein has funded healthcare for 42 patients in 14 countries.

Patients funded by Torstein

Su is a 12-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her older brother and parents in Karen State, Burma. Su is a student who aspires to become a doctor in the future. Su’s father is a store night security guard and her mother sells watermelons. Four years ago, Su's skin started looking pale and yellowish. She also began experiencing abdominal swelling. Su was diagnosed with thalassemia, a blood disorder that affects the oxygen carried by red blood cells. Physicians at Mae Sot General Hospital determined that Su should undergo a splenectomy, a procedure that helps manage thalassemia. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place at Mae Sot General Hospital on April 15th. Once completed, it will hopefully improve Su's quality of life. Su's mother said, "We are under stress that we are in debt as we have to travel and pay for Su's consultations. I hope that Su will get treatment and recover. I want her to become a doctor one day."

$812raised
$688to go

Hla Moe is a 30-year-old man who lives with his parents, sister, brother-in-law, nephew, and son in a village in Karen State, Burma. His family owns a paddy farm where most of them work. They use a small area of the farm to plant vegetables for themselves. They also raise chickens, pigs, and goats that they sell. Hla Moe stays at home to look after his son, while his wife lives in Mae Sot, Thailand, and works as a medic. In his free time, he likes to watch the news. Many years ago, Hla Moe experienced pain in his back and the left side of his abdomen. The pain became more frequent and severe, prompting him to seek medical treatment. Hla Moe was seen to have multiple stones in his left kidney and is recommended to have surgery. Fortunately, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, can help. Hla Moe is scheduled for surgery to remove the kidney stones on March 15th. He needs help raising $1,500 for the surgery. Hla Moe said, “I am lucky that there are donors who will support my treatment. Without your support, I would never be able to get treatment. I am thankful for all the support you’ve given me.”

$719raised
$781to go

Keina is an adorable preschooler from Haiti. She lives with her mother and grandparents in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. She's just started preschool and loves animals and the color pink. Keina has a life-threatening cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two blood vessels near her heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. Keina will fly to United States to receive treatment because the care she needs is not available anywhere in Haiti. On February 8th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which doctors will plug the hole with a device attached to the end of a catheter. Another organization, Gift of Life New York, is contributing $4000 to support surgery costs. Keina's family needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep, travel, and post-operative care. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and follow-up appointments. It also supports the cost of passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Keina's family overseas. Keina's mother states, "Our family would like to say thank you to everyone who is helping to heal Keina's heart."

$731raised
$769to go

Ko Tin is a 34-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his parents and his younger brother in a village in Yangon Division, Burma. He used to be a driver before his condition got worse but now he has stopped. Currently, Ko Tin is living with his parents who are farmers and support him. The whole family’s income is just enough for their basic expenses and basic health care. Ko Tin has a wife who went to Thailand for work about four months ago but he has lost contact with her. When he has the energy and free time, Ko Tin likes playing football with friends. Ko Tin was diagnosed with a heart condition that requires replacement of the mitral valve, the valve between the left atrium and left ventricle. This valve controls the flow of blood, but certain conditions may cause blood to flow backward or the valve to narrow. In mid October, Ko Tin experienced fever, cough, body pain, difficult breathing, and severe fatigue when he walks a short distance. After he visited the cardiologist in Yangon Hospital, he was diagnosed with mitral valve regurgitation and doctor recommend that he should receive surgery. Currently, Ko Tin feels tired, coughs often, and is experiencing difficult breathing. Sometimes, he feels pain from his legs and his arms, and he cannot sleep well at night. He will feel extremely fatigued with shortness of breath when he lays down on the floor. He also cannot walk long distances. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund a mitral valve replacement for Ko Tin. The treatment is scheduled to take place at Pun Hlaing Hospital on December 3rd and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Ko Tin said, “I would like to recover as soon as possible. My parents are worried about me, and they have difficulty earning enough money to pay for my treatment. I hope my wife to return, and I would like to live as a happy family.”

$929raised
$571to go

Celeste is a 3 month-old infant from Colombia. She was born in Medellín, lives with her parents, grand parents and great grandparents in a little house full of 4 generations. Even though she is so young she is a lovely girl who already smiles and laughs with everyone that comes and tells her she is cute. Celeste has clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Celeste's family traveled to visit our Medical Partner Clínica Noel. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on December 18th. Our medical partner, Clínica Noel, is requesting $1500 to fund Celeste's bilateral clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to learn how to walk properly and without pain as she grows up. Her mother said, "I hope you can help my little princess, since I found out at my pregnancy I have tried to learn about her condition so I can help her not to suffer and recover properly."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Gay is a fifteen-year-old resident of Burma, who lives in a village in a conflict area called Karen State with his parents and two older sisters. Gay's parents and one of his sisters work in subsistence farming and his other sister is still in school. Due to financial constraints, Gay tends to the family's cows instead of attending school. During his leisure time, he enjoys fishing and gathering vegetables. On the morning of November 13, Gay was in an accident while riding on his friend's tractor. He was seated next to the driver and fell off when the tractor hit a bump while descending a slope. The trailer being towed behind the tractor ran over his right thigh, resulting in a severe femur fracture. Currently, Gay experiences considerable pain and is unable to move his right leg. He requires assistance from his father for basic activities like using the bathroom. Fortunately, Gay was able to make it to Mae Sot General Hospital, a care center of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). Thanks to the support of BCMF, Gay is slated to undergo surgery on November 14th, to reset his fractured bones, allowing them to properly heal. BCMF is requesting $1500 to help fund this procedure. This surgical intervention holds the promise of enabling Gay to walk again without enduring pain. Expressing his gratitude, Gay's father shared, "When I heard that my son needs an expensive surgery, I felt hopeless. I did not know what to do and I felt so sad to see him in pain. When I learned from the doctor that donors will help pay for my son's treatment, I felt so happy that words cannot express how I felt. Thank you so much with all my heart for helping my son."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Xavena is a young woman from Haiti. She lives with her older sister and her sister's family in a small farming village in central Haiti. She previously worked tailoring clothes but has been unable to work in recent years due to her cardiac illness. Xavena has a heart condition called severe rheumatic aortic regurgitation. One of the four valves in her heart was severely damaged by an infection she suffered earlier in her life. The cardiac surgery Xavena needs is not available in her country so she will need to fly to the United States to receive treatment. On October 18, Xavena will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will surgically remove her damaged heart valve and implant an artificial replacement. Another organization, Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital, is contributing $25,000 to pay for surgery. Xavena's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep and follow-up medical care. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, checkups, and follow-up appointments. Xavena shaed: "I am hopeful that after this surgery I will have the energy and strength to return to work and pursue my goals in life."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Axel, who is a five year old kindergartener, lives with his parents in La Paz, Bolivia. His mother is studying engineering, while his father works in construction. Axel was born with a coronary fistula, a rare condition in which a hole exists between one of the arteries on the outside of the heart, and one of the chambers of the heart. Because of this condition, blood leaks through the hole, weakening Axel, because his heart does not receive sufficient blood flow. Fortunately, our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is here to help Axel access the treatment that he needs. On September 12th, doctors at Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría will sew the hole closed, so that blood can no longer leak through it. After surgery, Axel should be able to go on to live a strong and healthy life. Now Axel and his family need your help to fund this procedure, which will cost $1,500. Axel's mother said: "Our family is very happy to know that our son was chosen for surgery, and we are praying that everything will go well!"

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Glory is a three-year-old girl from Tanzania. She is the second oldest of three siblings. When Glory was one, her father noticed an unusual lump on the back of her neck. Since then, the lump has continued to grow in size. It was left untreated until recently, when Glory began to experience pain because of the swelling. Glory's father took her to their local hospital for assessment. There, they were referred to our medical care partner's care center. Doctors recommended that Glory should undergo surgery to remove the mass. If not, the mass would continue to grow in size, thus worsening the pain and swelling. Due to the family's limited income, Glory's father was not be able to afford the costs of treatment. As a solution, he sought help and began to work with our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF). Glory will be receiving surgery to remove the mass on her neck on January 31. AMHF is requesting $920 to help fund Glory's surgery costs, medications, and hospital stay. "I hope that the swelling will go down and my child will be able to do things like other children," says Glory's father.

$920raised
Fully funded

Kaleab is a four-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He is an active and happy boy who loves to play with his younger brother. Kaleab was born with a birth defect called hypospadias, which limits his urinary function. His parents are concerned about their son's condition, and they worry that it will affect him in the future. Fortunately, on November 8, 2016, doctors at our medical partner performed a corrective surgery. Kaleab’s parents are nurses at a public hospital. However, his mother has taken time off to care for her children. His father's income is not enough to cover more than the family's basic needs. They need help to fund this $1,231 procedure.

$1,231raised
Fully funded

This is Adaessa, a five-year-old girl from Haiti. She lives in Port-au-Prince with her mother, father, and five older siblings. Adaessa is extremely friendly and outgoing, and loves to give hugs and dance. Adaessa was born with a condition called ventricular septal defect. A large hole exists between the two lower chambers of her heart. Because of this, blood leaks through this hole without first passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen. The oxygenated and deoxygenated blood therefore mix, leaving Adaessa sickly and weak. Adaessa will fly to the Cayman Islands to receive treatment. On January 26, she will undergo cardiac surgery. This $12,000 surgery is subsidized by Have a Heart Cayman Islands. Adaessa's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Adaessa's family overseas. Her mother shares with us, "I see Adaessa get tired very easily when she tries to play with other children. I am hopeful that after the surgery she can play with no problems."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Salith is a five-year-old boy. He likes to ride his bike and play with toy cars. He traveled with his mother to reach our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for treatment. Salith was born with glaucoma in his right eye. Glaucoma means there is increased pressure within the eye, which eventually leads to loss of sight. It has caused Salith extreme sensitivity to light and made it difficult for him to look straight ahead. His mother is worried that Salith won't be able to go to school or play with other children. On January 25, eye surgeons at CSC will perform a surgery to relieve pressure on the eyeball to help improve Salith's vision. CSC is requesting $198 for this procedure. Salith's mother says, "I hope my son has a successful operation, so that I won't have to worry about his eye becoming blind in the future. I want to let him go to school and play like other kids."

$198raised
Fully funded