United States
Eric's Story

Eric joined Watsi on March 5th, 2015. Eleven years ago, Eric joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Eric's most recent donation traveled 9,000 miles to support Mary, a loving mom from Malawi, to fund a hysterectomy.

Impact

Eric has funded healthcare for 137 patients in 15 countries.

Patients funded by Eric

Sokkhy is a 58-year-old cashew farmer from Cambodia. He is married and lives in Kampong Cham Province with his wife, who is also a cashew farmer. They have three children, all of whom are married and live in nearby villages. In his free time, he enjoys chatting and drinking tea with his friends in the village. On July 23, 2026, Sokkhy fell from a height and sustained a fracture of his right hip (right femoral neck fracture). He initially sought treatment from a traditional Khmer medicine practitioner, but his condition did not improve. He continues to experience severe pain in his right hip and is unable to stand or walk without assistance. He currently relies on a wheelchair for mobility, which prevents him from returning to his farm and carrying out his daily activities independently. Sokkhy will receive a hip hemi-arthoplasty to help address this issue. A hip hemi-arthoplasty is a partial hip replacement that involves replacing half of the hip joint. Hopefully, this procedure will help Sokkhy move without discomfort. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, evaluated Sokkhy and can perform a hip hemi-arthoplasty on August 4th. This will help relieve Sokkhy of his pain and allow him to walk more easily. His family can contribute $100, but needs help to raise $612 more to fund his procedure and care. Sokkhy said, “I hope this surgery will relieve my pain and help me walk again so I can return to my daily life and take care of my family without depending on others.”

$567raised
$45to go

Wubalem is a 10-month-old baby from Ethiopia. He has one older sister and two brothers. His father works as a daily laborer in construction, while his mother is a homemaker who takes care of the family. Wubalem was born with hydronephrosis, a condition in which urine does not drain properly from the kidney, causing the kidney to become swollen. He requires medical attention and a surgical procedure called pyeloplasty to correct the blockage and improve the flow of urine. This issue was first identified when Wubalem’s mother experienced health complications during her pregnancy. After Wubalem was born, he was referred to a higher-level hospital for further examination and treatment. The medical team monitored his condition for about five months. After several examinations, they confirmed that Baby Wubalem needed surgery and placed him on a waiting list. Those five months were difficult for his mother. She remembers feeling anxious and frustrated as she waited for her baby to receive the treatment he needed. After waiting for five months, Wubalem was referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Wubalem is scheduled to receive a pyloplasty to help his kidney on August 24th. The procedure costs $922. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is asking for help to fund the cost of the procedure. Wubalem's mother shares, “I am very happy to come to BethanyKids, and I am so grateful for the warm welcome. Thank you so much to everyone. I pray that my baby will be healthy and able to walk and live like other children. I have been through a very difficult time and sacrificed many things for my baby. I waited for many months and spent a lot of money trying to get the care my child needed. I am very thankful that my baby is finally receiving treatment.”

$922raised
Fully funded

Beatrice is 46 years old and lives in Malawi. She is a single mother of two children and a grandmother to one. She earns a living through small-scale farming, growing vegetables and maize when the season allows. What she harvests is what sustains her home. For the past year, Beatrice has been struggling with her health. She has endured prolonged and heavy bleeding, often leaving her weak and exhausted. Alongside this, she began to feel a lump in the lower left side of her abdomen. At first, she tried to brave through the discomfort, but in February 2026, the pain became intense and impossible to ignore. An ultrasound scan revealed multiple uterine masses as well as an inguinal mass. Presently, the ongoing bleeding has also left her anaemic. Beatrice was started on treatment at our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Hospital, to stabilize her condition. After a month of care, her hemoglobin has improved from 8 to 10, giving her strength in preparation for surgery. Doctors have now advised that she urgently needs a total abdominal hysterectomy to address the problem. Beatrice's surgery has been scheduled for May 7th. For her, this is the hope she has been holding on to, a chance to live without constant pain and weakness. But the surgery cost of $651 stands in her way. With no stable income beyond her small harvests and no close family to turn to for financial help, she has not been able to raise any funds for the procedure. Beatrice's hope is for a chance to undergo the surgery and return to a life where she can care for her children and grandchild, without the burden of illness. She said, “I have been weak for a long time, and it has not been easy to look after my family like this. I want to be strong again and live without this pain. I am hoping that I will receive support and get this surgery.”

$651raised
Fully funded

Lechisa is 22 years old and the oldest of four siblings from Ethiopia. His father passed away recently. Now, with three younger siblings and a grieving mother relying on him, he has been forced to assume the role of the father of the family. The heavy weight of his family’s future rests on the shoulders of this 22-year-old Grade 9 student. Though his overwhelming responsibilities have caused him to fall behind, he has courageously persisted in his education, repeatedly returning to school despite the pain and the aggressive work required to care for his younger siblings. He helps his mother on the farm to support the family. Four years ago, Lechisa started to experience swelling in his leg. It was causing pain and discomfort, making it difficult to walk. Following a consultation with our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, doctors have recommended that Lechisa undergo a sequestrectomy, a surgical procedure involving the removal of fragments of infected, dead bone or tissue. If not treated, it can lead to recurrent infections that may result in life-threatening complications. Fortunately, on December 6th, Lechisa will undergo treatment, and he needs help to raise $900 to fund his procedure and care. Lechisa shared, "My future is filled with potential and many aspirations, yet this vision is brutally narrowed by my chronic pain. When it intensifies, pain is the only reality I can grasp. I long for liberation—to be pain-free, to continue my studies without interruption, and to reclaim the joy of living."

$900raised
Fully funded