Richard GarfieldUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER

United States
Richard's Story

Richard joined Watsi on March 12th, 2013. Eleven years ago, Richard joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Richard's most recent donation traveled 1,900 miles to support Anna, a student from Haiti, to fund treatment leading up to, and following heart surgery.

Impact

Richard has funded healthcare for 160 patients in 16 countries.

Patients funded by Richard

Elizabeth is a four-year-old girl from the Serengeti District in the Mara Region of Tanzania. She is the youngest of three children, but sadly, her older sister passed away due to severe anemia. Elizabeth was raised by both her parents until recently, when her mother entrusted her care to her aunt. Her aunt, who now accompanies Elizabeth for treatment, is a small-scale farmer who grows maize for their household consumption and to provide income. Elizabeth was diagnosed with clubfoot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscle to the bones are shorter than usual, and this causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. For Elizabeth, this condition has made walking difficult and affected her balance and stability. In January 2026, Elizabeth's family traveled to Kenya for treatment, where she underwent several rounds of casting to address her condition. Sadly, her condition relapsed, leaving the family discouraged and unsure where to seek further help. Fortunately, in July 2026, their hope was restored when Kafika House, our medical partner's care center, had community partners visit the Serengeti and informed Elizabeth's family that effective treatment for relapsed clubfoot was available. They immediately traveled to Kafika House to begin her journey toward recovery. Elizabeth will now undergo a new series of corrective casts to realign her foot, followed by an Achilles tendon lengthening procedure. Surgeons will begin Elizabeth's clubfoot treatment at Kafika House on July 14th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,171 to fund Elizabeth's clubfoot repair. After treatment, Elizabeth will have the opportunity to walk comfortably, play confidently, and enjoy a brighter, more independent future. Elizabeth's aunt said, "When her first treatment failed, we feared Elizabeth would struggle for the rest of her life. Today, we have renewed hope. We are grateful that she has another chance to receive the care she needs and dream of seeing her walk confidently like other children."

$1,171raised
Fully funded

Chepkat is an 11-year-old girl from Kenya. She comes from a pastoralist family whose livelihood has always depended on keeping goats and cattle. Due to the harsh, isolated nature of their residence, Chepkat has never had the opportunity to attend school. Her parents survive through livestock keeping, but recently their family suffered a major setback when raiders attacked their homestead and drove away their cattle, leaving them with nothing. One afternoon, while trying to pick fruit from a tree, Chepkat accidentally stepped on a dry branch that suddenly broke beneath her. She fell heavily to the ground and immediately experienced severe pain. Due to the remoteness of their home, the family had to travel nearly two hours to reach the nearest health facility. At the first facility, she was immobilized and later referred to another hospital, where she was managed conservatively with bed rest and pain medication. However, her condition did not improve, and her pain persisted. Chepkat was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital, where an x-ray revealed a fracture of the head of her hip bone, a serious injury that requires urgent surgical intervention. She needs an urgent Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) to stabilize and repair the bone. On March 11th, Chepkat will undergo a fracture repair procedure. She needs help so that she can receive the operation she needs and regain the chance to walk and live a healthy and active life. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,247 to fund this procedure. Chepkat's mother says, "My child is in pain and cannot stand, please help her so she can regain her mobility."

$1,247raised
Fully funded

Naw Paw is a 55-year-old woman from Burma. She has been living in the refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand, with her husband, her son, her daughter, and her grandson for more than 20 years. Naw Paw is primarily a homemaker. Together with her son, she assists in growing and selling vegetables and produce from their garden. Her daughter is also a homemaker and cares for Naw Paw’s grandson, while her husband volunteers at the camp church. The family’s limited income from vegetable growing allows them to cover only basic daily living expenses. In her free time, Naw Paw enjoys playing with her grandson, tending to the garden and speaking with neighbours. Watching her plants grow brings her happiness. However, ongoing health issues and financial uncertainty have caused her significant stress. In June 2025, Naw Paw reported lower back pain and pain in her right lower abdomen. An ultrasound was performed, which revealed gallstones. Naw Paw has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, Naw Paw's symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Naw Paw is scheduled to undergo her cholecystectomy on January 12th. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Naw Paw's procedure and care. Naw Paw shared, “I am always worrying about where I can find more money, especially with my health problems. I feel very relieved and thankful to receive support from the donors during this time.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Wien is an 11-year-old boy from South Sudan, whose family struggles to make ends meet. His parents depend on farming to provide for their four children, and they can barely cover their basic needs. Of their four children, only one is enrolled in school. Wien, who is now 11 years old, has not had the chance to attend school because of the family’s financial challenges. In early November 2025, Wien was playing with friends when he slipped and fell, injuring his right arm. The pain was so intense that he couldn’t move his arm at all, and he was rushed to a nearby hospital. Initial scans revealed that part of his arm was broken, and he would need surgery to repair it. Wien comes from a rural part of South Sudan, where local health facilities provide only basic first aid and lack the resources for specialized care, such as surgery. As a result, Wien's arm was bandaged, and he was sent home in excruciating pain. Unable to use his arm, Wien became entirely dependent on others for daily tasks; someone had to bathe him and help him dress. This was especially difficult for Wien, who is almost a teenager, already self-conscious about his growing independence. Due to the lack of specialized care in their area, Wien’s parents couldn’t afford the treatment he needed, and without intervention, Wien risked losing the full use of his right arm, potentially remaining handicapped for life. Thankfully, in December 2025, Wien was able to travel to our facility with the help of well-wishers. After a thorough examination, doctors confirmed that he required a fracture repair surgery. Unfortunately, the cost of the surgery remains out of reach for his family, who are seeking support so he can undergo the surgery Wien needs. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Wien receive treatment. On December 11th, he will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help relieve his pain, repair the fracture, and restore functionality to his arm. Now, Wien's family needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Wien says, “I have to rely on someone to help me bathe and get dressed, and my hand is especially painful at night.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded