United States
Brett's Story

Brett joined Watsi on September 22nd, 2016. Ten years ago, Brett joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Brett's most recent donation traveled 8,500 miles to support Peter, a plumber from Kenya, to fund fracture repair surgery.

Impact

Brett has funded healthcare for 123 patients in 14 countries.

Patients funded by Brett

Chanthy is a 46-year-old wife and mother from Cambodia. Her husband works in construction, and together they have three children; the eldest is employed in Thailand, the second works as a waitress, and the youngest has a disability that prevents them from walking or speaking properly. In her free time, Chanthy enjoys growing vegetables around her home to help support the family. About seven years ago, Chanthy developed a small mass on the left side of her upper jaw. It initially appeared to be a small acne-like lesion but rapidly increased in size, eventually causing pain and difficulty breathing. She underwent surgery with the help of our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), to remove the mass, followed by a reconstructive surgery for her lower eyelid. Though these surgeries were successful, Chancy later developed tightness around her left eye, causing discomfort and vision problems. Fortunately, CSC will help Chanthy undergo a second reconstructive surgery on June 16th. Chanthy’s family has raised some of the funds, but needs help raising $847 to fully fund the surgery. Following surgery, Chanthy is expected to experience reduced tightness around the left eye, improved comfort, enhanced vision, and overall improved quality of life. Chanthy said, “I have been struggling with this condition for many years and have already undergone treatment before, but I still feel discomfort and difficulty with my eye. I hope this surgery will help reduce my tightness, improve my vision, and finally give me lasting relief.”

$847raised
Fully funded

Hikma is a charming 20-month-old girl who lives with her parents and older brother in Ethiopia. Her parents were small-scale farmers until they were displaced due to war in their area. Now, her mother is a dedicated home maker, and her father works as a daily laborer. As with many other displaced families, it has been difficult for them to afford their daily necessities. Hikma was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital condition that can lead to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. However, the symptoms were not obvious until she was around one year old. Her mother was deeply distressed by what she observed and immediately informed Hikma’s grandmother, who then began seeking for medical assistance. To avoid social stigma, however, the family tried to keep Hikma’s condition private. Eventually, the grandmother came across a Catholic missionary organization, which connected the family with a field coordinator of our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). With the support of relatives and the Catholic missionaries, Hikma's family raised funds to travel to Addis Ababa. Upon arrival at the hospital, doctors explained that Hikma would need a series of surgeries to eliminate bowel dysfunction. The family was relieved and encouraged to hear that Hikma could be helped. Presently, Hikma has already undergone the first surgery, a colostomy creation, and recovered well. Now, Hikma needs support for her second surgery, which will occur on April 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Hikma's procedure and care. After her recovery, Hikma will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Hikma’s mother said, “I would like to thank you sincerely for your support and the services you provided. Thank you again. I truly hope my child will grow up to be a wonderful woman.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Glory is a six-year-old girl from Tanzania. She lives with her mother, while her father is rarely present due to unstable family circumstances. Glory is the only surviving child in her family following the tragic loss of her three older siblings, which makes her especially precious to her mother and extended family, who now surround her with care and protection. For the last six years, Glory has experienced an unusual swelling on the ring finger of her left hand. When she was younger, it did not appear to cause pain, and her family hoped it would improve as she grew. Instead, the finger gradually became thicker and darker in color, accompanied by persistent itching, excessive sweating, and increasing pain. Over time, the condition has begun to interfere with Glory's ability to use her hand comfortably for everyday activities such as holding objects, playing, and learning basic tasks at home. Despite these challenges, Glory is a bright and gentle child who enjoys being around other children and is eager to attend school regularly. Her mother shares that Glory often attempts to use her affected hand but quickly pulls back due to discomfort. Simple activities like gripping a pencil or helping with light chores have become increasingly difficult as Glory grows, and her doctors recommend an amputation of her left-hand ring finger to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,088 to fund Glory's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully help improve her health and quality of life. After recovering, Glory is most looking forward to no longer being in pain and using her hand more freely as she continues to grow and learn. Glory’s mother says, “My daughter tries to use her hand, but the pain in her finger stops her from holding things or writing. I just want her to be free from pain and able to learn and play like other children.”

$1,088raised
Fully funded