Sonja MarkovicUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER

Sonja's Story

Sonja joined Watsi on November 20th, 2016. Ten years ago, Sonja joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Sonja's most recent donation supported Cristopher, a future architect from Colombia, to fund hernia repair surgery.

Impact

Sonja has funded healthcare for 63 patients in 13 countries.

Patients funded by Sonja

Mesa is 10 years old and a Grade 4 student from Cambodia. He lives with his parents and younger brother in Kompong Spue Province. His parents run a small shop where they take photos for students and print documents. He enjoys math at school, looks after his younger brother, and plays football with friends in his village. His favorite meal is lemongrass sour soup with eggs. When Mesa was one year old, he was burned by hot water, causing an injury to his left hand. He received a skin graft to the back of his hand at a governmental hospital, followed by a release of the fourth web space about a year later. He has since developed burn scar contractures between the second, third, and fourth fingers. The scars between his fingers restrict the spaces between them and make it difficult for him to fully straighten his left-hand fingers. He sometimes struggles to hold objects, and the appearance of his hand makes him feel shy around other people. Mesa's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, and sought treatment. On September 15th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help open the tight spaces between his fingers and improve the movement of his left hand, making it easier for him to straighten his fingers and hold things. Now, he needs help to fund this $652 procedure. Mesa's father said, “I hope this surgery will help my son straighten his fingers and use his left hand more easily when holding things. I also hope that as his hand improves, he will feel less shy and more confident around other people.”

$110raised
$542to go

Khan is a 37-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and two sons in Phop Phra District, Tak Province, Thailand. She and her husband both work as agricultural day laborers. However, due to a recent accident, Khan is currently unable to work. As a result of the financial constraints caused by the loss of Khan's income, neither child can attend school, and the older child stays home to take care of his brother and the household chores. On July 1st, while walking in heavy rain to ask an employer for work, Khan slipped and fell. She used her left arm to push herself off the ground, and immediately felt severe pain. Because her arm wasn't swollen, and she desperately needed to keep working to support her family, Khan did not go to the hospital. Instead, she applied sesame oil as a traditional remedy. When her condition did not improve, Khan realized that she could no longer continue with things as they were. On July 21st, Khan borrowed money and went to a clinic, where an X-ray revealed a closed fracture in the left shaft of her radius. Khan’s arm is currently held in a bandage and remains slightly swollen. Her pain is managed by medication, but she experiences sharp pain if she tries to stretch or move it. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Khan will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones, which should ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for August 10th at Mae Sot Hospital, and will cost $1,500. This procedure will help Khan to be able to use her left arm and to return to work. Khan is seeking your help to fund her procedure. Khan said, “Thank you for your support. If not for your organization and the donor, I would stay like this forever.”

$1,139raised
$361to go

Roland is a 36-year-old father from the Philippines. He has been living with a fistula for about 15 years. Initially, his symptoms were sporadic and self-resolving. However, flare-ups have become frequent, occurring every two months for the past two years. These episodes cause pain, fatigue, and difficulty sitting, forcing Roland to adjust his daily routine. After Roland traveled to our medical partner's care center, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, surgery was recommended to relieve his symptoms. While this has brought Roland hope, the estimated cost remains beyond his financial capacity, leaving him reliant on antibiotics for temporary relief. Despite his condition, Roland continues to support his family by helping run their small clothing business and taking on electrical work on the side. His condition limits his ability to fully participate in work, leisure activities, and caring for his children. His family strongly believes surgery would restore his quality of life, reduce recurring medical expenses, and ease the financial strain. Fortunately, Roland is scheduled to receive surgery on March 20th at the World Surgical Foundation Philippines. Our medical partner, Our Lady of Peace Hospital, is requesting $1,198 to fund this treatment. Access to surgical treatment would allow Roland to regain comfort, resume normal activities, and provide more stability for his household. Roland shared, "I’m looking forward to playing basketball again without pain and being able to sit comfortably while spending time with my children."

$1,198raised
Fully funded

Moses is a 27-year-old man from Kenya. He is single and lives with his parents. He earns a living selling second-hand shoes, while his father works as a construction worker. On January 1st, 2026, Moses was involved in a road accident. He was traveling on a motorbike when another motorbike lost control and struck him on the right side, causing injuries to his right arm and right leg. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where first aid was administered, and he was subsequently discharged. Moses later came to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, for further treatment and has since undergone several surgeries to manage injuries to his arm and leg. His recovery has been steady; however, further imaging revealed that his jaw was fractured and requires a mandible ORIF. Since the accident, Moses has been unable to open his mouth and has been on a liquid diet. He is currently in pain and requires surgery, but his insurance coverage has been fully exhausted. The family already has an outstanding hospital bill and has been unable to raise additional funds. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On January 16th, Moses will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will enable him to undergo the necessary surgery, begin his recovery, and resume a normal diet. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,115 to fund this procedure. Moses says, “I am in constant pain. My mouth feels stuck, and I haven’t been able to eat properly since the accident.”

$1,115raised
Fully funded

Catherine is a 37-year-old mother of five children in Kenya. Her husband, the family's sole breadwinner, runs a small electronics repair shop. His income supports the family's basic needs and the children's education. Catherine was in good health until four months ago, when she began experiencing persistent headaches that did not subside. She initially took pain medication, but when the pain failed to improve, she sought medical attention. Further medical scans revealed a brain tumor accompanied by fluid buildup, which was responsible for her severe and continuous migraines. Two months later, Catherine’s condition had significantly worsened. She was no longer able to walk independently, and her body gradually became paralyzed. She lost the ability to speak and is now confined to a chair, fully dependent on her husband and children for feeding and movement from one place to another. She underwent a surgical procedure to drain the fluid from her brain and was later referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital this month, for specialized care. Catherine now urgently requires a craniotomy to resect the brain tumor to prevent further neurological damage and deterioration of her condition. Since the onset of her illness in August, the family has endured immense emotional and financial strain. Despite multiple treatments, Catherine has not shown significant improvement. Her health insurance coverage has been exhausted, and the family is unable to raise the funds required for the surgery. Catherine’s family is seeking support to enable her to undergo the needed surgery and begin her journey toward recovery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Catherine receive treatment. On October 18th, she will undergo a craniotomy at AIC Kijabe Hospital. Now, Catherine's family needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Catherine’s daughter says, “Watching our mum go through this has been incredibly painful. We are doing everything we can for her and hold on to hope that she will recover.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Warren is an 10-year-old determined boy from Kenya. He dreams of becoming a mechanic in the future. His father shared with us that Warren is always curious about electrical things at home. “Sometimes he even opens up the radio, removes the wires, and fixes it to work better,” his father told us. Warren is the fifth and lastborn in his family. He comes from a village in Homa Bay County and is a grade five student. His father earns a living by operating a bodaboda motorcycle taxi within the village, while his mother sells fish to support their family. Warren was born a healthy child, but when he was three-years-old, he was diagnosed with malaria and taken to the hospital. After receiving treatment, his foot later developed a deformity. Due to a lack of finances and information, Warren has lived with the condition ever since. It has affected his mobility, self-esteem, and even his education. Thanks to the CURE Hospital mobile clinic in Homa Bay, Warren was identified and scheduled for treatment. He is now undergoing a casting procedure in preparation for surgery. Surgeons will perform foot surgery on October 14th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Warren's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk, run, play football, and pursue his education. “I pray that I will get well soon so that I can walk, play, run, and even play football. I want to continue with my education, and most of all, I want to play with my friends,” Warren told us.

$1,286raised
Fully funded