Daniel HochmanUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER

United States
Daniel's Story

Daniel joined Watsi on March 8th, 2015. Seven years ago, Daniel joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Daniel's most recent donation traveled 9,000 miles to support Stanley, a car sales representative from Malawi, to fund hernia repair surgery.

Impact

Daniel has funded healthcare for 172 patients in 13 countries.

Patients funded by Daniel

Meseret is a brave 24-year-old woman from Ethiopia who is independent and works hard in the flower industry to make a living. Since she was two years old, she has lived with the effects of a serious burn accident. Because her family could only provide basic care at home when it happened, her scars have become very tight over the years. This tightness has pulled her skin so much that she can no longer move her arm or hand freely, making her daily manual labor much more difficult. Twenty-two years ago, as a young child, Meseret suffered a traumatic burn after falling into a fire. Due to a lack of immediate medical access at the time, the injury was managed exclusively with traditional home remedies rather than clinical hospital care. Working in the flower industry is physically demanding for Meseret. It requires constant reaching, careful sorting, and a steady hand needed to pluck petals or apply protective chemicals. For this young woman, the tightness in her skin is a major daily hurdle that affects her speed and physical comfort. Even though Meseret has struggled to move easily for a long time, she is incredibly determined. She consistently pushes herself to do extra work, hoping to show her supervisors that she is a hardworking staff member and to ensure her job is secure every single day. When Meseret learned about our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, she traveled for many hours to seek treatment. Fortunately, Meseret will receive treatment on March 19th. The surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery to restore a natural range of motion, which will be a life-changing milestone, marking the first time since she was a toddler that her limb has moved without restriction. This change will allow Meseret to fulfill her duties in the flower field without the persistent physical strain caused by the contractures. For her, this surgery is the key to finally working with comfort and moving her body the way it was meant to move. Now, our medical partner is requesting $500 to fund this procedure. "I have lived so long with these struggles that I forgot what it feels like to be whole. I am so excited to finally do the things that used to be impossible for me. I want to work in the fields and move my arm freely, leaving behind the pain and the limits that have defined my life since I was a child," said Meseret.

$500raised
Fully funded

Sebastiano is a 77-year-old lifelong farmer from Lilongwe, Malawi. He is married and has eight children, all of whom are now grown and living with their own families. Though his children are independent, Sebastiano continues to farm sweet potatoes, maize, sugar cane, and vegetables, selling what he can to support his household and maintain his independence. One morning, Sebastiano woke up with a strong urge to urinate but could only pass very little urine. The pain and discomfort continued for two days until his eldest son took him to a nearby health centre, where he was catheterised and given medication. The relief was temporary. By mid-December, his condition worsened, and his family decided to take him to our medical partner's care center, Nkhoma Mission Hospital. At Nkhoma, doctors examined him and performed an ultrasound. Sebastiano was diagnosed with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, an enlarged prostate that blocks urine flow. He was advised to undergo an open prostatectomy, a surgery to remove the enlarged portion of the prostate and restore normal function. Sebastiano’s family managed to raise some money toward his treatment, but it is not enough to cover the full cost. After a lifetime of hard work, Sebastiano now needs our help to receive this essential surgery and return to a life free from pain and discomfort. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $530 to fund the procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place at Nkhoma Hospital on January 8th, and once completed, it will hopefully improve Sebastiano's quality of life. Sebastiano said, “I wish to heal so I can return to my farm, live without pain, and enjoy the days God still gives me with my wife and family.”

$530raised
Fully funded

Lissa is a beautiful and brave 3-year-old girl from Tanzania. Her smile lights up every room she enters. She is the firstborn in a family of two children, and her parents describe her as curious, playful, and incredibly sharp for her age. Lissa already attends preschool, where she enjoys singing, drawing, and interacting with other children. Her father, a hardworking Bajaji tricycle driver, is deeply devoted to his daughter. Lissa was diagnosed with bilateral varus; her legs bend outward at the knee so that they do not touch. Several factors could cause this condition, such as growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found in contaminated drinking water. As a result, the knees can be angled inwards or outwards, making it difficult to walk and may cause long-term joint damage. She has difficulty walking for long distances. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $810 to fund treatment for Lissa. The procedure is scheduled to take place on December 5th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully improve Lissa's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Lissa's father dreams of seeing his daughter walk freely and confidently, without pain or difficulty, especially as she grows older and continues with school. He said, "I often imagine Lissa running around without complaint of pain and discomfort, just like other children her age."

$810raised
Fully funded

Five-year-old Juan, who lives in Colombia, is currently in preschool. He is a curious child, with good academic performance and strong personal motivation: he dreams of becoming a pilot when he grows up. However, constant pain and oral discomfort have affected his concentration, attendance, and participation in school activities. About a year ago, Juan was evaluated by a pediatric dentist, who diagnosed multiple deep cavities. Since then, Juan has followed up with numerous visits to the dentist, but the progression of the tooth decay has caused intense and persistent pain, inflammation, infection, and difficulty eating and sleeping. Because of the complexity of the care that Juan needs, it was determined that treatment must be performed under general anesthesia, due to the number of teeth affected and the young age of the patient. Our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $868 to fund Juan's procedure, which is scheduled for August 20th. This treatment will not only relieve Juan's physical pain, but it will also allow him to regain his quality of life, improve his school performance, and help him continue dreaming of flying high as a pilot. Juan Sebastián's mother shared her emotions: "The dentist's work is truly admirable. Many children need this process, and thanks to her generous help, many of them will be able to receive the treatment they so desperately need. In particular, Juan Sebastián will be able to regain his smile and the quality of life that every child deserves. Seeing how someone who does not know him personally gets involved with so much love is the purest reflection of human kindness. May God continue to bless her and guide her every step in this noble mission."

$868raised
Fully funded

Cristopher is a happy, curious 4-year-old from Colombia who enjoys learning in his preschool class. He also loves playing with his friends and discovering new things every day. When he grows up, Cristopher dreams of becoming a policeman to help people and protect his community. Cristopher has been living with a hernia that causes him weakness and pain and makes it difficult for him to do daily activities. Movements such as walking, running, or carrying objects can become uncomfortable. If left untreated, his condition could worsen, affecting his well-being and quality of life. Fortunately, on June 27th, Cristopher will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $786 to fund Cristopher's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will allow him to live more comfortably. Cristopher mother said, "To the person who will generously donate the resources for my son's surgery, I want to express my deepest gratitude. You cannot imagine the immense happiness I feel knowing that my little boy will be able to be better and healthy, continuing his path towards his dream of becoming a policeman. As a mother, I will always carry in my heart the noble gesture you have made, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your kindness and generosity. Knowing that my son will be operated on, thanks to you, gives me indescribable relief. May God bless you always and repay you with abundant blessings. Thank you very much!"

$786raised
Fully funded