Joseph DeSettoUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER
Joseph's Story

Joseph joined Watsi on May 18th, 2017. Seven years ago, Joseph joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Joseph's most recent donation supported Yee, a 59-year-old woman from Thailand, to fund surgery to remove kidney stones.

Impact

Joseph has funded healthcare for 89 patients in 12 countries.

Patients funded by Joseph

Yee is a 59-year-old mother of two from Thailand. She lives with her family and is retired due to her health condition. Her husband works as a day laborer, and her two sons work at a restaurant. In her free time, Yee enjoys meditation and listening to religious sermons. In October 2023, Yee began experiencing pain, difficulty urinating, and producing only small amounts of urine. Additionally, she feels swelling and pain in her back, which has forced her to stop working. She has been diagnosed with kidney stones, which are hard deposits of minerals that form in the kidneys and are often very painful to pass. She has been advised to undergo surgery to remove her kidney stones. If left untreated, Yee's symptoms will continue to worsen and will put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), requests $1,500 to fund Yee's kidney stone removal surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on September 17th. Yee said, "I wish I could have the kidney stone surgery, but I don't have the money to cover the cost. But now, I have found that Watsi and BCMF can help me. I am very grateful and will pray for Watsi donors to remain healthy and help more patients."

$704raised
$796to go

Margaret is a 59-year-old woman from Nairobi, Kenya. Margaret has two adult sons. Both were married but separated from their wives, leaving their children with Margaret. Margaret works as a domestic worker and sells boiled maize at the market to provide for her family. In 2013, Margaret developed a boil on the roof of her mouth. Despite seeking help at several hospitals, Margaret couldn’t afford the costs of scans and diagnosis. The boil continued to grow, affecting her teeth and speech, and causing her discomfort and pain. For the past eleven years, Margaret has endured this pain without treatment as she could not afford to seek help. In March 2024, our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, conducted an outreach in the area where Margaret lives. During the free check-up, Margaret was advised to visit the main hospital for further diagnosis. However, she couldn’t afford the transportation costs and took four months to make the trip for a follow-up. In July 2024, doctors diagnosed Margaret with a hard palate mass that had extended from her palate up to her nose. Margaret needs a mass excision surgery to remove the growth before it causes further complications. On August 14th, Margaret will undergo surgery and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to fund the procedure. Margaret says, “I am stressed out, I keep on thinking this growth will affect me further and I will not be able to speak.”

$887raised
$613to go

Lydiah is an 18-year-old from Kenya. In February 2022, Lydiah's schooling and aspirations for becoming a doctor had to be put on hold when she began to experience excruciating pain in her right leg and hip. The pain progressed to the point where she could no longer bear weight on her leg, forcing her to leave school. When she was unable to find help in her province, Lydiah moved to live with her aunt in Nairobi. Despite visits to various dispensaries, and attempts to secure medical care, including painkillers, Lydiah's condition did not improve. She and her aunt tried visiting hospitals, but could not afford to pay for the necessary scans. In November 2023, Lydiah developed a swelling on her hip joint. Financial limitations prevented her from accessing care, leaving her in persistent agony. In June 2024, when her condition deteriorated further, Lydia was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. Lydiah was diagnosed with osteomyelitis of the right thigh bone and was recommended to undergo sequestrectomy surgery. Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone. The recommended surgery will remove the bone that has died, as a result of the infection. Again, finances have been a challenge, and Lydiah has remained in pain. Currently, Lydiah suffers from a painful, swollen thigh with a draining sinus, intensified by the cold season. Compounding her challenges, Lydiah is the only child of her mother who has been grappling with mental health issues since her husband's passing in 2015. Her aunt is her only hope since she is the one who has been taking care of her since she fell ill. Lydiah’s aunt is a casual beauty laborer, who weaves hair extensions for women, and whose income is precarious. Lydiah’s aunt is also a single mother to three children. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is asking for help to fund the $1,400 needed for Lydiah's surgery, scheduled for July 16th. They hope this intervention will not only alleviate her suffering, but also pave the way for her to pursue her dreams. Lydiah said: “I know that I am advanced in years, but I am willing to continue from Form 2, where I left off, and proceed to pursue my career as a doctor.”

$791raised
$609to go

Soe is a 55-year-old man from Burma. He fled to Thailand last year where he lives with his daughter, her husband, and their four kids. In Burma, he was a farmer on his own farm but because of the conflict, he stopped working outside on the field. His son-in-law works at his father’s shop while his daughter is a homemaker and his grandchildren are students. In October 2023, Soe started experiencing a small swelling on his upper left eyelid. Currently, Soe cannot open his eye as usual and cannot see far. As he is also experiencing pain in his eye whenever it is windy, he is spending most of his time inside. Unfortunately, his eyes also hurts when looking at his phone, so he is mostly sitting without doing anything. He was diagnosed with sebaceous carcinoma of right eye. Doctors recommend enucleation, the removal of the eye, to treat this condition. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund this surgery. The treatment is scheduled to take place on June 17th at our medical partner's care center, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. Once completed, Soe will hopefully live more comfortably. Soe expressed his feelings, “I want to thank the donors. I really hope that they have a good job and that they and their families are healthy.”

$884raised
$616to go

Kay Thaw is a 29-year-old day laborer from Burma. He lives with his parents, five younger brothers, two younger sisters, a brother-in-law, and a nephew in the Internally Displaced People (IDP) Camp, in Karen State, Burma. Kay Thaw and his family fled to the IDP camp a year ago due to the conflict happening around their village at that time. The combined income of Kay Thaw's family is not enough to cover their daily needs. They borrow money from neighbors and also receive food donations in the IDP camp. During his free time, Kay Thaw likes to play football and cane ball. He also enjoys reading religious books. Currently, Kay Thaw has blurred vision in both of his eyes. Often, his eyes become red, inflamed, itchy, and watery. He cannot see other people’s faces and has difficulty seeing at night. Kay Thaw was diagnosed with juvenile cataract in both eyes. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund lens replacement surgery for Kay Thaw. On May 17th, doctors will perform a lens replacement, during which they will remove Kay Thaw's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Kay Thaw said, “I hope my vision goes back to normal so that I can see and work well. I am totally blind at night. I cannot see other people's faces even when they are beside me. I cannot read the prayers when I go to church. I am worried about my eyes. I cannot afford to pay for my treatment. Without your help, I do not know what I can do."

$895raised
$605to go

Eyphril is a one-year-old baby girl from Bolivia. She lives in a mining village in central Bolivia with her parents and older sister. Eyphril's father is a truck driver and her mother is a house cleaner. Eyphril was born with cor triatriatum, a rare heart condition where the upper chambers of the heart are subdivided by membranes into three chambers. These chambers prevent blood from flowing normally through her heart, leaving her weak and short of breath. On April 17th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, Surgeons will remove the membranes from her heart so that blood can flow normally. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to fund this procedure. Eyphril's mother shares, "Our family is praying for all of the doctors, nurses, and everyone else who is helping our daughter to become healthy."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Ernesto is a widower and father of three from the Philippines. Ernesto enjoys watching TV and using his mobile phone during his free time. He is currently unemployed due to his condition and physical limitations as a senior citizen. He helps his children by taking care of his grandchildren and accompanying them to school every day. He lives with his second child and is dependent on his income as a driver. Six months ago, Ernesto began experiencing numbness in his foot and upper body. He was diagnosed with inguinal bilateral hernia and was advised to undergo surgery. On March 9th, Ernesto will have hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of Ernesto's treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Our medical partner is raising the remaining $1,103 to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Ernesto shared, "I hope you can continue to help more people like us. I am very grateful and I will carry your kindness in me until my dying breath. Thank you very much."

$1,103raised
Fully funded

Hsar is a 67-year-old grandmother from Tak Province, Thailand. She lives with her daughter, son in-law and her granddaughter. Her granddaughter is in primary school. Her daughter works in a coffee shop and her son in-law is a teacher. Hsar is retired and helps her daughter in the home. In her free time Hsar loves to clean and takes pride in her tidy home. Since 2020, Hsar has been experiencing nausea, jaundice, back pain, and exhaustion. She has trouble walking because of the pain. She was diagnosed by physicians at Mae Sot General Hospital with kidney stones and kidney failure. Her doctors have determined that Hsar needs undergo a kidney surgery to remove part or all of her right kidney. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place at Mae Sot General Hospital on February 10th. Once completed, the surgery will hopefully improve Hsar's quality of life. Hsar's daughter says, "I want her to recover and be free from pain. I am sad to see her with this condition that I cannot help."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Linn is a 50-year-old woman from Burma. She is divorced and lives with her mother and son in Karen State - a conflict area near the border of Burma and Thailand. She works as a shop vendor, selling steamed sticky rice with chicken and pork, and her mother is retired. Her 12-year-old son is in the fifth grade in Burma. Linn also cultivates vegetables in her garden and usually cooks meals using them. Linn enjoys watching movies in her free time, but she has not been able to do so for a while now. One year ago, Linn began to experience blurred and double vision. Currently, Linn cannot read, see, or walk well and requires a caregiver to assist her with daily activities. These symptoms have made it increasingly difficult for her to see clearly. Linn was diagnosed with retinal detachment, a condition in which the retina pulls away from the supportive tissue in the eye, resulting in vision loss. If left untreated, she could lose vision completely. Linn is scheduled to undergo surgery to reattach her retina. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), requests $1,500 to cover her procedure and care costs. After her surgery, Linn's vision will hopefully be restored, and she will resume her daily activities comfortably. Linn expressed, "I am very pleased to receive help and I am relieved that I can also stay at BCMF's patients' house in Chiang Mai. I wish for the success of my eye surgery. After recovery, I hope to restart my previous business again."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Jecinta is a delightful 4-year-old girl from Kenya. She is playful and jovial. Born with a birth condition her journey began at Kiambu Hospital, where dedicated healthcare professionals initiated a treatment plan to address the condition. She was prescribed braces as part of her comprehensive care to correct her clubfeet. With the support of her mother, she embarked on a hopeful journey towards improved mobility and a future filled with possibilities. The braces played a role in maintaining the corrections achieved through casting and other interventions. However, along the way, and because of the hardships, Jecinta, like many children, faced challenges in using the braces. Unfortunately, she lost to follow-up at Kiambu Hospital, and the regular monitoring and follow-up appointments ended. Over more than a year with no follow-up, Jecintas deformity recurred. Currently she tiptoes as she walks and feels pain. Fortunately, Jecinta and her mother traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Jecinta's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she be able to walk well, with no pain and discomfort. Her self-esteem will also improve, and she will continue with her education without any hardship. “I will appreciate if consider my daughter to undergo surgery so that she can stand on her feet and walk confidently like other children,” Glory, Jecinta’s mother, told us.

$1,286raised
Fully funded

San is a 50-year-old grandmother from Burma. She lives with her son and granddaughter. Both San and her son are subsistence farmers and her son occasionally works as a day laborer. Her six-year-old granddaughter is a nursery school student. During her free time, San enjoys spending quality time with her granddaughter and visiting the monastery. In February 2023, San began experiencing occasional back and lower left abdominal pain with discomfort. This made it difficult for her to walk and sit. After an abdominal ultrasound and physical examination, she was diagnosed with gallstones. San has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, San's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), San is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on November 17. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of San's procedure and care. San said, “I feel sad and sorry for my son who has to work on the farm and help me with household chores. After I feel better, I will help him on the farm and handle all the household chores. I want to recover so that I can find work and pay back my debt. I want to spend time with my granddaughter and help her with her homework. I also want to go to the monastery and pray, as I have not been able to go since my condition started."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Saw resides in a refugee camp along the Thai-Burma Border with his wife, two daughters, and son-in-law. His wife is a homemaker, and Saw stopped working as a day laborer due to his worsening health. He is proud of his family: One of his daughters is a student, the other is a pharmacist, and his son-in-law is a medic at the camp's hospital. He likes to forage for vegetables in his free time. Saw has been diagnosed with a right irreducible inguinal hernia and is scheduled to undergo hernia repair surgery in October. This surgery is essential to relieve his pain and discomfort and improve his overall quality of life. Saw said, “I want this discomfort and pain to disappear. I cannot do anything because of the pain. I hope that after surgery, I will be able to have a normal life again and will no longer be in any discomfort.”

$1,486raised
Fully funded