W
Will Haywood SmithUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER

Will's Story

Will joined Watsi on September 24th, 2016. Ten years ago, Will joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Will's most recent donation supported Pich, a teenage boy from Cambodia, to fund surgery to improve his strength and mobility.

Impact

Will has funded healthcare for 127 patients in 12 countries.

Patients funded by Will

Pich is a 17-year-old young man from Cambodia. He is the youngest of two siblings and lives with his parents in Kampong Cham Province. His father works as a day laborer on a rubber farm, while his mother works in a garment factory. He left school while in Grade 10 and now works alongside his father to help the family. His favorite dish is korko fish soup. During his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball and football with his friends in the village. In April 2026, Pich was involved in a motorbike accident that caused serious injuries and nerve damage to his left arm. He lost consciousness and received stitches for multiple wounds on his left upper arm. He later sought traditional Khmer treatment, but his arm did not improve as he had hoped. Approximately six months after the accident, he has regained some movement in his shoulder and elbow, but he still cannot bend his elbow normally or move his wrist and fingers. He also experiences numbness in his left forearm and hand. He needs to undergo a tendon and nerve repair procedure to help regain strength and mobility. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Pich receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo the tendon and nerve repair procedure on October 22nd. His family can contribute $37.50, but needs help raising $664 more to help fund his procedure and care. Pich said, “Since my accident, I haven’t been able to use my left arm the way I used to, and it has made my daily life and work very difficult. I’m still young, and I want to regain movement in my arm so I can work and take care of myself again. I hope this surgery will give me a chance to improve and move toward a better future.”

$143raised
$521to go

Huzeyefa is a playful and cheerful 13-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He enjoys reading religious books with his brother and sisters, and helping his parents in their farming work. Huzeyefa and his family live in the Central Region of Ethiopia. He is the third child in a family of six children, and is currently in Grade 3. Huzeyefa condition was first noticed by his aunt when he visted her in Addis Ababa. While bathing him, she noticed that something was quite not right. Concerned, she took him to the nearest health centre, where he was referred to a higher-level hospital for further evaluation. “I was very anxious. My heart was broken, and I couldn’t sleep well. I was very worried when I heard that Huzeyfa needed surgery," his aunt shared. Huzeyefa was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. The doctors placed Huzeyefa on a long surgery wait list, and informed the family that he might have to wait for up to a year to undergo surgery. This news worried his aunt because Huzeyfa needed to return home to continue his education. In addition, his family could not afford the cost of surgery at a private hospital. Three weeks later, Huzeyfa’s aunt received encouraging news. The higher-level hospital had referred Huzeyfa to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). At BKMCM, Huzeyfa was scheduled for surgery on August 10th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Huzeyfa receive treatment, and is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Huzeyfa's aunt shared: "Thank you so much for all your support, kindness, and care. May God bless you with good health, long life, and abundant blessings. I am truly grateful to each one of you. My prayer is that Huzeyfa will recover well, continue his education, and grow into a successful person with a bright future. Thank you all so much."

$1,095raised
$198to go

Susan is a six-year-old girl from Kenya. From an early age, Susan experienced delayed developmental milestones. She was only able to sit at eight months and did not begin walking until she was two years old. As she grew, her parents noticed that she had difficulty speaking and pronouncing words. They hoped that, with time, she would improve, but the challenges persisted. Her parents enrolled her in school, believing that interacting with other children would help her learn to communicate better. Unfortunately, Susan continued to struggle both academically and socially. While her peers progressed to the next grade, she had to repeat a class because she was unable to keep up with communication and learning activities. Seeking help, her family first took her to a nearby hospital, and later, through a friend’s recommendation, she was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. After undergoing audiology assessments, Susan was diagnosed with severe hearing loss. The major reason she cannot speak clearly is that she is unable to hear properly. When her parents learned the cost of hearing aids, they were worried. Susan’s father depends on casual construction and farming jobs to provide for his wife and their three children, while her mother works as a waitress at a local food joint. Despite working tirelessly, the family cannot afford the support Susan urgently needs. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Susan receive treatment. On 21st May, she will be fitted with hearing aids that will improve her hearing. With consistent speech therapy, her communication skills will also improve, so she catch up with her peers. Now, Susan's parents are seeking support to raise $1,171, to aid in treatment for their daughter's hearing, help her find her voice, and continue her education with confidence alongside other children her age. Susan’s mother says, “Susan is a very active and bright child, but because she cannot hear properly, she struggles to keep up with other children her age. Being able to hear would help her speak more clearly, interact confidently, and progress well in her education.”

$1,171raised
Fully funded

Eyuel is a bright and joyful three-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves to run and play football, his favorite sport, with other neighborhood kids. He is currently in kindergaten and enjoys going to school every day. Eyuel lives with his mother, father, and his eight-month-old baby sister. His mother is a home maker, while his father works as a farmer on a rented land, earning wages once a year from the farm’s harvest. Their income is very limited and barely covers the family’s basic needs.To supplement his farming income, Eyuel’s father also takes on extra casual work to support the household. About a year ago, Eyuel's parents noticed something was not quite right, and there was difference in how he was passing urine. They took him to a government referral hospital, where, unfortunately, he was placed on a long waiting list for surgical care. Sometime later, he was referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Despite the challenges of waiting for care, Eyuel’s parents have remained strong. They shared: “We will do everything we can to get him treated. We reached out to friends and family, but we could not afford the surgery. We pray for support on this journey. It hurts us to see him suffer, but we cannot question God. We accept it and hope for his healing.” Eyuel was diagnosed with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. Fortunately, Eyuel is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on February 24th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Eyuel's father says: "We hope that our son will get the surgery and get better. I really wish to see him heal and thrive. I came here praying for his healing and that is what I am hoping for."

$1,293raised
Fully funded