Merry Levicki
Merry's Story

Merry joined Watsi on July 23rd, 2015. 16 other people also joined Watsi on that day! Merry's most recent donation traveled 11,000 miles to support Roberto, a student from Dominican Republic, to fund prep for cardiac surgery.

Impact

Merry has funded healthcare for 25 patients in 8 countries.

Patients funded by Merry

Samuel is ten years old and lives with his mother in La Romana, a city in eastern Dominican Republic. He is an excellent student and would like to grow up to be a pediatric cardiologist. Samuel was born with a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot, which involves several related defects. There is a hole between two chambers of his heart and a muscular blockage in one of his heart's valves. This condition prevents oxygen from fully circulating through his body, leaving him weak and short of breath. Although Samuel is not Haitian, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is collaborating with their partners in the Dominican Republic to offer treatment to Dominican children. He will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center. First, Samuel will undergo a full cardiac assessment on February 13. This assessment will include physical exams, labs, and an overnight stay at the hospital. Haiti Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1,500 to fund these procedures. Funding for Samuel also covers the cost of medications and social support for him and him family. Gift of Life International is contributing $7,000 to cover additional costs associated with Samuel's surgical care. After his treatment, Samuel will be able to grow normally and be free from his condition. He will also be able to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor. "I am excited to be a doctor when I grow up so that I can help other kids who have the same problem I have now," says Samuel.

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Pablo's vision has been slowly deteriorating for several years. He was told by a doctor that he likely had cataracts, which are complicating his vision and could make him blind if he does not receive surgery. He lives in an incredibly rural Guatemalan community - 12 hours away from the only hospital in the country capable of giving him the specialized care he needs. 54-year-old Pablo is a friendly and hardworking father - he drives a pickup truck transporting wood from the fields into the city to support his four children. He lives with his family in a one-room house with a tin roof in the northern jungle of Guatemala. He makes only a couple dollars per day and, until his evaluation with the eye specialist, had never been out of his home community. His favorite thing to do when he is not working is to go out and visit his neighbors. Recently, because his vision has gotten so bad, Pablo has been having a hard time at work is worried that he will have an accident if he does not get surgery soon. This surgery, which costs $1500 and will be done with doctors from Watsi's medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, will give Pablo clear lenses so he will be capable of seeing, giving him the ability to work safely without fear of accidents. This surgery will prevent him from becoming blind, and allow him to live a full and happy life in which he is able to provide for his family. "I have been looking for support for one year and so I am so appreciative for the help that I will now get," shares Pablo.

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Twelve-month-old Lomayani is a happy baby boy who lives with his family in Tanzania. When he turned five months old, Lomayani got very sick. He had a high fever, which took a while to control. When he recovered from the fever, his head slowly started to increase in size. "He used to be very active and growing well," shares Lomayani’s mother, "but now he is slowly losing his activeness." Lomayani has hydrocephalus, a condition in which there is an accumulation of fluid in the brain as a result of infection, trauma, malformation of the central nervous system, or genetic defect. Too much fluid can increase pressure on the brain and inside the skull, leading to an enlarged head and developmental issues. Lomayani had been able to control his neck, but he no longer can do so because his head is too heavy to hold up. He can still see properly, and he is able to use his hands to hold toys and his mother’s beaded earrings and necklaces, which he enjoys playing with. Lomayani needs surgery to manage the hydrocephalus so that further brain damage will not occur. Lomayani’s parents are small-scale farmers, and they also keep a few livestock. With five children to look after as well as other extended family members who depend on them, it has been difficult to come up with enough cash to cover the cost of the care that Lomayani badly needs. For $775, Lomayani will undergo an operation to place a shunt to drain the excess fluid from his brain and transport it to his abdomen, where it can be resorbed by the body. Funding also covers the costs of five days of hospital care, including imaging, blood work, medicine, and dressing changes for his wound, as well as two weeks' accommodations at The Plaster House for recovery and rehabilitation after surgery. “I worry about my baby’s health," Lomayani’s mother says. "I hope he will get well and continue with normal growth."

$775raised
Fully funded