H
Haydar MahdiUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER

United Kingdom
Haydar's Story

Haydar joined Watsi on July 21st, 2014. Twelve years ago, Haydar joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Haydar's most recent donation traveled 4,300 miles to support Emmah, a toddler from Haiti, to fund treatment leading up to, and following heart surgery.

Impact

Haydar has funded healthcare for 149 patients in 14 countries.

Patients funded by Haydar

Emmah is a two-year-old girl from Haiti. She lives with her parents in Port-au-Prince. Her father is a mechanic, while her mother is a vendor. She likes listening to music and helping her mother in the kitchen. Emmah has a cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two major blood vessels near the heart; blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and unable to gain weight properly. Emmah needs to fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On October 20th, she will undergo heart surgery, during which surgeons will use a device on the end of a catheter to plug the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. While another organization is contributing money to pay for surgery, Emmah's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Emmah's family overseas. Emmah's mother says, "I will be praying for everyone who is helping to heal my daughter's heart!"

$968raised
$532to go

Moo is a 40-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her two children and husband in a refugee camp in Thailand. Her family fled Burma because a military airstrike hit her village. Moo is a homemaker, while her husband is an agricultural day laborer. Her two children are students in the camp. During her free time, she enjoys playing with her children and knitting hammocks. Mooo is pregnant, and doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section because of a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Moo undergo a C-Section on September 17th at our medical partner's care center, Tha Song Yang Hospital. This procedure will cost $1500, and Moo needs your support. Moo said, “I do not think that I will need to give birth through C-section. I was worried and could not sleep at night. Knowing that you will help cover the cost for me, I am relieved. Thank you so much for helping me and my family.”

$970raised
$530to 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

Vun is a 38-year-old construction worker from Kampong Cham, Cambodia. He lives with his wife, who grows cassava, and their two school-aged children. As the family's primary income earner, he works long hours performing physically demanding construction work while also helping his wife on the farm whenever possible. About two months ago, Vun began experiencing severe lower back pain that radiated down his left leg. The pain gradually worsened and became especially severe during the past week, making it difficult for him to walk, stand for long periods, and continue working. A CT scan revealed a large herniated disc between the L5 and S1 vertebrae, compressing the nerve. After learning about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled two hours to reach the hospital and seek specialized care. On July 17th, he will undergo an L5–S1 discectomy (spinal surgery) at CSC to remove the damaged disc and relieve pressure on the affected nerve. The surgery is expected to reduce his pain, restore his mobility, and help him return to work and support his family. However, the cost of treatment is beyond what his family can afford, and he needs financial assistance to receive this life-changing surgery. They can contribute $100, but need help raising $1,500 more to help fund his procedure and care. Vun said, “I hope this surgery will take away the pain that has made even simple movements difficult. I look forward to walking normally again, returning to work, and providing for my family without being limited by my back.”

$1,113raised
$287to go

Lea is a 46-year-old small-scale businesswoman from Malawi. She has two children aged 15 and 10. Lea sells tomatoes, while her husband is a primary school teacher. Seven years ago, Lea began to experience troubling symptoms, including breathlessness during sleep, walking, and climbing stairs, and was unable to carry items on her head. She was diagnosed with a goiter, an enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. This January, things worsened when Lea started experiencing frequent choking after eating. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Lea receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on June 8th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and she and her family need help raising money. Lea said, "Kindly help me get out of this mess; I am in trouble, and I am not ready to choke to death one day and leave my children alone."

$494raised
$521to go

Sha is a 56-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife, two daughters, and two sons in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. Sha and one of his sons are day laborers in a village near the camp. His wife and one of his daughters are homemakers, while his other daughter is a teacher in the camp. His other son is still a student in the camp. The family has a vegetable garden around their home, and they raise chickens and pigs to sell and for their own consumption. Their combined monthly income of 5,000 THB is often not enough to cover their daily needs. They currently have a loan of 3,000 THB, money borrowed due to Sha's illness. A few days ago, Sha began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe abdominal pain with the pain radiating to his back and a fever. He has been diagnosed with appendicitis, and now needs surgery to prevent his condition from worsening. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Sha receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo an appendectomy, a surgery to remove the appendix when it becomes infected, on May 14th at Mae Sariang Hospital. This procedure will cost $1500, and Sha and his family need your support. Sha says, “I never experienced pain like this before. When the pain is very severe, I can’t breathe easily. I would like for this pain to stop.”

$957raised
$543to go

Aitana is a young girl from Bolivia. She lives with her mom and her dad, who have a small convenience store. Aitana has a twin sister and an older brother; they live in the northern part of Bolivia. Where they live, there are no cardiologists. So, when her mom noticed that her heart was beating too fast, she took her to a different area where she found out she had a heart condition and needed surgery. Aitana has a cardiac condition called an atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart: blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. On April 15th, Aitana will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Aitana's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Aitana's mother shared, "We were looking forward to this day, I trust everything will go well, I pray for that."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

James is a 57-year-old farmer from Malawi, married with four children. He is the sole provider for his family, relying entirely on subsistence farming to put food on the table. In October 2025, James was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles, causing a bulge in the groin area. The condion has been causing on-and-off swelling, and over time, it's been accompanied by worsening pain, making it difficult for him to continue farm work. James is hopeful that undergoing surgery will improve his condition, restore his ability to work, and enable him to continue providing for his family. Fortunately, on April 9th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery with the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. James is raising $575 to fund the procedure, which will allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. James says, "I heard about the donor program that has assisted many patients at this hospital (Partners in Hope Medical Center). I hope I can also receive support for my treatment."

$575raised
Fully funded

Chepkat is an 11-year-old girl from Kenya. She comes from a pastoralist family whose livelihood has always depended on keeping goats and cattle. Due to the harsh, isolated nature of their residence, Chepkat has never had the opportunity to attend school. Her parents survive through livestock keeping, but recently their family suffered a major setback when raiders attacked their homestead and drove away their cattle, leaving them with nothing. One afternoon, while trying to pick fruit from a tree, Chepkat accidentally stepped on a dry branch that suddenly broke beneath her. She fell heavily to the ground and immediately experienced severe pain. Due to the remoteness of their home, the family had to travel nearly two hours to reach the nearest health facility. At the first facility, she was immobilized and later referred to another hospital, where she was managed conservatively with bed rest and pain medication. However, her condition did not improve, and her pain persisted. Chepkat was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital, where an x-ray revealed a fracture of the head of her hip bone, a serious injury that requires urgent surgical intervention. She needs an urgent Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) to stabilize and repair the bone. On March 11th, Chepkat will undergo a fracture repair procedure. She needs help so that she can receive the operation she needs and regain the chance to walk and live a healthy and active life. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,247 to fund this procedure. Chepkat's mother says, "My child is in pain and cannot stand, please help her so she can regain her mobility."

$1,247raised
Fully funded

Clemence is a small-scale farmer from Malawi. He is married and has two children. Five years ago, Clemence began to experience troubling symptoms, including abdominal symptoms whose cause was unclear. He moved between hospitals without improvement. In 2021, it was discovered that his esophagus was obstructed, and he underwent treatment. Fortunately, his symptoms reduced and he experienced some relief. However, in 2025, he began experiencing severe gastroesophageal reflux symptoms, including heartburn, chest pain, and regurgitation, sometimes causing food to come up through his nose, especially when lying down. This created a constant fear of choking in his sleep. During one of his recent hospital visits, he underwent an endoscopy. Doctors have now diagnosed him with a hiatal hernia, and he was urgently referred to our medical partner PIH for support where surgery is recommended. Physicians recommend a laparotomy, which is a surgery that opens up the abdominal cavity to treat his condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,244 to fund Clemence's surgery. On February 6th, he will undergo surgery at Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully greatly improve his quality of life. Clemence said, "Kindly help me to get better, I am afraid of eating in fear of choking that can cause death; food comes through my nose sometimes and I am very terrified now. I can no longer do anything to generate cash apart from spending."

$1,244raised
Fully funded

Dah is a 21-year-old young man from Burma. He lives with his mother, his wife, two daughters, and other family members in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. They moved to the camp due to conflict happening between armed groups in their village in Burma. His wife is a homemaker, and Dah is a day laborer. During his free time, he likes to play volleyball with his friends in the camp. Two days ago, Dah began to experience troubling symptoms, including abdominal pain, accompanied by a fever. He was diagnosed with appendicitis and now needs surgery to prevent his condition from worsening. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Dah receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo an appendectomy, a surgery to remove the appendix when it becomes infected, on January 16th. This procedure will cost $1500, and Dah and his family need your support. Dah said, “I never experienced pain like this before. I would like my pain to go away.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Lia is a young student from Bolivia. She lives with her mom, who is a homemaker, her dad, who is a truck driver, and her two younger siblings. Lia's mom noticed that her daughter had a constant headache, body aches, and dizziness. She took Lia to the doctor, which led to her being diagnosed with a heart condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two blood vessels next to the heart. This condition prevents Lia's blood from circulating properly, causing her weakness and leaving her at risk of heart failure if the condition is not treated. On December 16th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew the hole closed so that blood can no longer leak through it. Lia's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Lia's mother shared, "I just hope my daughter has good health after the surgery, and stops being sick so often."

$1,500raised
Fully funded