Maxim's Story

Maxim joined Watsi on February 18th, 2026. Nine months ago, Maxim joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Maxim's most recent donation supported Rosalinda, a student from Haiti, to fund treatment leading up to, and following heart surgery.

Impact

Maxim has funded healthcare for 10 patients in 7 countries.

Patients funded by Maxim

Taung is a 64-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his daughter, son, and two grandsons. He is retired and helps with household chores to support his family. His daughter is divorced and raises chickens and pigs for their own consumption, selling the surplus to buy additional food and cover their basic needs. Each of his grandsons goes to middle school, while Taung's son has a mental illness and stays home. He also has another daughter who helps support him. His family has enough income for their basic needs and healthcare, but they have struggled to meet the financial obligations of Taung's needs. Currently, Taung is experiencing upper abdominal pain, and he feels discomfort when walking for long periods or sitting down. Eating to fill his stomach can also lead to discomfort, so he eats only in small quantities. After seeking medical help at our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot Hospital, the doctor has diagnosed Taung with a bile duct stone and has recommended surgery. Taung has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, Taung's symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. Taung is scheduled to undergo his cholecystectomy on August 13th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Taung said, "Due to my condition, I experience severe pain sometimes. I could not help much with household chores. When the pain is severe, I could not eat and could not sleep well. I want to recover, and then I would like to plant banana trees and other vegetables to sell and make income to support my family. Thank you to all the donors for helping me."

$967raised
$533to go

Nidhi is a 16-year-old girl from India. She lives in Mirzamurad, a village near Varanasi in northern India. She lives with her parents, two sisters, and a brother. Her father works as a halwai, preparing traditional Indian sweets to support the family. Nidhi is currently in the 9th grade and loves dancing. When she was just 2½ years old, Nidhi accidentally fell into a container of hot sugar syrup being used to make gulab jamuns, a sweet dessert. She sustained severe burns to her right chest and arm. Although she received wound care at the time, her family was unable to access reconstructive surgery. As Nidhi grew, the burn scars tightened and developed into contractures, affecting her right breast and elbow. These scars have restricted movement and altered her appearance during adolescence, a time when many young people become increasingly aware of their bodies and self-image. Nidhi's family learned about our medical partner, G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, and sought treatment. On June 19th, specialty surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help release the tight burn scars on Nidhi’s right chest and elbow, improving both movement and comfort. The procedure is expected to increase the range of motion in her arm, making everyday activities such as dressing, writing, carrying schoolbooks, and participating in household tasks easier. The surgery will also address the contracture affecting her right breast, allowing for more normal development and reducing the physical discomfort and asymmetry caused by the scar tissue. By reducing the limitations caused by her burn scars, the surgery will allow Nidhi to participate more freely in school, social activities, and her favourite hobby, dancing. Now, she needs help to fund this $1,442 procedure. Nidhi shared, "I hope this treatment will make everyday activities easier for me."

$1,442raised
Fully funded

Kue is a 20-year-old man who lives with his wife and daughter in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. His wife looks after their daughter and also makes and sells snacks twice a week from their home to help earn an income. Kue used to work as a day laborer in neighboring Thai villages but stopped working in July 2025 when he first felt unwell. . On the 12th of January, 2026, Kue was admitted to the hospital in camp due to weakness and pain in his leg. Kue observed that his left leg was smaller than his right leg. He was referred to our medical partner's care center, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, where he underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of his left leg, which showed that he has osteomyelitis in his left femur, septic arthritis in his left hip, and inflammation in his left knee. He underwent a wound debridement surgery and was scheduled to go home on the 16th of February. However, when getting out of bed that day, he heard a snapping sound when he bore weight on his left leg. An X-ray confirmed that his left femur was fractured. He needs surgery to facilitate proper healing. On February 17th, Kue will undergo fracture repair surgery, and he needs help raising $1,500 to fund his procedure and care. Currently, Kue is in pain, and his leg is immobilized in a leg brace. He requires the help of someone to complete daily tasks. In his free time, he likes to fix machines, and he plans to do that in the future. Kue said, “I have been sick for a long time, and now my leg broke when I was about to go home. But I feel relieved that there is someone who can help me receive treatment.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Francis is a 3-month-old from Kenya who needs to undergo surgery to treat hydrocephalus. His father left following his birth, and his mother is working hard on her own to provide for herself and her two children through her job as a caterer for a high school. Francis was diagnosed at birth with a large frontal encephalocele, a neural tube defect, and was referred to BethanyKids, our medical partner's hospital. Upon arrival, the medical team assessed Francis and immediately scheduled him for plastic surgery to address the encephalocele. Francis recovered well following the surgery. However, follow-up scans revealed a buildup of fluid in his brain that was unable to drain naturally, leading to a diagnosis of hydrocephalus. He subsequently underwent a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) insertion. Unfortunately, the shunt malfunctioned just a few days later. Francis is now scheduled for another VP shunt insertion, but his mother is unable to afford the surgery. She shared her disbelief and heartbreak that her son has had to go through these challenges at such an early age. Despite the hardships, the doctors have assured her that they will do everything possible to ensure the best outcome for Francis. Francis has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of his condition, Francis has been experiencing an increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Francis will experience severe physical and developmental delays. On January 7th, he will undergo surgery to drain the excess fluid from his brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Francis will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $719 to cover the cost of surgery to treat the hydrocephalus. Francis's mother said, "I am doing everything I can as a mother, but this surgery is beyond my means. My only prayer is that God touches a kind heart to help my child survive."

$719raised
Fully funded