Laurence RobertsUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER

United Kingdom   •   August 2nd
Laurence's Story

Laurence joined Watsi on December 9th, 2014. Twelve years ago, Laurence joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Laurence's most recent donation traveled 4,500 miles to support Peter, a plumber from Kenya, to fund fracture repair surgery.

Impact

Laurence has funded healthcare for 136 patients in 15 countries.

Patients funded by Laurence

Abera is a 68-year-old man from Ethiopia. He is retired and a devoted father to two grown daughters. He is currently navigating the complex aftermath of post-trauma contraction, which has deeply affected both his emotional and physical well-being. Despite these challenges, he continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience, actively seeking support to aid his recovery and preserve his quality of life. Around 30 years ago, while cutting metal, Abera suffered a severe accident that injured his right hand. He is currently grappling with the long-term consequences of an injury sustained nearly three decades ago. Although he received medical attention within an hour at a nearby healthcare facility, the trauma led to the gradual development of post-trauma contraction in the affected hand. This condition has significantly compromised his ability to carry out everyday tasks—he now struggles to grasp objects and is unable to perform simple activities, such as washing his face. The ongoing physical limitations have not only disrupted his daily life but have also taken a toll on his emotional well-being, as he continues to confront the enduring impact of the injury. When Abera learned about our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, he traveled for one hour seeking treatment. On October 17th, surgeons will perform a contracture release surgery to help him hold things more easily and give him the confidence to socialize and greet others without hesitation. Now, he needs help to fund this $500 procedure. Abera shared, "I still hope that with ongoing treatment, my hand will get better. Even small changes would make a big difference in my daily life and help me feel more like myself again."

$500raised
Fully funded

Sophun is an 11-year-old student from Cambodia. He has two younger siblings: an eight-year-old brother who is in grade three and a nine-month-old baby brother. His favorite subjects are Khmer and mathematics, and he hopes to become a teacher someday. Both of his parents work as rice farmers in Kampong Cham province. At home, Sophun enjoys playing hide-and-seek with other children from the village. He particularly likes eating fried noodles that his mother prepares using fresh vegetables from their small garden in the backyard. Five years ago, Sophun had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the eardrum, in his right ear to perforate. For this reason, Sophun experiences chronic ear discharge, which makes it difficult for him to hear what others are saying. This condition makes it hard for Sophun to hear clearly, especially when people are talking to him. This affects his ability to learn in school and communicate with others. He is embarrassed that he cannot hear well and has become shy around others. Sophun traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On July 8th, he will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in his right ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $363 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Sophun said, "I hope after the surgery, I can hear again and know what people are saying to me."

$363raised
Fully funded