July 1st
Jason's Story

Jason joined Watsi on December 24th, 2014. Three years ago, Jason joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Jason's most recent donation supported Hana, a one-year-old boy from Ethiopia, to fund corrective surgery for a birth condition.

Impact

Jason has funded healthcare for 51 patients in 11 countries.

Patients funded by Jason

Sudeyes is a 20-month-old boy from Ethiopia. He enjoys spending time with other children, especially playing football. He lives with his mother in the same home as his grandparents, who provide him with additional love and support. As a single mother, Sudeyes’s mother works as a teacher and is committed to providing the best possible care for her son. With the support of her parents, she raises her son in a loving home. Immediately after Sudeyes' birth, healthcare providers informed his mother that he was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, experience uncomfortable symptoms and would be at risk of future complications. The news was overwhelming to his mother, and she feared what it would mean for her son’s future. Before leaving the hospital, she was referred to a specialized facility for further evaluation. When Sudeyes was just two weeks old, his mother took him to the referral hospital, where he was placed on the surgical waiting list. Nearly a year later, he underwent the first stage of his reconstructive surgery. The procedure was successful, but he required a second operation to complete his treatment, and he was placed on a lengthy waiting list. Since the waiting list was lengthy, Sudeyes's mother took him to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). During their visit, the medical team warmly welcomed them, carefully explained his condition, reviewed his previous treatment, and outlined the remaining surgical plan. Their compassionate communication and professional care reassured her, and she felt confident that her son was in capable hands. Fortunately, Sudeyes is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on August 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Sudeyes' mother shared, "I also encourage continued collaboration with government hospitals, where many children and families are waiting and suffering because they cannot access timely surgical care. This partnership gives hope to families like ours and changes children's lives."

$1,293raised
Fully funded

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

Bridgit is a little girl from Kenya. She is the youngest of her three siblings and is from Nairekia Ngale village in Narok County. Bridgit has clubfoot in both her feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Though young, Bridgit's journey has already been marked by pain and rejection. When Bridgit was two years old, her father left the family, unable to accept her disability. This left Bridgit's mum not only heartbroken, but also burdened with the full responsibility of providing for her children. With no stable income, she began working on other people’s farms to earn a small wage. The work is exhausting and unpredictable, but she perseveres each day for the sake of her children. There were moments of uncertainty, yet Bridgit's mum chose not to give up. Instead, she gathered strength and pressed on with faith. Hope came unexpectedly. One day, as Bridgit was playing in the village, church elders noticed her condition and felt compelled to help. They invited her mum to church and shared about the services offered at CURE International. Moved by her situation, the church congregation contributed funds for transport and ensured that Bridgit could travel for a medical review. At CURE Children's Hospital of Kenya, doctors assessed Bridgit and enrolled her in serial casting as preparation for corrective surgery. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital, will perform clubfoot repair surgery for Bridgit on March 2nd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Bridgit's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk, run, and play without difficulty. She will have the chance to join school and build friendships confidently. Her restored mobility will not only change her physical life, but also rebuild her self-esteem. “I am looking forward to seeing my child healed. When she gets better, I will give 10% to God as a thanksgiving offering,” Bridgit's mum told us.

$1,286raised
Fully funded

Celestine is a 28-year-old single mother of one child, living in Elgeyo Marakwet County in Kenya. She works as an informal teacher at a nearby primary school, under the Parents Teachers Association. Her income is KES 10,000 per month which she uses to support herself, her family and her child. Despite the challenges, she saves whenever possible and has a dream of one day she will be be formally employed, buy a cow and start practicing farming to improve her livelihood. For the past month, Celestine has been confined to a hospital bed. Her illness began after she slipped and injured her leg while crossing a river on her way home. Believing the injury to be minor, she did not seek urgent care and instead visited a nearby dispensary where her leg was dressed, and she was given some medications. Three days later, her leg became increasingly swollen and painful. She sought care at another facility, but as her condition worsened, she finally went to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital, where she was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, a rapidly progressive inflammatory infection that kills the body's soft tissues. Celestine was taken urgently to the theatre and underwent surgical debridement of the infected limb, and the procedure was successful. Postoperatively, she was managed in the ward with regular wound care and placed on a wound vacuum to promote healing. A further debridement was planned, and her wound has since become clean and suitable for definitive coverage with a flap and skin graft to allow proper healing and recovery. Unfortunately, Celestine's prolonged hospital stay has accumulated significant medical bills. Celestine is therefore seeking support to help her complete her treatment, regain her health, and return to caring for her child and rebuilding her life. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Celestine receive treatment. On January 6th, surgeons at their care center will perform a contracture release surgery and skin graft, to promote wound coverage and bring her closer to discharge. Now, Celestine needs help to fund this $1,239 procedure. Celestine says, "I thank God for bringing me this far, and I see that I am approaching full closure of my wound. My doctor and the team are dedicated to make sure that my wound is getting better. I am hopeful that this will bring me closer to healing. I look forward to getting better so that I go back to teaching."

$1,239raised
Fully funded