United States
Chris' Story

Chris joined Watsi on April 23rd, 2015. Eleven years ago, Chris joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Chris' most recent donation traveled 8,200 miles to support Amanuel, a nine-year-old boy from Ethiopia, to fund corrective surgery.

Impact

Chris has funded healthcare for 150 patients in 15 countries.

Patients funded by Chris

Amanuel is a cheerful nine-year-old boy from Ethiopia, who loves caring for animals. He also likes riding his bicycle and playing with other children, especially his younger sister. Amanuel lives with his parents and his youngest sister and is the third child in the family. His older brother and sister live with the family's relatives. Amanuel’s father works as a daily laborer in construction, while his mother is a home maker. Although his father tries to support the family, they sometimes struggle to meet medical expenses. To help with household needs, Amanuel’s mother occasionally bakes injera, a traditional bread, for sale. Amanuel’s mother was unaware of his condition until he was three years old. During a visit to a health center, the doctor noticed that Amanuel’s right testicle had not descended. He explained the condition to Amanuel’s mother, and advised waiting to see if the testicle would descend naturally. If it did not, a hospital referral would be necessary. At the time, Amanuel’s mother was overwhelmed, as she had just given birth to her youngest daughter, and felt anxious about the situation. As a result, she did not take him to the hospital. Over the next five years, she worried about her son’s condition, hoping for the right opportunity to seek help. Eventually, she returned to the health center, and after further consultations, they were referred to a larger hospital. After a six-month wait, Amanuel’s mother received a call from the referral hospital informing her that they needed to go to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM) for further evaluation. After a thorough assessment by the BKMCM staff, the hospital scheduled a surgical appointment for Amanuel, marking a hopeful step toward addressing his condition. Amanuel was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Amanuel has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Amanuel is receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. He is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on December 18th at BKMCM. Now, Amanuel's family needs help to raise $754 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Amanuel's mother said, "I hope that my child will be healthy, allowing me to sleep peacefully. I am deeply grateful to BKMCM and the generous donors for their incredible service in making this possible."

$754raised
Fully funded

Manich is a seven-year-old student from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She is the youngest of three children, with her older brother in university and her older sister in 9th grade. Manich's father works in construction, and her mother runs a small grocery business in front of their home. Manich enjoys studying, and her favorite subject is Khmer history. During her free time, she enjoys playing outdoor games with her friends in the village and eating her favorite food - her mother's fried pork with rice. Manich was born with torticollis, a condition characterized by an involuntary contraction of the neck muscles, which causes her head to tilt or turn to one side. This condition can cause pain, stiffness, and an abnormal head position, making her neck appear rotated at an angle. Manich feels shy about her appearance, and her mother is concerned about potential health complications in the future. After hearing about Children's Surgical Center from a villager, her mother brought her to our medical partner's hospital, hoping to find treatment. Manich must undergo a tendon and nerve repair procedure to help regain strength and mobility. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Center, is helping Manich receive this tendon and nerve repair treatment on October 17th. The procedure costs $701, and Manich and her family need your support. Manich's mother said, "After the surgery, I hope that my daughter will have a normal neck like other children so that she can be confident, and I won't have to worry about future problems."

$701raised
Fully funded

Aung is a 13-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his mother, two older siblings in Myawaddy, Karen State, Burma. Aung’s mother works as a laundry worker while his older sister works as a homemaker. Both Aung and his brother are students. Their family’s total income is not enough to cover their daily expenses and basic health care services. They can barely afford food and have to borrow money from a neighbor to meet their needs. In April 2025, Aung started experiencing trouble breathing due to a blockage in his left nostril, so he and his mother visited a clinic in Myawaddy on 27 April 2025. The doctor from the clinic diagnosed him with sinusitis and prescribed nasal drops and oral medications. Unfortunately, his symptoms did not improve. During their follow-up visit, the doctor explained that the growth in Aung's nostril requires surgery. Aung was referred to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital, where the doctors recommend surgery to remove the polyp to remove any blockages in the sinuses and improve airflow through the nose. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 for this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on June 5th, and once completed, this procedure will hopefully alleviate his symptoms. Aung's mother said, "I cannot express how thankful I am. Because of you, my son’s health conditions will improve. I would be happy to help in any way I can, to show my appreciation.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Michael is a 45-year old DJ from the Philippines. He lives with his mother and his daughter, and though he has siblings, they have their own families. His siblings provide them with some assistance, particularly in contributing to shared household expenses such as electricity and water bills. Michael earns money through working as a DJ from 6:00 PM to 3:00 AM. His job has become his family's main source of daily living expenses. The nature of his work and financial obligations have prevented him from taking a leave of absence, which would be required for treatment and post-operative recovery. One year ago, Michael began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe back pain, which he describes as intense and unbearable. When the pain became severe, he was rushed to a nearby emergency facility. Despite medical advice, Michael was unable to undergo the recommended surgery at the time of diagnosis. He expressed concern about the financial implications, considering that he’s the family’s breadwinner. Michael has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, his symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. Our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Michael receive treatment. He is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on August 15th. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $1,031 to cover the cost of Michael's surgery and care. Michael says: "I am in deep gratitude for any help that may be extended to me. I hope that, with the operation, I can regain my health and continue working without enduring constant pain."

$1,031raised
Fully funded