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Isabel ShawUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER

Isabel's Story

Isabel joined Watsi on November 28th, 2017. Nine years ago, Isabel joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Isabel's most recent donation supported George, a 10-year-old boy from Kenya, to fund hearing aids.

Impact

Isabel has funded healthcare for 100 patients in 13 countries.

Patients funded by Isabel

George is a 10-year-old boy from Kenya who enjoys playing and learning new things. His mother is a casual worker who earns a small and irregular income from activities such as selling fruits. Her income is often barely enough to meet the family’s basic needs. George was born unable to perceive sound, which has made it difficult for him to make friends and participate in school. He has learned to lip read to communicate, but the limitations have left him feeling isolated in the classroom when the teacher addresses him but he cannot understand what is being asked of him. Doctors have recommended that George be fitted with hearing aids. They would give him an opportunity to improve his ability to access sound and communication, participate more meaningfully in school, interact with his peers, and communicate more easily with his mother and those around him. Fortunately, our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) can help. George is scheduled to be fitted with hearing aids on October 2nd, and he and his family need your help raising $1,171 in order to fund the devices. Hearing aids could help restore George's confidence and give him renewed hope for his education and future. "The hope of one day hearing my son call me ‘Mom’ has been restored,” George’s mother shared.

$994raised
$177to go

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

Alejandro is an 11-year-old boy who lives in Colombia with his family. He is a smart, kind, and very friendly boy who enjoys spending time with the people around him. He dreams of becoming a veterinarian when he grows up, as he has a deep love for animals and wishes to help and protect them. His infectious energy, positive attitude, and kindness leave a special impression on everyone who has the chance to meet him. A year ago, Alejandro developed an umbilical hernia, a condition in which a small portion of abdominal tissue protrudes through the navel. Alejandro has been experiencing pain and discomfort especially when coughing or doing any strenuous activities. Surgery has been recommended to correct the hernia and prevent possible future complications. Fortunately, on August 14th, Alejandro will undergo repair surgery at Clínica Noel. Alejandro's family is requesting support to raise $1,005 to fund Alejandro's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live healthier. Alejandro's mother says, "I am very grateful for your support to my son. It is a tremendous blessing for our family. May God bless you abundantly and multiply all the help and love you give to those who need it most."

$826raised
$179to go

Beatrice is a 46-year-old woman from Malawi. She and her husband have three children. Beatrice sells second-hand clothes to support her family. Five years ago, Beatrice began bleeding profusely and started to experience abdominal pain. She was diagnosed with uterine fibroids and was told that she would need to undergo a hysterectomy. She was booked for surgery on numerous occasions, but the surgeries never took place. Finally, Beatrice was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, where she is now scheduled to undergo a hysterectomy on June 8th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,363 to fund Beatrice's surgery. Beatrice now has hope that the surgical operation will save her life. She believes surgery will help her resume her business and continue being a responsible mother. "I have tried all that I could, but have failed to be considered for surgery in government hospitals; unfortunately, my business cannot support my surgery, but only my family upkeep. Since I am the breadwinner, you are my last hope to save my life," said Beatrice.

$851raised
$512to go

Ye Min is a 19-year-old young man from Burma. He lives with his parents, younger brother, and a younger sister. His father is unemployed due to a previous accident. His mother works as an agricultural day laborer, while his brother looks after their neighbor’s cows, and his sister helps with household chores. Ye Min is unemployed. Their family’s combined monthly income is not enough to cover their daily expenses, and with Ye Min’s medical condition, the family is now indebted to neighbours and friends for loans they've received to help them finance medical and living expenses. Ye Min was diagnosed with a heart condition that requires valve replacement. Heart valves control the flow of blood between chambers, but certain conditions may narrow the heart valve or cause the blood to flow backwards. Normal valve function is necessary to prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Currently, Ye Min experiences significant limitations in his energy and physical capacity. He often has to rest after walking for not more than five minutes. His condition has prevented him from working, and he feels stressed about his health. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help fund a heart valve replacement for Ye Min. The treatment is scheduled to take place on June 27th at our medical partner's care center, Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital. Once completed, Ye Min will hopefully live more comfortably. Ye Min said, “Without surgery, I will not live longer, and now I cannot walk far or work due to my fatigue, which makes me sad.” His mother said, “I leave my son’s life in your hands. I believe that he would have died in Burma if we had not come here to receive surgery with the help of your organization. When I came here, I felt like half of my burden had been lifted when I saw that your staff were kind and caring. I would like to thank you very much ahead of time for being willing to help us.”

$978raised
$522to 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

Kwardun is a three-year-old boy. He is the second oldest in his family and lives in a household where access to specialized healthcare is limited. Kwardun’s mother is responsible for caring for the children while managing household duties. His father financially provides for their family. Kwardun is an energetic and social child who enjoys playing with other kids in the community. However, his clubfoot has affected his ability to walk properly. As he grows older, the deformity has begun to limit his mobility, causing him to tire quickly and struggle to keep up with his peers during play. Without treatment, this condition could worsen and significantly affect his independence and future participation in school. Kwardun was diagnosed with bilateral clubfoot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. The tissues connecting the muscle to the bones are shorter than usual, and this causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Kwardun's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Surgeons will begin clubfoot treatment on February 10th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,171 to fund Kwardun's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he has a strong chance of improved mobility and a more active childhood. Kwardun's father says, “He wants to run and play like the other children, but his foot makes him walk slowly and fall often.”

$1,171raised
Fully funded

Eh is a 14-year-old girl from Burma who lives in an internally displaced persons camp in Karenni State with her sister’s family. She attends school there, where her sister works as a teacher, and her family relies on her brother-in-law’s work to meet their basic needs. Eh’s health challenges began in October 2025, when she developed persistent skin irritation and loss of appetite. At a local clinic, a physician identified signs of jaundice, including yellowing of her skin and eyes, and referred her for further care. Eh’s brother-in-law took her to a hospital at the end of January 2026, where she was diagnosed with a large cyst in her liver. Her doctor explained that the cyst is putting pressure on her liver and causing her symptoms, and that surgery is needed to remove it. Today, Eh continues to experience jaundice, skin irritation, and occasional headaches and stomach pain. Eh sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. She is now scheduled to undergo surgery on March 24th to remove the cyst. Eh's family is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. This procedure will relieve the pressure on Eh's liver and help resolve her symptoms, allowing her to return to her daily life. Eh's brother-in-law says, “I consider Eh as my own daughter, as she has been living with me for six years, and I feel bad for her that she has to suffer from this disease. I also worry for my wife and my son, who are living in the camp while I accompany her [Eh] for her treatment. Thank you to all the organizations that support us with her treatment.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Dave is 31 years old and a farmer from the Philippines. He is the sole caregiver for his father, who has hypertension and gout. He works as a farmer, raising chickens and planting root crops. He admits that his work does not earn much, and his limited income makes it hard for him and his father to meet their daily needs. At times, his siblings help by giving money to pay for electricity, water, and his father’s medicines. Dave first noticed swelling and pain when he was in high school. By the time he reached college, the pain was unbearable. It comes and goes, and each time it happens, he finds it difficult to walk and carry out his daily activities. Dave was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia and needs surgery. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, can help. On January 28th, Dave will undergo hernia repair surgery to address his symptoms and allow him to live more comfortably. He needs help to raise $1,121 to fund his procedure and care. Dave shared, "I have always worried that my hernia would get worse. With surgery, I hope I will no longer feel afraid every day. I want to work properly again and be free from the heavy feeling of constantly wondering when my hernia will act up."

$1,121raised
Fully funded

Paw is a 42-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and four children in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. Her husband is an agricultural day laborer, and all her children go to school in the camp. She is a homemaker. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her children and helping them with their homework. Paw is pregnant, and doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section due to 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 Paw undergo a C-Section on January 16th at our medical partner's care center, Tha Song Yang Hospital. This procedure will cost $1500, and Paw needs your support. Paw said, "I do not have money for my surgery. If you can help me with the surgery cost, thank you very much for that. I will also look for a job as a day laborer when my baby grows up in the future."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Po is a 79-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his daughter and three grandchildren in a refugee camp, in Mae Hong Song Province, Thailand. Originally farmers from a village in Hpapun, Karen State, Burma, Po and his daughter relocated to the camp in 2021 following nearby conflict. Now retired, Po relies on food allowance provided by an international aid agency in the camp. They also receive free accommodation and basic healthcare in the camp which is enough to meet his family’s basic needs. In 2011, Po has had inguinal hernia. Po continues to experience frequent, manually reducible swelling in his left scrotum, with pain and discomfort that worsens when standing, walking, or lifting objects, and particularly when urinating. Fortunately, on December 18th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sariang Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,468 to fund Po's hernia repair surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on December 18th and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Po shares, “This pain and discomfort have been with me for more than a decade, and I’ve grown used to them. I am grateful that soon I might be free from them. At my age, I cannot work again after my treatment, but being pain-free will make my daily life easier. My family will no longer be burdened. Thank you to the donors and BCMF for your help.”

$1,486raised
Fully funded

Roth is 32 years old and lives with his parents in Kampong Speu province, Cambodia. His four siblings have all married and moved out of the family home. Roth helps his parents in the rice fields. In his free time, Roth likes exercising and checking his social media. One year ago, Roth began experiencing pain in his right hip, which has made it difficult for him to walk and to go about his daily activities. The condition appeared to develop naturally, without trauma or accident. He had previously undergone a total hip arthroplasty on his left hip in 2012 at our medical partner's care center, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). Roth decided to travel back to CSC for treatment on his right hip. On November 10th, Roth will undergo a hip replacement procedure. His family can contribute $100, but needs help to raise $1,400 more to fund his procedure and care. After his surgery, Roth should be able to walk without pain and return to work. Roth said: “I hope that I will be able to walk easily and no longer have hip pain, so I can help my parents in the fields again.”

$1,400raised
Fully funded