United States
Linnea's Story

Linnea joined Watsi on October 17th, 2022. Three years ago, Linnea joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Linnea's most recent donation traveled 8,700 miles to support Jovin, a one-month-old baby boy from Tanzania, to fund clubfoot treatment.

Team
Impact

Linnea has funded healthcare for 53 patients in 11 countries.

Patients funded by Linnea

Roland is a 36-year-old father from the Philippines. He has been living with a fistula for about 15 years. Initially, his symptoms were sporadic and self-resolving. However, flare-ups have become frequent, occurring every two months for the past two years. These episodes cause pain, fatigue, and difficulty sitting, forcing Roland to adjust his daily routine. After Roland traveled to our medical partner's care center, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, surgery was recommended to relieve his symptoms. While this has brought Roland hope, the estimated cost remains beyond his financial capacity, leaving him reliant on antibiotics for temporary relief. Despite his condition, Roland continues to support his family by helping run their small clothing business and taking on electrical work on the side. His condition limits his ability to fully participate in work, leisure activities, and caring for his children. His family strongly believes surgery would restore his quality of life, reduce recurring medical expenses, and ease the financial strain. Fortunately, Roland is scheduled to receive surgery on March 20th at the World Surgical Foundation Philippines. Our medical partner, Our Lady of Peace Hospital, is requesting $1,198 to fund this treatment. Access to surgical treatment would allow Roland to regain comfort, resume normal activities, and provide more stability for his household. Roland shared, "I’m looking forward to playing basketball again without pain and being able to sit comfortably while spending time with my children."

$1,198raised
Fully funded

Hongseng is a 17-year-old student from Cambodia. He lives in a small village with his parents. His father is a carpenter, and his mother works in a garment factory. He is the third of four siblings; his two older brothers are university students, and his younger sister is 13 months old. He studies in Grade 10 and enjoys mathematics. In his free time, he likes playing football with friends and doing homework. His favorite food is soup (especially lemongrass sour soup), and he hopes to become a teacher in the future. Early in February, Hongseng was involved in a high-speed motorcycle-to-motorcycle traffic accident, resulting in a closed fracture of his right leg with a wound above his kneecap. He is unable to walk, experiences significant pain and stiffness, and has been forced to miss school. The injury makes it difficult for him to perform daily activities independently. Following the accident, his relatives brought him to a Kru Khmer (traditional healer), where herbal medicine was applied, and the injured leg was bandaged with two bamboo splints for support. However, his condition did not improve, and a neighbor advised the family to seek further treatment the next day. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner's care facility, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On February 9th, Hongseng will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will help him walk again without pain, restore mobility to his right leg, and allow him to return to school and continue his education. His family can contribute $100 but needs help raising $500 more to fund his procedure and care. Hongseng's mother says, “After the surgery, I hope my son will be able to walk again without pain and return to school to continue his studies.”

$500raised
Fully funded

Gideon is a 10-year-old boy from Kenya, and the fifth-born in a family of seven children. Gideon’s parents first noticed a problem with his leg when he was only two months old. As he got older, it became evident that he was not developing like other children. Gideon was later diagnosed with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, a condition that affects movement on one side of the body and makes walking difficult. Because of this condition, Gideon has faced many challenges. Although he is 10 years old, he is currently a Grade 1 pupil, whereas he should be in Grade 4. Difficulty in mobility has delayed his education, and limited his ability to play and move freely like other children. Despite these challenges, Gideon is a calm and hopeful child who longs to walk well and enjoy school like his peers. His father works as a herder, while his mother is a housewife who takes care of the family. Gideon’s parents have remained supportive and continue to hope for a better future for their son. His father shared his heartfelt wish, saying, “I want my child’s legs to be treated so that he can walk well like other children.” Gideon has clubfoot of right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Gideon traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on January 6th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Gideon's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will improve his mobility, regain confidence, and continue his education without limitations. “I work hard as a herder, and my greatest hope is that this treatment will help Gideon walk better and go on with his schooling.” Gideon's father said.

$1,286raised
Fully funded

Wien is an 11-year-old boy from South Sudan, whose family struggles to make ends meet. His parents depend on farming to provide for their four children, and they can barely cover their basic needs. Of their four children, only one is enrolled in school. Wien, who is now 11 years old, has not had the chance to attend school because of the family’s financial challenges. In early November 2025, Wien was playing with friends when he slipped and fell, injuring his right arm. The pain was so intense that he couldn’t move his arm at all, and he was rushed to a nearby hospital. Initial scans revealed that part of his arm was broken, and he would need surgery to repair it. Wien comes from a rural part of South Sudan, where local health facilities provide only basic first aid and lack the resources for specialized care, such as surgery. As a result, Wien's arm was bandaged, and he was sent home in excruciating pain. Unable to use his arm, Wien became entirely dependent on others for daily tasks; someone had to bathe him and help him dress. This was especially difficult for Wien, who is almost a teenager, already self-conscious about his growing independence. Due to the lack of specialized care in their area, Wien’s parents couldn’t afford the treatment he needed, and without intervention, Wien risked losing the full use of his right arm, potentially remaining handicapped for life. Thankfully, in December 2025, Wien was able to travel to our facility with the help of well-wishers. After a thorough examination, doctors confirmed that he required a fracture repair surgery. Unfortunately, the cost of the surgery remains out of reach for his family, who are seeking support so he can undergo the surgery Wien needs. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Wien receive treatment. On December 11th, he will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help relieve his pain, repair the fracture, and restore functionality to his arm. Now, Wien's family needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Wien says, “I have to rely on someone to help me bathe and get dressed, and my hand is especially painful at night.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded