United States
Lev's Story

Lev joined Watsi on March 12th, 2013. Ten years ago, Lev joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Lev's most recent donation traveled 8,200 miles to support Debi, a seven-year-old boy from Ethiopia, to fund a tonsillectomy.

Impact

Lev has funded healthcare for 146 patients in 15 countries.

Patients funded by Lev

Seven-year-old Debi is a student living in Ethiopia, with his parents and younger sister. Debi's childhood should be full of play and learning, but it has unfortunately been shaped by illness instead. For more than four years, Debi has lived with epilepsy, for which he takes medicine on a daily basis to control his seizures. Over the past year, a second problem has made life even more difficult. His tonsils repeatedly became badly infected, and at one point, his condition grew so severe, that he had to leave his KG 2 class. His education has been on hold ever since. His swollen tonsils keep him in constant discomfort. He has high fevers that return again and again, and he struggles to swallow his food, snores heavily, and is unable to sleep through the night. When the infection flares up, his parents have to rush him to the hospital, and he often stays there for days. The family is also under great strain for other reasons. Last year, Debi's father, a civil servant, was badly hurt in a car accident, and has only recently returned to work after a prolonged absence. His mother finished her studies last year, but has not been able to find a job. For Debi's parents, the cost of caring for him is overwhelming. Each flare-up brings another emergency trip to the hospital, and his seizure medicine is a cost they must meet every month. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Debi, which is scheduled to take place on October 17th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Debi of his symptoms, and helping him to live more comfortably. "We wish to see him strong again, sleeping through the night, and back at school with his friends. That would bring our family so much relief," said Debi's parents.

$209raised
$491to go

Reaksa is 14 years old and a 10th grader from Cambodia. She is the only child in her family and lives with her parents. Her father works as a chef in a restaurant, while her mother works as a cleaner. She enjoys studying Khmer literature, which is her favorite subject at school, and hopes to become a teacher in the future. In her free time, she likes drawing and listening to music. Her favorite foods are sour fish soup and fried vegetables. Around the age of 10, Reaksa's mother first noticed that her daughter’s back was becoming curved. Over the years, the curvature gradually worsened. She now has severe scoliosis, with her spine bending significantly toward the right side and associated kyphosis. Her condition has begun to affect her daily life. She has difficulty walking and sitting for long periods, and the discomfort she experiences while sitting makes it difficult for her to concentrate in class. Despite these challenges, she continues to attend school and work toward her dream of becoming a teacher. Until now, her family has not been able to afford the treatment she needs. Her family learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), through social media and sought treatment. On August 18th, she will undergo posterior spinal fusion (PSF) from T3 to L3, a surgical procedure that uses instrumentation to correct and stabilize the curved portion of her spine. She needs help of $1,500 to help cover the costs of her surgery, the implant, and post-operative care, including physiotherapy. The surgery aims to improve the alignment of her spine and prevent the severe curvature from progressing further. Reaksa's mother said, “I hope this surgery will help manage my daughter’s severe spinal deformity, improve her comfort and posture, and allow her to stay active and continue her studies and daily activities. I want her to feel more confident and comfortable as she grows.”

$995raised
$505to go

Dampi is a 19-year-old girl pursuing her Bachelor's in Political Science from India. Dampi comes from a humble farming family in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh. Her father works as a farmer and her mother is a homemaker. She is the third of four siblings. One of her brothers has started working independently, while the other two are still studying. Dampi has been living with epilepsy since the age of 10 and has been on medication for the condition ever since. In 2023, after returning home from school, she experienced an epileptic episode while cooking. During the fall, a hot utensil overturned onto her, causing severe burn injuries to her right hand and wrist. Dampi was first taken to another hospital for treatment, but her condition did not improve. Her parents later brought her to G.S Memorial Hospital. Although Dampi tries to remain independent and says she can manage her daily activities, her burn injuries continue to cause physical discomfort and restrictions in her day-to-day life. The condition has affected her mobility and comfort, making treatment and surgery important for improving her quality of life. When Dampi learned about our medical partner, G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, she traveled four hours seeking treatment. On May 21st, specialty surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help release the tight scar tissue caused by her burn injuries. This will improve her mobility, comfort, and ability to carry out daily activities more easily. The treatment is also expected to reduce pain and discomfort so Dampi can regain greater confidence and independence in her everyday life. Now, G.S. Memorial is requesting $1,442 to fund her procedure. "I am happy that I am finally getting this surgery," shares Dampi.

$1,442raised
Fully funded

Catherine is a 37-year-old mother of five children in Kenya. Her husband, the family's sole breadwinner, runs a small electronics repair shop. His income supports the family's basic needs and the children's education. Catherine was in good health until four months ago, when she began experiencing persistent headaches that did not subside. She initially took pain medication, but when the pain failed to improve, she sought medical attention. Further medical scans revealed a brain tumor accompanied by fluid buildup, which was responsible for her severe and continuous migraines. Two months later, Catherine’s condition had significantly worsened. She was no longer able to walk independently, and her body gradually became paralyzed. She lost the ability to speak and is now confined to a chair, fully dependent on her husband and children for feeding and movement from one place to another. She underwent a surgical procedure to drain the fluid from her brain and was later referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital this month, for specialized care. Catherine now urgently requires a craniotomy to resect the brain tumor to prevent further neurological damage and deterioration of her condition. Since the onset of her illness in August, the family has endured immense emotional and financial strain. Despite multiple treatments, Catherine has not shown significant improvement. Her health insurance coverage has been exhausted, and the family is unable to raise the funds required for the surgery. Catherine’s family is seeking support to enable her to undergo the needed surgery and begin her journey toward recovery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Catherine receive treatment. On October 18th, she will undergo a craniotomy at AIC Kijabe Hospital. Now, Catherine's family needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Catherine’s daughter says, “Watching our mum go through this has been incredibly painful. We are doing everything we can for her and hold on to hope that she will recover.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded