timothy's Story

timothy joined Watsi on June 24th, 2014. Ten years ago, timothy joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. timothy's most recent donation traveled 8,800 miles to support Mey, a five-year-old girl from Cambodia, for nerve and tendon repair surgery.

Impact

timothy has funded healthcare for 24 patients in 8 countries.

Patients funded by timothy

Rahab is a 38-year-old teacher who lives with her husband and two children—ages eight years and 10 months—in their two-room rental home in Kenya. “Rahab felt a lump on her right breast and went to a hospital for diagnosis in March 2015,” our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMHF), tells us. “After a biopsy, Rahab was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had to stop breastfeeding as she started chemotherapy sessions.” Now, “Rahab has a lump on her left breast,” continues AMHF. “She feels some pain even after chemotherapy sessions.” Rahab and her husband, who is also a teacher, have drained their savings to pay for her chemotherapy, and they have had to rely on loans from their friends to continue treatment. Because Rahab is unable to breastfeed her 10-month-old baby, the family has had to purchase formula, which is expensive. Rahab’s doctors have recommended that she undergo a bilateral mastectomy. While she is physically and emotionally prepared for the procedure, she is not able to raise enough money to pay for it. Without surgery, “The risk of cancer spreading to other parts of Rahab’s body will be high,” explains AMHF. “This might result in premature death.” $740 pays for a mastectomy for Rahab as well as the costs of six days of hospital care, pain medicine, and blood tests. “After this surgery, chances of cancer spreading to other parts of Rahab’s body will be reduced,” says AMHF. Rahab looks forward to a successful operation. “I want to get well and live long enough to raise my little children,” she shares.

$740raised
Fully funded

Phete is a seventeen-year-old young woman from Haiti. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), shares, “she is an excellent student and would like to go to medical school. When not in school she enjoys singing in her church choir, and spending time with her friends.” Phete has had difficulty pursuing these dreams due to a congenital heart defect. “She was born with a heart defect called patent ductus arteriosus, in which a hole remains open between the aorta and the pulmonary artery, allowing blood to pass through without obtaining oxygen,” HCA explains. “In developed countries, this would be fixed in the first few months of life," HCA reports. However, "Phete has been living with it into adulthood, depriving her body of the oxygen and blood flow it needs. This leaves her fatigued and sickly.” University Hospital of Martinique is subsidizing Phete's treatment with a $7,500 donation. For $1,500, we can provide overseas preparation and transportation for Phete. Surgery will consist of a small cut between her ribs to reach her heart, allowing for repair of the open duct. "Following closure of the defect, Phete should be able to live a normal life with no further symptoms from her heart condition,” HCA explains. With better overall health and restored energy, Phete will be able to enjoy her studies and friends, while continuing on her path to become a doctor. Phete tells us, "I have been worried about my heart problem for many years, and I want to thank everyone who is going to help fix it for me!"

$1,500raised
Fully funded