Managing Partner @PlanetArgon. Traveler.

United States   •   http://www.planetargon.com/robby   •   December 5th   •   Planet Argon
Robby's Story

Robby joined Watsi on July 20th, 2015. Eleven years ago, Robby joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Robby's most recent donation traveled 8,200 miles to support Tewodros, a two-year-old boy from Ethiopia, to fund corrective surgery.

Impact

Robby has funded healthcare for 131 patients in 14 countries.

Patients funded by Robby

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."

$579raised
$619to go

Grace is a two-year-old girl from Burma. She lives in a refugee camp in Mueang Mae Hong Son District, Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. Ten years ago, her parents moved to the camp to escape the fighting in their village in Burma. Grace lives with her parents, older sister, two aunts, uncle, and her uncle’s wife. Grace’s mother raises pigs and chickens to sell in the camp, and her father is a day laborer. Since birth, Grace has had a hernia granuloma. Currently, Grace’s umbilicus produces bloody discharge every day. While Grace does not experience any pain, her mother’s anxiety grows each passing day. Fortunately, on January 19th, Grace will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Grace's hernia repair surgery. The procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. Grace's mother shared, “I worry about what will happen to her if she doesn’t have this issue fixed now. The doctors told us that we needed to go to Chiang Mai for her treatment, which would cost a lot of money. We can't afford that. We don’t know what will happen to her.” Grace’s mom is extremely thankful to the donors for their financial support. She said, “Thank you so much to the donors for helping my child. I want to say so much, but I don’t know what to say. God has finally found a way for my child to receive treatment.”

$1,380raised
$120to go

Kalkidan is a one-year-old girl from Ethiopia. She is a delightful baby girl with a natural curiosity, always eager to explore her surroundings and engage in playful activities with her siblings. As the fourth child in her family, her entrance into the world was marked by a moment of profound distress for her mother; on the day of her birth, Kalkidan's eldest brother was gravely ill and in the ICU. This backdrop of anxiety cast a shadow over her arrival, as her family rallied in hopes of supporting her brother's recovery. Kalkidan lives with her parents and her three siblings, a sister and two brothers, in a rented home. Her mother, a dedicated housewife, manages the household, while her father works as a daily laborer, striving to provide for the family. They often face financial challenges, sometimes prompting her mother to request additional time from the landlord to meet their rent obligations. At one point, their economic struggles led to a separation that lasted for some time as they struggled to feed their children. Their journey to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM), has sparked excitement, as there is a glimmer of hope for medical intervention for Kalkidan's condition. Kalkidan was born with an anorectal malformation, a condition that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. She needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Kalkidan is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct her condition on December 16th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Kalkidan's procedure and care. After her recovery, Kalkidan will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Kalkidan's mother expressed her heartfelt gratitude, stating, "I am profoundly thankful for this invaluable service and the divine support that is about to make it possible for my daughter to undergo her surgery and treatment. May God bless each one of you."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Ma Sway is a 39-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and five children in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. She is originally from Karen State, Burma. She moved to the refugee camp in 2003, due to the fighting in her village in Burma. Her husband works as a farmer, where he plants vegetables around the camp. Ma Sway works from home as a tailor. Four of her children are attending school in the camp, and one is working outside the camp. They receive food rations and cash support from an international aid organization. In March 2024, Ma Sway noticed a painful mass in her left breast. She went to the camp hospital operated by another non-profit, where the doctor provided pain medication that offered some relief. However, in March 2025, she felt weak and felt two firm masses in her left breast. She underwent further tests, where doctors informed her the masses were not cancerous, but she needed surgery to have them removed. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Ma Sway receive treatment. She will undergo mass removal surgery on June 12th at our medical partner's care center, Mae Sariang Hospital. Now, she needs help to raise $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once removed, Ma Sway will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain and worry. Ma Sway shared, “I would like to have the masses in my breast removed because whenever I feel them, I worry they will become cancer.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded