Sarah PattersonUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER
Sarah's Story

Sarah joined Watsi on January 9th, 2021. Three years ago, Sarah joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Sarah's most recent donation supported Gabriel, a young boy from Kenya, to fund clubfoot treatment to heal his birth condition.

Impact

Sarah has funded healthcare for 39 patients in 8 countries.

Patients funded by Sarah

Naw Aye is a 28-year-old woman who lives with her husband, son, sister-in-law, brother, two nephews, and two nieces in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. Originally from across the Burmese border in a conflict-area called Karen State, she fled to the refugee camp with her family in February 2023 due to airstrikes on her village. Her husband and her brother are unemployed, while her son, nieces, and nephews go to school. She and her sister-in-law are homemakers. During her free time, she loves to play with her son and enjoys planting vegetables in her small garden. She is currently expecting her second child. Her doctors recommended that she deliver via cesarean section because In January 2020, when Naw Aye was pregnant with her first child, her water broke prematurely which put her baby's life at risk. She was brought to a hospital in Burma, where she gave birth to her son through a caesarean section (C-section). In February, after they had fled to the refugee camp, Naw Aye became pregnant. She went to the hospital in the refugee camp regularly for antenatal care. She was told during one of her visits that although her pregnancy was going well, she would need to give birth through a C-section to ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, will help ensure a safe C-section on November 3rd. This procedure costs $1500, and Naw Aye needs your support. “I want to sell sacks or Mohinga (Burmese soup) for extra income soon. But I don’t have enough cash to start doing that, and I am pregnant. I hope I can do that after I give birth,” Naw Aye said.

$1,122raised
$378to go

Phillip, a charming 3-year-old, lives with his parents and eight siblings in a remote village in Tanzania. His parents work as farmers; their daily life revolves around the cultivation of maize and finger millet, which sustains their meals and provides a modest income for their family’s necessities. Phillip was born with clubfoot in his right foot, and three of his siblings and his father were also born with this condition. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape, which causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Phillips’s father, who is aging and experiences clubfoot like Phillip, cannot work extended hours, so Phillip’s mother works diligently on the farm to ensure abundant harvests. Due to limited knowledge about this condition, his family did not previously seek treatment; however, one day, a glimmer of hope emerged when Phillip’s father met a boy who had the same condition but has now fully recovered. Upon learning about our medical partner’s care center, Phillip’s father was filled with hope and optimism and hurried home to share the information with his wife. Together, they decided to bring their son, Phillip, and three of his siblings to our medical partner’s care center. Happily, on October 6th, Phillip will begin clubfoot treatment. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $935 to fund Phillip’s surgery. After treatment, Phillip will experience improved mobility now and in the future. Phillip’s mother said, “I am glad there is a chance for my child to get treatment. I hope he doesn’t get to live with this disability for the rest of his life.”

$935raised
Fully funded

Juan, an 11-month-old boy from Bolivia, lives with his mother and five older siblings in a neighborhood in the mountains above La Paz. Juan was born with a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect, in which a hole exists between the two lower chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through his lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving him weak and making it difficult for him to gain weight. To address Juan's condition, congenital heart surgery is the only viable treatment option. Skilled doctors at Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría will perform the surgery by closing the hole in his heart using a patch. However, due to Juan's low weight, the surgeons have determined that it is unsafe to proceed with the procedure. As a result, he will be hospitalized for several weeks before the surgery to receive proper nutritional support, enabling him to gain weight and prepare for the operation. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is actively seeking your generous support to raise $1,500 to support Juan's cardiac care. Your contribution will play a vital role in enabling Juan to receive the life-changing congenital heart surgery he urgently requires. By partnering with Haiti Cardiac Alliance and making a financial contribution, you can make a significant difference in Juan's life and overall well-being. Juan's mother shared, "I am very hopeful that after this surgery, my son will gain appetite and start growing and gaining weight more normally!"

$1,500raised
Fully funded