C

United States
cynthia's Story

cynthia joined Watsi on August 13th, 2013. Four years ago, cynthia joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. cynthia's most recent donation traveled 8,200 miles to support Sittie, an 8-year-old girl from the Philippines, to fund corrective surgery for a birth condition.

Impact

cynthia has funded healthcare for 59 patients in 12 countries.

Patients funded by cynthia

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

Cynthia is a 26-year-old single mother of two young children from Kenya. She has a life of persistent hardship, being the firstborn in her family. This forced her to drop out of school due to a lack of school fees, cutting short her education and limiting her employment opportunities. Currently, she stays with her family, and they largely depend on her for the provision of basic needs. Determined to contribute to her children’s upbringing, she takes on small tailoring jobs, paid on commission. Though the income is minimal and inconsistent, it is the only means Cynthia has to provide essentials for her children. Three weeks ago, tragedy struck while Cynthia was returning home from her daily activities. She was involved in a road traffic accident after her motorcycle's front tire burst, causing her to fall forward and hit the ground forcefully with her chin. The impact left her severely injured and in pain. She was rushed to a nearby health facility, where she received a tetanus injection and pain medication before being referred for further medical care. Upon examination at AIC Kapsowar Hospital, Cynthia was found to have a deep left-sided facial laceration, loose teeth accompanied by bleeding, and significant jaw pain. An X-ray confirmed a non-displaced fracture of the mandible. Due to the nature of the injury, she was taken to the operating room and underwent an emergent open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) with arch bars to stabilise the fractured jaw. Unfortunately, after surgery, her jaw was not properly aligned. Surgical review has determined that she urgently requires a revision ORIF surgery to correct the alignment and restore proper jaw function. Cynthia initially received approval for her first surgery through SHA. However, she has been informed that a repeat ORIF procedure is not covered. Given her financial situation, she is unable to raise the funds required for this revision surgery. As a young mother already struggling to meet daily needs, the burden of medical expenses is beyond her capacity. Cynthia is therefore humbly appealing for support in undergoing the necessary revision surgery. Your assistance will not only restore her health but also enable her to continue caring for her two children, who depend entirely on her. The malalignment has caused her ongoing pain, difficulty chewing, and discomfort while speaking. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On March 3rd, Cynthia will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation revision. Without this corrective procedure, she risks long-term complications, including chronic pain, impaired nutrition due to difficulty eating, infection, and possible permanent deformity. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,014 to fund this procedure. Cynthia says, "I am still in pain. I feel poorly, am not able to even smile, and I pray for a successful recovery to be able to go home and help my family. Please help me."

$1,014raised
Fully funded