Vivek RaghuramUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER

United States
Vivek's Story

Vivek joined Watsi on September 19th, 2016. Ten years ago, Vivek joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Vivek'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

Vivek has funded healthcare for 122 patients in 14 countries.

Patients funded by Vivek

Mohammed is a playful and intelligent seven-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing football, running, and spending time with his friends. He is a first-grade student and the second child in his family. Mohammed has one older brother and two younger sisters. His father works as a daily laborer, while his mother is a housewife. The family lives in a rented house and faces financial challenges. Mohammed was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. When Mohammed was about one year old, they took him to a nearby health center. After examining him, the doctor advised the family to return when he was older, explaining that surgery could be performed at a later age. The family returned home, but as Mohammed grew older, they became increasingly concerned that the condition could affect his future. Fortunately, Mohammed is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on August 17th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. After surgery, he should be able to live more comfortably. Mohammed's father shared, "Thank you so much to everyone for listening to our concerns and responding to our needs. We are deeply grateful to all the staff for your kindness, care, and support. My prayer is that Mohammed will recover well, continue his education, enjoy good health, and have a stable and successful future. May God bless you all."

$769raised
$524to go

Daw Win is a 66-year-old woman from Burma who lives with her daughter, grandson, and two granddaughters in Phop Phra District, Tak Province, Thailand. In 2022, the family fled their home in Bago Division, Burma, to escape nearby conflict. Daw Win is a homemaker, and her grandchildren are students. Her daughter is a teacher and also picks up work as a day labourer during school holidays. In late December 2025, Daw Win started experiencing lower abdominal pain and pressure around the mass when sitting. She has frequent urination and cannot sit for long periods of time due to the pain, preferring to lie down on her side. She has been diagnosed with a uterine myoma. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Daw Win's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Daw Win is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on June 11th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, this surgery will help Daw Win be free from pain and discomfort, and she will be able to spend time with her family and help with household chores comfortably. Daw Win said, "After surgery, I will return home to help with household chores and take care of my grandkids so that my daughter can go back to work full-time. Thank you so much to this organization and the donors for being willing to support my treatment.”

$995raised
$505to go

Susan is a six-year-old girl from Kenya. From an early age, Susan experienced delayed developmental milestones. She was only able to sit at eight months and did not begin walking until she was two years old. As she grew, her parents noticed that she had difficulty speaking and pronouncing words. They hoped that, with time, she would improve, but the challenges persisted. Her parents enrolled her in school, believing that interacting with other children would help her learn to communicate better. Unfortunately, Susan continued to struggle both academically and socially. While her peers progressed to the next grade, she had to repeat a class because she was unable to keep up with communication and learning activities. Seeking help, her family first took her to a nearby hospital, and later, through a friend’s recommendation, she was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. After undergoing audiology assessments, Susan was diagnosed with severe hearing loss. The major reason she cannot speak clearly is that she is unable to hear properly. When her parents learned the cost of hearing aids, they were worried. Susan’s father depends on casual construction and farming jobs to provide for his wife and their three children, while her mother works as a waitress at a local food joint. Despite working tirelessly, the family cannot afford the support Susan urgently needs. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Susan receive treatment. On 21st May, she will be fitted with hearing aids that will improve her hearing. With consistent speech therapy, her communication skills will also improve, so she catch up with her peers. Now, Susan's parents are seeking support to raise $1,171, to aid in treatment for their daughter's hearing, help her find her voice, and continue her education with confidence alongside other children her age. Susan’s mother says, “Susan is a very active and bright child, but because she cannot hear properly, she struggles to keep up with other children her age. Being able to hear would help her speak more clearly, interact confidently, and progress well in her education.”

$1,171raised
Fully funded

Athalya is a little girl whose smile brightens the spirits of everyone around her. Despite her young age, she shows a special sensitivity when it comes to caring for others. She deeply enjoys music and dance. Athalya dreams of becoming a dancer one day, moving freely and joyfully to the rhythm of her favorite songs. Athalya lives in the town of Rionegro, Antioquia, with her parents, who lovingly support her at every stage of her development. However, about ten months ago, Athalya began experiencing oral discomfort that disrupted her daily routine. After seeing a dentist, she was diagnosed with dentin caries, a condition that began to affect her oral health and also her overall well-being. The pain and discomfort caused by this condition made everyday activities such as eating, concentrating, and fully enjoying her games increasingly difficult. This caused concern among Athalya's family, who sought specialized care to prevent the situation from worsening further. Following a comprehensive evaluation by the dental team, it was determined that, given the extent of the damage and Athalya's age, the safest and most effective treatment should be performed under general anesthesia. This decision made it possible to plan a comprehensive procedure focused on properly restoring Athalya's oral health without causing her any distress. Fortunately, Athalya will get the procedure she needs under anesthesia on April 29th. Our medical partner, Clínica Noel, is requesting $1,109 to help fund her care. Her mother kindly shared, "For Athalya, this treatment represents an opportunity for relief and recovery. It is hoped that it will not only eliminate her physical pain, but also restore her peace of mind when eating, the energy to learn, and the confidence to continue dancing, smiling, and dreaming. Thank you for being part of this process and for lending us a helping hand at such a crucial moment for her health and well-being. May God multiply your kindness and bless you always for everything you do from the heart."

$1,109raised
Fully funded

Hnin is a 65-year-old woman who lives with her two daughters and two granddaughters in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. The family is originally from Bago Division in Burma. Hnin is retired, while one of her daughters works in a garment factory, and the other is a homemaker; her granddaughters are both students. The family income is not always enough to cover the cost of their daily expenses, so they sometimes need to borrow money from their neighbors, or the working daughter takes an advance on her paycheck from the factory where she works. The family lives with another couple that helps in paying rent, but they do not share any other resources. Due to Hnin’s health condition, they have had to borrow money for treatment and transportation costs. In 2010, Hnin was in a motorbike accident where she injured both knees. She went to a local clinic, but they did not perform an x-ray or examination, they only gave her medication for the pain. After the accident, Hnin’s knees would occasionally cause her pain, which she would treat with pain medication and traditional Burmese medicine. In January 2023, Hnin’s knee pain became worse, and her knees swelled, so she went to Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) in Mae Sot where she was given pain medication, and referred to physiotherapy. However, the physiotherapy and follow-up appointments at MTC did not help much. The pain in her knees was worsening, so she stopped going but continued treating the pain with medication and traditional medicine. In January 2026, Hnin began having shaky legs when standing, and her knees were increasingly stiff, so she went to Mae Sot Hospital (MSH) in Mae Sot on 2nd February 2026. There she underwent an x-ray and was told that she had osteoarthritis in her knees which has progressed to last stage, and only surgery would help. She was given medication, a cane, and a follow-up appointment with an orthopaedic surgeon. When she attended her appointment, she underwent another x-ray, and the doctor explained about her severe osteoarthritis and advised surgery. As she can only undergo surgery one knee at a time, the doctor advised her to have surgery on her right knee, since it was causing her the most pain. Presently, Hnin spends much of her time lying down or sitting and cannot help with most housework. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Hnin receive treatment. On March 12th, she will undergo surgery to relieve pain and improve her mobility. Now, Hnin's family needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. She says, "After treatment and recovery, I look forward to going to the monastery to meditate again, as I used to do this before my knees caused me so much trouble. Thank you for your support for my treatment”.

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Brian is 10 years old and a student from Kenya. He is the youngest of four children. He was born with a condition known as Hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy (CP), which has greatly affected his mobility. Brian cannot walk and only crawls from one place to another. This has made daily activities difficult for him and his family. After his birth, his mother was referred to a nearby hospital for specialized care. Brian underwent several physiotherapy sessions, hoping to see improvement. Unfortunately, his condition did not get better. As a widow, Brian’s mother works tirelessly, taking on casual jobs like crushing stones into ballast and selling them, to provide for her family. Despite the hardship, she has never given up on finding help for her son. Brian attends a special school within their village that supports children with different disabilities. Brian was diagnosed with clubfoot on his right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Brian traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on February 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Brian's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk on his feet, play with other children, become more independent, and continue with his education without limitations. “When I first learned about my son’s condition, I was in great shock. I did not know what the future would look like for him,” Brian’s mother recalls softly. She added, I hope to see my son receive treatment, walk on his own, play and interact freely with other children, and continue with his education without any challenges.”

$1,286raised
Fully funded

Enifa is a 25-year-old woman from Malawi. She is married and a mother of two children, ages six and ten. Together with her husband, she supports her family through tomato farming. Enifa had been in good health until 2024, when her husband noticed changes in her neck and encouraged her to seek medical care. As the swelling in her neck increased, she made several hospital visits. In early 2025, after the growth became more pronounced, she was diagnosed with a goiter. Her symptoms continued to progress despite ongoing care. In December 2025, as her condition worsened further, Enifa was taken to our medical partner care center, Partners In Health. for further evaluation. There, she was assessed by a surgeon who conducted the necessary tests and confirmed the diagnosis of goiter, as well as the need for surgical treatment through a procedure known as a thyroidectomy. This surgery involves removing part or all of the thyroid gland, depending on findings at the time of surgery. The thyroid gland is located at the front of the neck and produces hormones essential for metabolism, growth, and many other bodily functions. Over the past fourteen months, Enifa has experienced increasing symptoms, including neck pain, difficulty carrying heavy items on her head, and episodes of choking at night. Surgery is recommended to prevent further worsening of these symptoms and to restore her quality of life. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Enifa receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on January 13th at Partners in Hope Medical Center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1015, and she and her family need help raising money. Enifa hopes that the surgery will restore her health so she can continue caring for her children and resume her farming work. “The choking at night is terrifying me, and I am afraid of death; please help me, I have young kids." said Enifa.

$1,015raised
Fully funded