United States   •   https://dannysu.com
Danny's Story

Danny joined Watsi on March 7th, 2015. Eleven years ago, Danny joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Danny's most recent donation traveled 8,200 miles to support Surafel, an 11-year-old boy from Ethiopia, to fund corrective surgery for a birth condition.

Impact

Danny has funded healthcare for 141 patients in 15 countries.

Patients funded by Danny

Surafel is a brave and energetic 11-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing football and spending time with his older brother. He enjoys learning English and dreams of becoming a pilot one day. His father works as a construction worker, while his mother is a homemaker. Despite the challenges they face, his parents do their best to provide a loving and supportive home for their children. Surafel was diagnosed with cryptorchidism, a condition that affects a sensitive area in his body. If left untreated, Surafel has an increased risk of developing hernias, testicular cancer, and fertility problems in the future. Surafel was placed on the hospital’s waiting list for surgery. Later, the hospital liaison office contacted his mother and asked her to bring him to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). For Surafel and his parents, this support has brought reassurance and renewed hope. His mother is grateful that her son has access to the care he needs and is encouraged by the kindness and support they have received throughout the process. Surafel will be receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on October 1st. Surafel and his family need your help in raising $1,073 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Surafel’s parents shared their heartfelt gratitude, saying, “Our greatest wish is to see our son healthy and doing well after the surgery. We are very grateful for the support and care he has received. Thank you to everyone who has helped make this treatment possible. May God bless you all for the kindness and support you have shown our family.”

$812raised
$261to go

Marivic is a 53-year-old mother of two from the Philippines who loves taking long walks and doing household tasks. As a housewife, she dedicates her time to taking care of her family. Their eldest son is the breadwinner of the family, while her husband works as a tricycle driver. Marivic has been diagnosed with breast cancer. She can no longer do strenuous work or heavy lifting due to the size of her breast mass. It often causes her discomfort while moving or doing chores. Her doctor advised her to limit activities that could worsen her condition. Despite these challenges, Marivic remains hopeful that help will come. Without treatment, the cancer may spread to other organs. A mastectomy, a surgery to remove breast tissue, has been suggested to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. Fortunately, our medical partner World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP) is helping Marivic receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a mastectomy on August 29th at Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of her treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP needs your help in raising $990 to cover the remaining cost. After treatment, Marivic will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Marivic shared, "I am deeply grateful for the foundation’s help. Without this free surgery, I do not know when I would have received the treatment I need. This assistance has given me hope and eased the financial burden on my family."

$669raised
$321to go

Dennis is an 18-year-old boy from Kenya. He is being raised by his single mother, who is a casual laborer who relies on seasonal farm work and domestic jobs to provide for Dennis and his three siblings. From infancy, Dennis was a frail child who was frequently ill and required constant care. He experienced significant developmental delays, taking his first steps when he was nearly three years old. While his physical milestones came late, it was his lack of speech that concerned his mother the most. She longed to hear him speak, but Dennis remained unusually quiet. She would talk to him, and he would simply look back at her without responding. Instead of using words, he learned to communicate by lifting or pointing to objects whenever he needed something, a pattern that has continued throughout his life. When Dennis was three years old, he was brought to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where fluid was drained from his ears. Unfortunately, this did not improve his condition. As he grew older, his mother enrolled him in school, but he consistently lagged behind his peers. Over the years, he adapted by relying on lip reading and sign language to communicate. Because of his hearing loss, he depends on watching his teachers' lips closely to follow lessons and understand what is being taught. Despite these challenges, Dennis performed well during his primary school years. However, the transition to secondary school has been much more difficult, as the academic demands have increased. On July 7th, Dennis will be fitted with hearing aids, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is asking for help raising $1,171. The gift of hearing aids would significantly improve Dennis' ability to communicate, participate in class, and reach his full potential. His mother is appealing for support to make this life-changing intervention possible, giving Dennis the opportunity for a brighter and more independent future. "Sometimes when I read aloud in class or say certain words, the other children laugh at me. I want to hear better so I can read and speak with confidence," Dennis said quietly.

$1,171raised
Fully funded

Charles is a 36-year-old father of four from Kenya. Before his illness, Charles operated a small shop selling sausages. Since his injury, he has been unable to run the business effectively, and his wife has taken over the running of the shop to support the family. The income from the business barely meets their basic needs, making it difficult to raise funds for the required surgery. Charles was at his shop in July 2025 when demonstrations broke out, and a crowd raided the building where his shop was located. In an attempt to escape, he was forced to jump from the first floor, landing badly, and severely injuring his right leg. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he underwent a fracture repair surgery. Unfortunately, the wound failed to heal properly. When Charles went to AIC Kijabe Hospital in September 2025, an examination revealed that the wound was severely infected. The metal nail that had been inserted during the initial surgery had to be removed to allow the infection to clear. Since then, Charles has been attending regular follow-up visits for wound cleaning and dressing. During a clinic visit in February 2026, he was finally cleared to undergo another ORIF surgery to stabilize his leg and allow proper healing. Unfortunately, his insurance coverage had already been exhausted and could not cover the required procedure. Charles continues to live in pain. He moves with the help of crutches, and at times the pain becomes unbearable, forcing him to rely on pain medication for relief. He is now reaching out for support so he can undergo surgery and finally heal. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On March 5th, Charles will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him walk easily again and go back to being a provider for his family Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. Charles says, “Sometimes my leg swells so much, that it becomes difficult to move, even with crutches.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Gideon is a 10-year-old boy from Kenya, and the fifth-born in a family of seven children. Gideon’s parents first noticed a problem with his leg when he was only two months old. As he got older, it became evident that he was not developing like other children. Gideon was later diagnosed with hemiplegic cerebral palsy, a condition that affects movement on one side of the body and makes walking difficult. Because of this condition, Gideon has faced many challenges. Although he is 10 years old, he is currently a Grade 1 pupil, whereas he should be in Grade 4. Difficulty in mobility has delayed his education, and limited his ability to play and move freely like other children. Despite these challenges, Gideon is a calm and hopeful child who longs to walk well and enjoy school like his peers. His father works as a herder, while his mother is a housewife who takes care of the family. Gideon’s parents have remained supportive and continue to hope for a better future for their son. His father shared his heartfelt wish, saying, “I want my child’s legs to be treated so that he can walk well like other children.” Gideon has clubfoot of right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Gideon traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on January 6th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Gideon's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will improve his mobility, regain confidence, and continue his education without limitations. “I work hard as a herder, and my greatest hope is that this treatment will help Gideon walk better and go on with his schooling.” Gideon's father said.

$1,286raised
Fully funded

Benyas is a shy four-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He lives in a small, rented house with his mother, grandmother, and two brothers. Life has not been easy for the family. His mother works as a domestic helper, while his father, who lives separately, does casual labor. Despite their hard work, the family often struggles to put enough food on the table. His grandmother, once a strong source of support, had to stop working due to asthma, which added even more strain to their situation. Benyas has been facing several health challenges that have further drained the family’s finances. One particularly difficult day, after experiencing itchiness and pain, he was taken to a hospital that referred him to a larger public hospital. However, the family had to wait long for treatment, leaving them frustrated and anxious. His grandmother was especially distressed, worrying about his future and saddened that Benyas had not yet started school. Just when hope seemed lost, a family friend advised them to visit our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Benyas was diagnosed with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future medical complications. Fortunately, Benyas is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on December 4th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Benya's grandmother said, "My only wish is for good health, education, and stability. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to see him in good health and reflect that after his treatment, I'll see him like other healthy children."

$1,293raised
Fully funded