Chief of Growth & Engagement @ Watsi

United States
Emily's Story

Emily joined Watsi on February 3rd, 2024. Two years ago, Emily joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Emily's most recent donation traveled 8,800 miles to support Mi, a motorcycle repairman from Cambodia, to fund hip replacement surgery.

Team

Watsi

21 members

Impact

Emily has funded healthcare for 58 patients in 11 countries.

Patients funded by Emily

Hser is a 43-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her two daughters and her husband in a refugee camp in Umphang District, Tak Province, Thailand. Her family is originally from Karen State, Burma, but fled to the camp due to the fighting in their homeland. In the camp, her older daughter is a teacher while her younger daughter is a student. Her husband sometimes works as agriculture day laborer outside of the camp, while she is a homemaker. In October 2025, Hser started to notice a mass on her left breast. The mass was very small, so she thought it might go away by itself. But a few weeks later, the mass was still there, prompting her to go to the clinic in the camp. She was referred to a bigger hospital, where doctors informed her she may have cancer and would need surgery to prevent the cancer from spreading. However, she did not have the financial resources to undergo surgery. In August 2026, the mass started to grow bigger and cause her pain. She visited our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital, where doctors informed her she needs to undergo a mastectomy, surgery to remove her breast. Fortunately, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, can help. On September 1st, Hser will undergo surgery, and she needs help raising $1,500 to help cover the cost of her procedure and care. Hser said, "When I learned that I have cancer, I started to worry - and even though I receive surgery, will I recover from it? When it started to be painful, I thought I would need surgery so that it wouldn't be painful anymore. When I heard from my daughter that there is an organization that could support me with surgery costs, I feel a bit better. If not for the support from donors, I would give up on surgery and choose to suffer, as I know my family could not afford it."

$1,018raised
$482to go

Heak is 60 years old and a hardworking rice farmer from Cambodia. She lives with her niece, who is a Grade 12 student. She is the seventh of ten siblings, all of whom are married. Her parents passed away during the Khmer Rouge era. Despite many hardships in life, she continues to support herself through rice farming. In her free time, she enjoys listening to music and helping with household chores. In 2024, Heak was involved in an overturned car accident while traveling in Thailand, resulting in a severe fracture of her left femur near the knee. Although she underwent surgery to stabilize the fracture, the bone failed to heal properly and developed into a nonunion, causing ongoing pain in her left knee and leg. Heak experiences persistent pain and stiffness in her left knee, making it difficult to walk without support. The condition limits her independence, affects her ability to work in the rice fields, and makes everyday activities challenging. Fortunately, Heak learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), and sought treatment. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total knee replacement to relieve Heak of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for June 1st. Heak can contribute $100, but needs help raising $1,213 more for her procedure and care. Heak said, “I hope this treatment will help me walk without support again and live without pain. Being able to move independently would mean so much to me and allow me to return to my normal life.”

$688raised
$525to go

Moses is a 27-year-old man from Kenya. He is single and lives with his parents. He earns a living selling second-hand shoes, while his father works as a construction worker. On January 1st, 2026, Moses was involved in a road accident. He was traveling on a motorbike when another motorbike lost control and struck him on the right side, causing injuries to his right arm and right leg. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where first aid was administered, and he was subsequently discharged. Moses later came to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, for further treatment and has since undergone several surgeries to manage injuries to his arm and leg. His recovery has been steady; however, further imaging revealed that his jaw was fractured and requires a mandible ORIF. Since the accident, Moses has been unable to open his mouth and has been on a liquid diet. He is currently in pain and requires surgery, but his insurance coverage has been fully exhausted. The family already has an outstanding hospital bill and has been unable to raise additional funds. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On January 16th, Moses will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will enable him to undergo the necessary surgery, begin his recovery, and resume a normal diet. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,115 to fund this procedure. Moses says, “I am in constant pain. My mouth feels stuck, and I haven’t been able to eat properly since the accident.”

$1,115raised
Fully funded

Lydia is 59-year-old mother of three from Uganda. For years, she has lived and worked hard on her small farm in Kabale District near the Uganda-Rwanda border, growing crops to provide food for her family. Recently, due to illness, she has been staying at home and relying on her husband for the family's daily needs. Lydia's health issues started with mild abdominal pain. At first, she brushed it off, thinking it was just the strenuous work from a long day in the fields. But as months passed by, the pain intensity increased, accompanied by bleeding, a burning sensation and a feeling of being bloated. As the months passed, the pain worsened, making it difficult for her to perform her daily activities. Farming, which had been her way of life, became almost impossible. Lydia sought help at a nearby health center and some medication was prescribed, but it did not help. Desperate for better care, she decided to travel to our medical partner's care center, Rushoroza Hospital, but without money for transportation she, decided to walk on foot, which took about 5 hours. At Rushoroza Hospital, after various investigations, the doctors diagnosed her with a uterine prolapse. The doctors have recommended a total abdominal hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. However, Lydia is unable to raise the funds needed for the surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $319 to fund Lydia's surgery. On January 7th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at Rushoroza Hospital. Once recovered, Lydia will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain and uncomfortable symptoms. Lydia says, “I am earnestly seeking support. I am worried for my health, and hope for a chance to undergo the recommended surgery."

$319raised
Fully funded

Hillary is a 26-year-old devoted father of two young children from Kenya. He works hard as a small-scale farmer together with his wife, growing potatoes on a modest piece of land gifted to him by his parents. Farming is their only source of income, and they strive to provide food, education, and a hopeful future for their family. A week ago, Hillary’s life changed suddenly and tragically. While walking home one evening, he was struck by a motorcycle and sustained a severe open fracture of the tibia, with a deep wound and exposed bone. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors performed an urgent surgical washout and applied an external fixator to stabilize his leg. Due to the severity of the injury, the plastic surgery team was consulted. Hillary’s condition was extremely serious. Without prompt and skilled surgical care, he faced a high risk of losing his leg to amputation. Determined to save his limb, the surgical team carried out a complex and lengthy operation. After a long day in the operating room, the surgery was successful. Hillary recovered well and was transferred to the ward, where his wound is currently healing nicely. However, during ward rounds, Hillary began complaining of severe pain in his left arm. An X-ray revealed a displaced fracture of the left ulna, which now requires surgical fixation. Without this operation, Hillary risks losing proper function of his hand, further limiting his ability to work and care for his family. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On December 17th, Hillary will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This treatment will not only help save his limb and restore function to his hand but also bring hope to a young family that depends entirely on him. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $861 to fund this procedure. Hillary says, "I have been in the hospital and had a challenge with an identification card. I was wondering how I would pay for bills, but God is indeed faithful. I also had a displaced left arm and require another surgery, please help me so that I can be of help to my family when I fully recover."

$861raised
Fully funded