M's Story

M joined Watsi on November 9th, 2016. Ten years ago, M joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. M's most recent donation supported Gay, a 23-year-old woman from Burma, to fund a C-section to safely deliver her baby.

Impact

M has funded healthcare for 174 patients in 14 countries.

Patients funded by M

Velonika, a 52-year-old woman from Malawi, is married and has four children. She and her husband engage in farming to support their family. Five years ago, Velonika began to experience small, painless swelling on her neck. Over time, the swelling grew larger without affecting her daily life. In 2022, the swelling became noticeable, prompting her to cover her neck until the end of the year. In 2023, Veronica developed symptoms like frequent coughs and neck heaviness. Despite visiting a traditional healer, her condition worsened. Velonika was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center, where surgeons noted signs of hyperthyroidism and conducted necessary tests. Her thyroid function tests were normal, and the ultrasound scanning revealed a heterogeneous mass on the right lobe. She was diagnosed with a goiter, the swelling of the thyroid gland. The thyroid gland, located in front of the neck, produces thyroid hormones that regulate metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. Surgery is necessary to address the systems and prevent conditions from worsening. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is providing Velonika with the necessary treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on July 7th, where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and she and her family need help raising money. Velonika shared, "Pains have forced me to come all the way from the village after noting your support. Kindly help me in time since I don't have anyone in town."

$609raised
$406to go

Tith is a 16-year-old boy from Cambodia. He lives with his family in Svay Rieng Province. Tith and his older brother work in customer service at a local jewelry shop. His father works as a tuk-tuk motorcycle taxi driver, and his mother works in a garment factory. Prior to his accident, he enjoyed playing volleyball with his friends in the village. Two months ago, Tith fell on the road while trying to cross in front of a car, which resulted in paralysis of his arm. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his left side. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. He is unable to lift his arm, feels pain at night, and cannot work or carry out his daily activities and hobbies. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. Tith traveled to our medical partner's care center, Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, to receive treatment. This is the only center in the whole country where this treatment is available. On January 8th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he will regain function in his left arm, reduce pain, and be able to return to work and support his family. His family can contribute $75, but needs help to raise $662 more to fund his procedure and care. Tith's mother said, “After the surgery, I hope that my son will be able to use his arm and hand again, so he can return to his job and feel confident for the future.”

$662raised
Fully funded

Chu is a 44-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her sister and niece in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. She left her home in Yangon Region, Burma, to escape violence after a military coup in 2021. Chu and her sister work at a church in Mae Sot, where they cook and clean for daily events and handle behind-the-scenes tasks for weddings, funerals, and parties. They rely on donations from the church and have no formal salary. The income she receives is enough to cover basic expenses for the family, including food and healthcare. In her free time, she loves to cook and bake desserts. After surgery, she wants to continue to make snacks and potentially start a business selling them on her own. Since 2023, Chu has been experiencing troubling symptoms, including right lower back pain and right lower abdomen pain. The pain worsens when Chu stands or sits for long periods of time. Her symptoms are exacerbated at work, but she continues her duties, taking oral painkillers to manage the pain. Doctors plan to perform a ureteroscopy, a procedure used to diagnose and treat kidney stones or ureteral blockages by passing a small, fiberoptic scope through the urethra and bladder into the ureter. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 for this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on April 10th. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully alleviate her symptoms. Chu said, "I had nowhere else to look for money. After your organisation agreed to help me, I felt relieved. I have fled from my home and left my family to come here. However, I feel warm and supported by my church with basic needs. Thank you for helping me.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded