United States   •   October 27th
Zack's Story

Zack joined Watsi on November 25th, 2013. Eleven years ago, Zack joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Zack's most recent donation traveled 8,200 miles to support Makbel, a 16-month-old baby boy from Ethiopia, to fund corrective surgery for a birth condition.

Impact

Zack has funded healthcare for 148 patients in 14 countries.

Patients funded by Zack

Makbel is a 16-month-old baby boy from Ethiopia. He enjoys playing with cars and spending time with his older brother and sister. His mother works in the human resources department of a government organization, while his father is an electrician. Makbel 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. Makbel was taken to a medical centre and referred to a higher-level hospital for further evaluation. The attending doctor recommended an ultrasound and surgical correction. However, the family was informed that there was a waiting list for surgery. Due to financial constraints, they could not afford private treatment. Eventually, Makbel was referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM), for further management. Upon arrival, his mother expressed relief and gratitude for the support and access to care. Makbel was warmly received at BKMCM, where the medical team conducted a thorough evaluation. Fortunately, Makbel is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on October 30th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Makbel’s mother said, "Thank you to BethanyKids for giving my child this chance and opportunity for surgery. We are truly grateful for your support and kindness. BethanyKids has a great vision of helping children in need. May God bless all of you and every member of the staff. Thank you so much."

$406raised
$887to go

Ye Min is a 19-year-old young man from Burma. He lives with his parents, younger brother, and a younger sister. His father is unemployed due to a previous accident. His mother works as an agricultural day laborer, while his brother looks after their neighbor’s cows, and his sister helps with household chores. Ye Min is unemployed. Their family’s combined monthly income is not enough to cover their daily expenses, and with Ye Min’s medical condition, the family is now indebted to neighbours and friends for loans they've received to help them finance medical and living expenses. Ye Min was diagnosed with a heart condition that requires valve replacement. Heart valves control the flow of blood between chambers, but certain conditions may narrow the heart valve or cause the blood to flow backwards. Normal valve function is necessary to prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Currently, Ye Min experiences significant limitations in his energy and physical capacity. He often has to rest after walking for not more than five minutes. His condition has prevented him from working, and he feels stressed about his health. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help fund a heart valve replacement for Ye Min. The treatment is scheduled to take place on June 27th at our medical partner's care center, Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital. Once completed, Ye Min will hopefully live more comfortably. Ye Min said, “Without surgery, I will not live longer, and now I cannot walk far or work due to my fatigue, which makes me sad.” His mother said, “I leave my son’s life in your hands. I believe that he would have died in Burma if we had not come here to receive surgery with the help of your organization. When I came here, I felt like half of my burden had been lifted when I saw that your staff were kind and caring. I would like to thank you very much ahead of time for being willing to help us.”

$978raised
$522to go

Jorgelis is a 10-year-old student from a town in Antioquia, Colombia. She is cheerful and intelligent, with a sweet energy that is contagious and leaves a special impression on everyone around her. Jorgelis dreams of becoming a great doctor when she grows up so she can help others. Since she was a few months old, Jorgelis has had an umbilical hernia, a condition in which a small portion of abdominal tissue protrudes through the navel. This condition causes discomfort or tenderness, especially when crying, coughing, or straining. The discomfort can also make it hard for kids to do everyday childhood activities, such as playing and jumping. If left untreated, there is a risk of developing future health complications. Jorgelis needs to undergo surgery to correct the hernia and prevent potential future complications. Fortunately, on May 28th, she will undergo repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once completed, this procedure will allow her to live more comfortably. Our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $1,005 to fund Jorgelis's surgery. Jorgelis's family shared: "We would like to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has made this donation for the surgery possible. This support means the world to our daughter and to us as a family. We trust in God and the doctors that everything will go well and that her recovery will be quick and successful. What we long for most is to see her healthy, happy, and full of life, so that she can continue to grow and fulfill her dream of becoming a doctor and helping many people."

$696raised
$309to go

Kelvin is a lively five-year-old boy who lives in Kenya with his parents and older sibling. His father is a motorcycle taxi driver, and his mother is a farmer. He is an active boy who enjoys playing football. At home, he is very helpful and often assists his family with chores, including working on the farm. Kelvin was born with a significant misalignment in his right foot. This condition has affected his ability to stand upright and to walk with ease. Kelvin was also born with a heart condition, which took priority in terms of treatment. Thankfully, this condition was successfully treated, and Kelvin's family can now focus on treatment for his mobility issues. Kelvin has already received conservative treatments at several hospitals, but unfortunately, there has been no significant improvement in his condition. Thus, his parents decided to visit the CURE Mobile Clinic in Meru, where they were referred to our partner's medical care center, AIC CURE International Hospital. After a thorough assessment, Kelvin was scheduled for right tibia hemimelia reconstruction surgery. This surgery is expected to greatly improve his life, allowing him to stand upright, walk properly, and enjoy childhood like other children his age. Kelvin will undergo surgery on April 29th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,224 to cover the cost of Kelvin's procedure and care. Kelvin's mother shared, “I am praying that he receives treatment, recovers quickly, and can join school like other children."

$1,224raised
Fully funded

Raffy is a father of four children—three sons and one infant daughter. The family resides in Parañaque City in the Philippines. Raffy works as a scrap collector and sells his finds at nearby shops. He earns enough to support his family's daily living expenses. However, Raffy admits that this income is just enough to cover their needs. His partner is a full-time housewife who remains at home to care for their children. He prefers that she not seek employment so she can focus on childcare and provide support during his current medical condition, further underscoring the family’s financial challenges and the significance of the assistance he needs. Three months ago, Raffy began to experience troubling symptoms, including constant pain in his stomach. He was diagnosed with a gallbladder disorder, known as cholecystitis, which causes discomfort due to inflammation. Raffy has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, his symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), Raffy is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on January 30th. A portion of the cost of the procedure is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is requesting the remaining $1,031 to cover the cost of Raffy's surgery and care. Raffy shared, "Thank you so much to this foundation. If not for this program, I would not be able to get the operation I need. This is a big help to my family and me."

$1,031raised
Fully funded

San is a 50-year-old woman from Burma. She lives alone in a village in Tak Province, Thailand. Originally from Burma, she moved to Thailand in 2015 in search of better job opportunities. San works as an agricultural day laborer, earning around 2,400 THB per month, which is often not enough to cover her daily expenses. When she needs for basic health care, she visits Mae Tao Clinic (MTC). Lately, she has borrowed 3,000 THB with interest from friends to cover her recent medical costs. For over a year now, San has been experiencing abdomen distension. When she touched her lower right abdomen, she could feel a mass. San went to our medical partner for a review and was diagnosed with uterine myoma. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, San's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, San is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on December 18th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, San will recover from her worrying symptoms, allowing her a healthier life. She said, “I feel very sad and worried about my surgery because I cannot afford to pay for it. Now that I have learned that the organisation (HFA-BCMF) and the donors will cover for my surgery, I feel very happy and relieved. I am thankful to all donors and to HFA-BCMF for saving my life. Without your support, I would not have been able to afford the treatment, and I might have lost my life. When I fully recover, I will return to my work."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Eaint is a 22-year-old woman from Burma. She lives in a temporary community in the jungle in Karenni State, Burma. She has been living in the jungle since August 2023 due to airstrikes by the Burmese military. Eaint is a volunteer Burmese teacher at a school that has been set up in the community, living with the other teachers and students. While students’ parents try to pay for their education, it is not enough to cover her daily expenses, so she receives 30,000 MMK from her parents each month. As there are no healthcare facilities where she is staying, minor health problems are generally treated with traditional medicine and over-the-counter medication when it is available, with only major emergencies being taken to the nearest hospital. In 2021, Eaint noticed a mass growing on her left elbow, which after some time began to hurt. She underwent surgery at the local hospital the same year to remove the mass, and a biopsy indicated that the mass was benign. However, her elbow remained swollen after the surgery so in 2022, she went to another doctor, who told her that the previous doctor had not removed the entire mass. She underwent another surgery to remove the mass, however the mass once again returned. Doctors have advised Eaint to undergo an MRI, an imaging procedure that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images of bodily organs. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose her condition better and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $814 to cover the cost of Eaint's MRI and care, scheduled for December 1st. Eaint says, “Even if I have to have my arm amputated due to the mass recurrence, I can still participate in my school and my community. Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.”

$814raised
Fully funded