Rachael MillerUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER

Believes in access to healthcare, grateful for WATSI

United States
Rachael's Story

Rachael joined Watsi on January 6th, 2022. Five years ago, Rachael joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Rachael's most recent donation traveled 8,300 miles to support N, a woman from Burma, to fund treatment to alleviate discomfort and pain.

Impact

Rachael has funded healthcare for 52 patients in 12 countries.

Patients funded by Rachael

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

Peter is a hardworking 33-year-old young man from Kenya. He works as a casual farm laborer to meet his basic needs. On December 2nd 2025, Peter was in a tragic road traffic accident. He was riding on a motorcycle when it was involved in a head-on collision with a lorry, and he sustained severe injuries from head to toe. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he received first aid, including stitching of head and facial wounds and bandaging of his right leg. Due to excessive bleeding and the severity of his injuries, he was later referred to our medical partner facility, AIC Kijabe Hospital, for advanced care. Since admission, Peter has undergone an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) procedure, as well as a surgical debridement, exhausting the number of procedures covered under his national health insurance cover for the year. Unfortunately, Peter now requires a skin graft, as the wound on his foot has become infected and is deteriorating. Since the accident, Peter is confined to a hospital bed and has suffered memory loss; he does not recall his name or family members and frequently experiences confusion and forgetfulness. As his hospital bill continues to rise daily, the family is overwhelmed and unsure where to turn for help - his siblings also rely on irregular casual work for a living. They are appealing for financial and medical support to enable Peter to undergo the needed surgery. The family remains hopeful that, with proper treatment and recovery, Peter’s memory and overall health will improve gradually. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Peter receive treatment. On January 5th, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to help his wound heal. Now, Peter needs help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Peter says: "I've been in so much pain since the accident. I'm praying that this surgery will bring some relief."

$1,185raised
Fully funded

Adija is a 74-year-old woman from Malawi who is married and has two children. She grows rice on a small scale and is mainly supported by her granddaughter. Ten years ago, Adija began to experience troubling symptoms, including a swelling on her neck. Though small, she still reported to the hospital for support, but they incorrectly treated the condition as tonsilitis, and the swelling kept on growing bigger. Not tiring in her journey to get help, Adija returned to the hospital three years later after noticing that swallowing was becoming tough. She was then diagnosed with a goiter and referred to the national hospital for proper management. For the past seven years, she has been visiting the hospital for surgery to no avail. At the beginning of this year, Adija's condition became worse -- she could not breathe well, could not walk long distances, had frequent coughs, and sometimes could choke while sleeping, altogether making it challenging for her to live peacefully and eat comfortably. Fortunately, when she was taken to the hospital in May due to her condition, she was referred to our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope, for urgent attention. There, the doctors performed tests, and she was diagnosed with a colloid goiter, an abnormal swelling of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of the neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. Adija needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Adija receive treatment. On June 24th, she is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy at Partners in Hope, during which surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. She contributed a co-pay toward her care and needs help raising $1,015 to fund her treatment. Adija said, "If only I can be assisted, I will be very happy again. As an old woman, I wish to live a happy life in my last days of life."

$1,015raised
Fully funded

Blessing is a six-year-old girl from Kenya. From the moment she was born, Blessing lived up to her name. The first child to her parents, she brought joy, peace, and laughter into their lives. Blessing was a healthy baby, meeting every milestone with ease, until it came time to speak. When Blessing didn’t utter her first words, her parents waited patiently. But as months turned into years, their worry deepened. By the time she turned three, still unable to speak, her mother took her to a nearby hospital. The doctors recommended hearing tests but the cost was too high. They returned home, clinging to hope that maybe Blessing would begin to speak on her own. Unable to accept what they couldn’t understand, her parents enrolled her in school, believing that playing and learning with other children might unlock her voice. But the silence continued. At school, Blessing simply watched. She copied what other children wrote, but couldn’t follow lessons or respond during class. She had to be assessed differently, unable to take part in regular oral or written exams. Now six years old, the only word Blessing can say is “Mama.” Still, her mother describes her as a bright, joyful child. “She loves to play with others,” she says. “And when she sees you washing dishes or doing chores, she’s the first to offer help.” In August 2025, Blessing was brought to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where doctors confirmed that she has reduced hearing and would require hearing aids to help her hear and speak. Unfortunately, her family couldn’t afford them. Blessing’s mother is currently unemployed while her father relies on casual driving jobs to provide for the family. Despite rallying friends and relatives, the cost remains far beyond their means. Blessing’s only way of communicating is through gestures and actions. Her voice, her potential, her future are all locked away behind silence. Blessing’s mother is reaching out for support so that she can have the hearing treatment and aids that will enable her to hear the world, to find her voice, and to build her future. On September 3rd, Blessing will be fitted with hearing aids. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,171 to fund hearing aids for Blessing so she can hear and speak better. "Blessing is such a joyful child, she loves playing with other children," her mother shares. "If she could hear, it would truly brighten her world and give her the chance to live life to the fullest."

$1,171raised
Fully funded

Ku is a 21-year-old woman who lives in a refugee camp in the Hong Son Province in Thailand. She was born in the refugee camp after her parents, who are originally from Karen State, Burma, moved there 35 years ago due to armed conflicts in her village area. Ku is the youngest of her three siblings. Her father left the family when she was 10 years old, and two of her older siblings are married. She now lives with her mother who is a homemaker, her sister who has a disability, her husband who sometimes works as a day laborer outside of the camp, and her son who is in preschool. The family receives 1119 baht (approx. 37 USD) through a cash card each month from The Border Consortium. Ku works as Mother and Child Health (MCH) worker in the refugee camp hospital under Malteser International. She earns 1,200 baht (approx.40 USD) per month. Their monthly total income is often not enough to cover their daily expenses. They received free basic health care in the refugee camp, provided by Malteser International (MI) Thailand. During her free time, she enjoys going to the forest with her friends to fetch firewood and vegetables. Ku is currently expecting her second child. Due to a high-risk pregnancy, her doctors have recommended that she deliver via a caesarean section. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Ku undergo a C-Section on May 5th. This procedure will cost $1,500, and Ku needs your support. Ku says: “I love my job and always try to be a good MCH worker. With support for my upcoming surgery, I will continue helping my community and my family too.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded