Blake HendersonUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER
Blake's Story

Blake joined Watsi on March 12th, 2013. Eight years ago, Blake joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Blake's most recent donation supported Luz, a three-year-old girl from Bolivia, to fund heart surgery.

Impact

Blake has funded healthcare for 94 patients in 13 countries.

Patients funded by Blake

Enita comes from Ntcheu District and is a widow who lost her husband in 2011. She has 6 children of which the first four are married while the last two are aged 18 and 16 respectively. She is a farmer who is also supported by her last two children. Enita is grateful when she has time to rest and enjoys eating anything available. Enita was well until 10 years ago when she noted a small lump on the right side of her neck that was not painful. She did not bother visiting the hospital since this problem did not affect her daily activities. As time passed, the lump kept on growing bigger and bigger though without pain up until December 2023 when she shared that things got out of hand with her condition. She noted a blister that was very painful and affected her daily activities. She decided to visit her son who lives in the city of Lilongwe where different tests were done, and a diagnosis of goiter was made at Kamuzu Central Hospital. She was then referred to our medical partner's care center Partners in Hope Medical Center (PIH) for further management. Currently, she is experiencing pains from the scratched wound on her neck, neck heaviness, and frequent coughs that have affected her daily activities. On January 19th, Enita met the surgeon who confirmed the diagnosis of right goiter and the need for surgical intervention called thyroidectomy, which is the removal of part of the thyroid gland. Enita was referred to the Watsi program for assessment due to her financial instability. After a thorough assessment, she was eligible and thanks everyone for their consideration. Her daughter-in-law is helping commit some funds for her treatment support and their family needs help raising $1,015. Enita believes that the surgery will help her get better and continue to live a normal life. She shared, “Kindly help me. I need my peace of mind.”

$476raised
$539to go

Samwel is a five-month-old baby from Gilalumpa, Tanzania. He is the youngest child in his family, born into a polygamous family of two wives and eleven children. The family relies on livestock-keeping as their primary livelihood but lack the means to generate sufficient income to cover expenses. They reside in a communal boma or community enclosure consisting of seven small mud huts, each hut divided into two rooms, which accommodate their entire family. Samwel’s mother, Namag, gave birth to him at home, and while the delivery went smoothly, Samwel developed some health issues a few days later. Observing an abnormality in Samwel’s left foot, the family initially took no action as they had no understanding of the condition. When a concerned neighbor noticed his foot, the family sought medical treatment. However, due to their financial situation, the family was unable to afford the necessary care. Fortunately, doctors offering mobile clinic services set up camp near the family's home. Samwel’s parents managed to attend the clinic, where the doctors recommended assistance from Fly Medical Services (FMS) for transportation to Arusha where treatment would be available. Samwel has congenital clubfoot of left foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape or position as the tissues connecting the muscles to the bone (tendons) are shorter than usual. Clubfoot causes difficulty walking and wearing shoes. Samwel's family was able to travel to visit our medical partner's care center, The Plaster House NGO. There, the team will begin clubfoot treatment on September 22nd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund Samwel's clubfoot repair. After treatment, Samwel’s quality of life will significantly improve as he grows. The treatment will enable him to walk comfortably, wear shoes, and alleviate any concerns his parents may have about his condition and his future. Samwel’s mother says: “I would like my son to be well. I want him to enjoy long walks with his brother when he grows up.”

$935raised
Fully funded

Meet Cynthia, a shy and reserved girl who lives in Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya. She is the sixth child among eight siblings. Currently, she attends nursery school at a nearby primary school. Cynthia's parents are small-scale farmers, primarily cultivating maize and beans for their family to eat. They used to have a mango farm, which provided them with additional income, however, their mangoes were destroyed when an unknown person set fire to the farm. To make ends meet, Cynthia's parents sometimes work as casual laborers to earn a modest income for their children, all of whom attend primary school. One afternoon, Cynthia was involved in a motorbike accident while returning from school, resulting in an injury to her left thigh. She received initial treatment and pain relief before being referred to a larger medical facility. Upon assessment, an x-ray revealed that Cynthia had a displaced fracture of the femur shaft. Her left leg appeared shortened, and she experienced significant pain, particularly when the limb was moved. She has been under observation and skin traction at the medical facility for approximately a month now. A recent x-ray showed that while there was some callus formation, the fracture remained displaced. The surgeon with our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH) recommended surgery as the best option to ensure proper healing and avoid a lifelong discrepancy in limb length. The surgical procedure, an open reduction and internal fixation, is scheduled for August 2nd. This intervention will aid in Cynthia's healing process and restore her ability to use her limb normally. We are fortunate that surgeons with our medical partner, AMH, can provide the necessary assistance. To support Cynthia's surgery and her journey to recovery, AMH is seeking $1145 in funding to cover her treatment costs. Your contribution will make a significant impact on Cynthia's life, granting her the opportunity to heal properly and lead a better life. Cynthia’s mother says, “When I heard that a motorbike hit my daughter, I was worried. I lost a child recently, so I am still recovering, and the unexpected happens again. I cried a lot, but now that she is safe, I am grateful to God. Please help her undergo surgery so that she can grow and walk well.”

$1,145raised
Fully funded