Jared SeehaferUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER

United States   •   Enzyme
Jared's Story

Jared joined Watsi on March 12th, 2013. Ten years ago, Jared joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Jared's most recent donation traveled 8,300 miles to support Gay, a 23-year-old woman from Burma, to fund a C-section to safely deliver her baby.

Impact

Jared has funded healthcare for 125 patients in 15 countries.

Patients funded by Jared

Huzeyefa is a playful and cheerful 13-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He enjoys reading religious books with his brother and sisters, and helping his parents in their farming work. Huzeyefa and his family live in the Central Region of Ethiopia. He is the third child in a family of six children, and is currently in Grade 3. Huzeyefa condition was first noticed by his aunt when he visted her in Addis Ababa. While bathing him, she noticed that something was quite not right. Concerned, she took him to the nearest health centre, where he was referred to a higher-level hospital for further evaluation. “I was very anxious. My heart was broken, and I couldn’t sleep well. I was very worried when I heard that Huzeyfa needed surgery," his aunt shared. Huzeyefa 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. The doctors placed Huzeyefa on a long surgery wait list, and informed the family that he might have to wait for up to a year to undergo surgery. This news worried his aunt because Huzeyfa needed to return home to continue his education. In addition, his family could not afford the cost of surgery at a private hospital. Three weeks later, Huzeyfa’s aunt received encouraging news. The higher-level hospital had referred Huzeyfa to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). At BKMCM, Huzeyfa was scheduled for surgery on August 10th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Huzeyfa receive treatment, and is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Huzeyfa's aunt shared: "Thank you so much for all your support, kindness, and care. May God bless you with good health, long life, and abundant blessings. I am truly grateful to each one of you. My prayer is that Huzeyfa will recover well, continue his education, and grow into a successful person with a bright future. Thank you all so much."

$1,095raised
$198to go

Kidus is a cheerful, active, and sociable two-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing with other children, and enjoys toy cars. As the first child in his family, he brings immense joy to his parents. His mother is a homemaker, while his father works as an assistant to transport drivers. Their income is limited, and the family lives in a house owned by a relative. Kidus was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. His condition was discovered shortly after birth while he was still in the hospital. The doctors informed his parents that he should not undergo circumcision, because corrective surgery would be required in the future. They advised the family to seek further medical review at a higher-level hospital. The news was very difficult for Kidus's parents. His mother became deeply distressed, and often cried because she worried about her son's future. His father was also greatly affected by the situation. Determined to find help, they took Kidus to a public referral hospital, where doctors assessed his condition and informed the family that Kidus would likely require two surgical procedures. However, because he was still young, he was put on a surgical waiting list. The family patiently waited for two years before receiving a call from the hospital. They were referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM) for surgical treatment. Fortunately, Kidus is now scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on June 8th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of Kidus' procedure and care. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms, and he will be at risk of future complications. Kidus' mother expressed her gratitude, saying: "I pray that Kidus will recover well, and have a healthy future. Thank you very much for this opportunity and support. May God richly bless you, reward your kindness, and bless the work of your hands. We are truly grateful for all that you have done for our family."

$1,293raised
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

James is a 19-year-old final-year secondary school student from Kenya, hardworking and deeply grounded in his faith. Outside school, he serves faithfully at his church, offering his time to clean and help maintain the premises. On 3rd January 2026, James and his cousin went to church to clean and prepare it for the service that was to take place the following day. After finishing their work, they began walking back home. Traffic was heavy, and before crossing the road, James paused to make sure it was safe. As he started walking across the road, a matatu, which was overtaking recklessly using the pedestrian path, hit him. The vehicle did not stop. It sped off, leaving James lying injured on the road. His cousin rushed to him and called for help. With the support of well-wishers, a kind passerby offered to bring them to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. At the emergency unit, doctors found that James had suffered a fracture to his left leg, along with serious bruising to his right hand. He is in severe pain and still in shock. The medical team has advised that he urgently needs surgery: a left tibia debridement and an ORIF (open reduction and internal fixation). James’ parents, who are his only source of support, have been unable to raise the required hospital bill since the accident. James was expected to return to school on 7th January after the holidays, but due to the accident and his current condition, this will not be possible. The accident happened suddenly, and they have no means to meet the medical costs. Despite everything, James continues to trust that with proper treatment, he will heal, return to school and complete his studies. It is difficult for him to walk and he is in chronic pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On January 5th, James will undergo a fracture repair procedure at AIC Kijabe Hospital. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. “I am in so much pain right now, and it feels like my life has come to a standstill. I won’t be able to report back to school at the moment, but I believe all will be well,” James shares.

$1,500raised
Fully funded