L
Luriel Smith-HarrisonUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER

United States
Luriel's Story

Luriel joined Watsi on March 12th, 2013. Twelve years ago, Luriel joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Luriel's most recent donation traveled 8,500 miles to support Gabriel, a six-year-old boy from Kenya, to fund hearing aids.

Impact

Luriel has funded healthcare for 150 patients in 19 countries.

Patients funded by Luriel

Gabriel is a six-year-old boy from Kenya who enjoys playing and learning new things. His father is a construction worker, but his income is not always steady, and there are times when it is difficult for him to provide even the basic needs of the family. His mother is a homemaker and depends on her husband’s income to support the household. Gabriel has struggled with his hearing since birth and has not been able to develop speech like other kids his age. His parents first became concerned when they noticed that he did not respond whenever they called his name. As Gabriel grew older, his difficulties became more noticeable, especially when he started school. He struggled to understand his teachers and could not communicate easily with his classmates. While other children followed lessons, interacted with one another, and participated in classroom activities, Gabriel found himself struggling to understand what was being taught. Doctors have recommended hearing aids to help him access sound and support the development of the communication skills he has been missing. For his family, this brought new hope that Gabriel could finally have an opportunity to hear and communicate with the people around him. Fortunately, our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) can help. Gabriel is scheduled to be fitted with hearing aids on October 2nd. He and his family need your help in raising $1,171 to fund the devices and his care. Hearing aids could help Gabriel build confidence and reduce the isolation he has experienced for much of his young life. "Seeing my son isolate himself from others pains me deeply. I just want him to hear, communicate, and interact with other children,” Gabriel’s dad shared.

$629raised
$542to go

Vorleak is an 18-year-old girl from Cambodia. She lives in Preah Vihear Province with her parents, who work as rice farmers. She is the eldest of three siblings and is preparing to attend university soon. Her younger brother is in Grade 7, and her younger sister is in Grade 5. She enjoys reading books and listening to music. Two months ago, Vorleak was involved in a road traffic accident that resulted in a severe injury to the nerves of her right arm, causing weakness and loss of function. She has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on her right side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network 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. She is unable to use her right arm and hand normally due to weakness and paralysis affecting her shoulder, elbow, wrist, and fingers. The condition has significantly limited her ability to perform daily activities independently and has prevented her from attending university. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. Vorleak 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 June 11th, she will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, she will regain independence in daily activities and increase her ability to pursue her education and future goals. Her family can contribute $25, but needs help to raise $712 to fund her procedure and care. Vorleak said, “I hope that after the surgery, my right arm and hand function will improve, allowing me to carry out daily activities independently and prepare for university.”

$686raised
$26to go

Wubalem is a 10-month-old baby from Ethiopia. He has one older sister and two brothers. His father works as a daily laborer in construction, while his mother is a homemaker who takes care of the family. Wubalem was born with hydronephrosis, a condition in which urine does not drain properly from the kidney, causing the kidney to become swollen. He requires medical attention and a surgical procedure called pyeloplasty to correct the blockage and improve the flow of urine. This issue was first identified when Wubalem’s mother experienced health complications during her pregnancy. After Wubalem was born, he was referred to a higher-level hospital for further examination and treatment. The medical team monitored his condition for about five months. After several examinations, they confirmed that Baby Wubalem needed surgery and placed him on a waiting list. Those five months were difficult for his mother. She remembers feeling anxious and frustrated as she waited for her baby to receive the treatment he needed. After waiting for five months, Wubalem was referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Wubalem is scheduled to receive a pyloplasty to help his kidney on August 24th. The procedure costs $922. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is asking for help to fund the cost of the procedure. Wubalem's mother shares, “I am very happy to come to BethanyKids, and I am so grateful for the warm welcome. Thank you so much to everyone. I pray that my baby will be healthy and able to walk and live like other children. I have been through a very difficult time and sacrificed many things for my baby. I waited for many months and spent a lot of money trying to get the care my child needed. I am very thankful that my baby is finally receiving treatment.”

$922raised
Fully funded

Samuel is a very cheerful boy from Colombia who loves animals, watching television, and playing with his friends. He dreams of growing up and working alongside his father, following in his footsteps as a welder. He lives in Frontino, Antioquia, with his family. For some time now, he has been suffering from severe tooth decay and is receiving dental treatment. About a year ago, he was evaluated for the first time by a pediatric dentist, who diagnosed multiple deep cavities. Since then, he has been under observation, but the disease has progressed, causing intense and persistent pain, inflammation, episodes of suppuration (presence of pus), and difficulty eating and sleeping. After a complex process, it was concluded that the treatment should be performed under general anesthesia, considering the number of teeth affected and his young. This step represents much more than pain relief: it is an opportunity to give him back his smile, his peace of mind, and the chance to fully enjoy his childhood. With proper treatment, Samuel will have relieved pain, prevent new infections, and regain his quality of life, improving his ability to eat, sleep, and develop normally. Samuel's mother shares with emotion, "Your work is truly admirable. Many children need this process, and thanks to your generous support, many of them will be able to receive the treatment they need. Samuel will be able to regain his smile and the quality of life that every child deserves. Seeing someone who does not know him personally get involved with such love is the purest reflection of human kindness. May God continue to bless you and guide your every step in this mission."

$868raised
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

Monny Reach and his family are from Takeo Province, Cambodia, about four hours away from the capital city of Phnom Penh. He is the youngest of two siblings, with an older brother who is ten years old and in fourth grade. His father works as a taxi driver, and his mother sells groceries. At home, Monny enjoys playing with toy cars and spending time with his mother. He loves all types of Khmer soups, especially lemongrass sour soup. When Monny Reach was about a year old, his parents noticed weakness in his foot when he was unable to stand after pulling himself up using furniture. They took him to a children's hospital, where a doctor observed that his spine was not straight and suspected a spinal deformity. The doctor recommended that he visit an organization for further evaluation, where he was advised to wear a brace. However, due to a respiratory disease he had as a baby, Monny Reach often struggled to breathe, making it impossible for him to wear the brace. He did not begin walking on his own until he was two and a half years old. Recently, Monny Reach's parents learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), through social media and sought treatment. In February, he was diagnosed with infantile scoliosis, which causes his spine to curve or twist. This condition can eventually affect his chest and lungs, making it harder for him to breathe. Although Monny does not feel pain, he experiences difficulty breathing and sitting for long periods. On August 12th, Monny Reach will undergo spinal surgery to correct his scoliosis and stabilize his spine. This surgery is expected to improve his posture and allow him to live a healthier life as he grows. His family hopes that the operation will help him breathe better and prevent future complications, but they need assistance covering the $1,500 cost of the procedure. This amount includes surgery, metal spinal implants, anesthesia, medication, and postoperative care. Monny Reach's parents said, "After the operation, we hope that our son will have a normal spine like the other kids and not have any pain. We want him to grow strong and healthy."

$1,500raised
Fully funded