Ben Cullen-KerneyUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER
Ben's Story

Ben joined Watsi on March 12th, 2013. Eighteen days ago, Ben joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Ben's most recent donation supported Jane, a bright and resilient 7-year-old from Kenya, to fund clubfoot treatment.

Impact

Ben has funded healthcare for 13 patients in 6 countries.

Patients funded by Ben

Libni was born just over a month ago, happy and healthy. Unfortunately, his mother has not been able to produce breast milk and her son has gotten dangerously skinny. His mother took him to a government health center where she was told that her son was malnourished, and he was prescribed formula. His parents cannot afford formula--it's incredibly expensive for a family living on $3 per day. Libni's lack of breast milk is not only putting his life at risk now, but making it likely that he could face permanent brain damage and seizures due to electrolyte imbalance. Libni is the first child to two loving parents. He lives with them in a one-room house with a tin roof in Guatemala. His father works as a day laborer, harvesting crops to earn just a few dollars per day. Some days, if there is no work, they can only afford to eat tortillas. With $1016, Libni can receive the formula he needs to grow, and his mother will undergo nutrition education. While lactation failure can lead to fatal consequences, treating it is extremely easy and effective. Formula supplementation will prevent Libni from dying from dehydration or acute malnutrition. It will promote normal physical and mental development and give Libni the chance to reach his full growth potential. Nutrition education will provide his mother with the skills she needs to ensure Libni's healthy growth and development. We believe with both of these combined, Libni will recoup and thrive. "I feel very worried, because they told me in the health care center that my son needed milk," Libni's mother shared. "We don't have the resources to do that. I don't want him to keep losing weight and getting sick. I appreciate the help that he will receive. I hope that he improves and continues to grow well so he can become a doctor."

$1,016raised
Fully funded

Cecilia is the oldest child of two loving parents. They live in a one-room adobe house with a tin roof in Guatemala. They have a small plot of land where they cultivate squash and fruits. Her father works as a gardener, and her mother works at home, cooking, cleaning, and taking care of Cecilia. Even though they want the best for their daughter, they cannot afford to give her even one piece of fruit, vegetable, or egg per day. As a result, Cecilia is suffering from malnutrition. She is not gaining weight and growing like she should, because her family cannot afford to give her a nutritious diet. This has slowed her mental and physical development and weakened her immune system. In the long term, she could face increased risk of low IQ and chronic diseases such as diabetes, and heart disease. With $512, Cecilia can receive treatment to put her growth back on track. Growth monitoring, micronutrients and food supplementation will help her recover from malnutrition--saving her life now and putting her on track to live a better life in the future. Her immune system will grow stronger. This will further increase her appetite and help her develop mentally. Her parents will receive support to give Cecilia the diet she needs to grow and develop healthily. Intervention now will prevent the future devastating effects of malnutrition and give Cecilia the chance to live a healthy and productive life, finish school, get a good job, and escape the cycle of malnutrition and poverty that made her sick in the first place. Cecilia's mother shared: "We hope our little girl grows well so she can develop well in the future."

$512raised
Fully funded