jose's Story

jose joined Watsi on June 22nd, 2015. Eleven years ago, jose joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. jose's most recent donation supported Danna, a three-month-old baby girl from Bolivia, to fund heart surgery.

Impact

jose has funded healthcare for 129 patients in 13 countries.

Patients funded by jose

Natanim is a quiet and gentle two-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing with his friends, watching cartoons, and spending time with his mother. He lives with his parents in a rented house. His father works as a shoemaker, and his mother is a housewife. As Natanim grew, he began experiencing symptoms such as pain, itching, and difficulty urinating. Concerned about his health, his parents took him to a health center, where, upon review, a doctor explained that he would need corrective surgery. The news worried Natanim's mother. She felt frightened, anxious, and uncertain about what would happen to her young son. The family was referred to a higher-level hospital for specialized care. There, doctors confirmed his diagnosis as hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. They explained that because Natanim had already been circumcised, his surgery would be more complex and would require specialized pediatric surgical care. Natanim was referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). He is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on July 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Natanim's mother says, "Thank you so much to everyone. May God bless you all. I am deeply grateful to the BethanyKids team and all the staff for welcoming us with such kindness and respect. The care and service we received were truly different from anywhere else we had been. Thank you for giving my son this opportunity to receive treatment. My greatest hope is that Natanim will grow up healthy and achieve his dream of becoming a football player. May God bless you all."

$1,293raised
Fully funded

Benson is an 11-year-old boy from Kenya. His mother shared that she first noticed a problem with his foot when he was almost two years old. At the time, she hoped he would eventually outgrow it and begin walking better, but the condition persisted. Determined to find help for her son, she took Benson to hospital. Benson has Equinus deformity, a condition in which the upward bending motion of the ankle joint (dorsiflexion) is limited. This causes him to walk on his toes instead of placing his entire foot on the ground. The condition developed as a result of cerebral palsy, a condition he was born with. Over the last few years, Benson has attended physiotherapy sessions, surgery and has been fitted with corrective splints to realign his foot, but each time, the procedures did not achieve the expected results. His mother got increasingly worried about his health and future, until a friend informed her about specialized care at our medical partner's care center, AIC CURE Hospital. Benson is presently admitted at AIC CURE Hospital in preparation of his corrective surgery. The procedure represents a significant opportunity to improve his quality of life, as his condition has limited many of the activities and opportunities he would otherwise enjoy. He often experiences pain in his leg, especially during cold weather, making it difficult for him to walk comfortably. Benson's surgery has been scheduled for June 11th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 for the treatment that will provide Benson greater mobility, reduced pain, and the chance to pursue his dreams with renewed confidence and independence. He says: "I am looking forward to a quick healing so that I can continue with my regular life."

$1,286raised
Fully funded

At five years old, Angel is currently in preschool in Colombia, and stands out as a curious child, with a strong academic performance, and remarkable personal motivation. From a very young age, he has proudly expressed his dream of becoming a doctor when he grows up. However, his daily life has been affected by a problem that goes beyond the physical: constant pain and oral discomfort have interfered with his concentration, his eating habits, and the normal development expected for his age. About six months ago, Angel was first examined by a pediatric dentist, who diagnosed multiple deep cavities. Since then, he has been monitored regularly, but the progression of the disease has been evident. The intense and persistent pain, accompanied by swelling and marked difficulty eating, has begun to significantly impact Angel's quality of life. After assessing the extent of the lesions, the number of affected teeth, and the patient’s young age, the medical team determined that the best and safest option is to perform treatment under general anesthesia. This decision aims not only to ensure comprehensive and effective care, but also to protect the child’s emotional well-being. The proposed treatment, scheduled for April 28th at Clínica Noel, represents an opportunity for relief and recovery. Beyond resolving a dental problem, it will allow Angel to smile again without pain, eat properly, improve his academic performance, and resume his play and learning with peace of mind. Above all, it will give him the chance to continue dreaming of saving lives and becoming, one day, a renowned doctor. Now, Angel's family needs help to fund the $1,109 treatment. Angel's mother said: "As a mother, I sincerely hope that my son can finally feel at ease when it’s time to eat. For a long time, he hasn’t been able to enjoy his favorite food because of the pain and discomfort caused by the cavities he’s currently dealing with. Watching him suffer has been very difficult for me. I want to express my sincere gratitude, because thanks to people with such big hearts like you, families and children have hope again. I cannot find enough words to thank you for everything you are doing for my son. Your support and generosity mean so much to us, and make a huge difference in my little one’s life."

$1,109raised
Fully funded

Jana is a four-year-old young girl from El Bagre, Colombia. She is an active, cheerful preschooler who loves spending time with her family and enjoys music and dancing. Even at a young age, Jana shows a caring heart and dreams of becoming a doctor one day so she can help people, or animals, in need. Unfortunately, Jana has developed severe dental caries and infections. Because of her young age, she requires extensive dental treatment under general anesthesia to safely address the problem. At times, Jana feels sad because other children tease her about her teeth, and she hopes her teeth can be fixed. Our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $868 to fund treatment for her infection and severe tooth decay under general anesthesia on March 20th. Doctors hope this care will allow Jana to grow up healthy, free from pain, and able to smile with confidence. Jana's mother shares, "To anyone who wants to do their bit to help my daughter, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. We are a low-income family; I am a single mother, I do odd jobs, and unfortunately, I do not have the financial means to cover the treatment she needs, as it is very expensive. God bless every person who can help make this surgery possible. My daughter dreams of the day when she can smile without fear or pain. She always tells me, 'Mom, when I have my pretty teeth, I'm going to laugh all the time, and they won't hurt anymore.' That is her greatest wish, and hopefully we will see it come true very soon. May God reward you for your support, solidarity, and prayers."

$868raised
Fully funded

Nyi is a 38-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife and two children in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. Now he is a general day laborer, while his wife is a homemaker. One of his children is attending kindergarten, and the other one is too young to enroll in school. Their monthly income is just enough to cover their expenses, and sometimes, their wife’s friend, who works in Bangkok, supports them with their household's basic needs. In May 2024, Nyi noticed a swollen mass that caused him pain and discomfort. He visited the local clinic, where he underwent a physical examination, and after that, he had excisional surgery and was treated with oral antibiotics and painkillers. After the surgery, the symptoms initially disappeared, but in April 2025, the symptoms reappeared. His symptoms persisted, so he was referred to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot Hospital (MSH), in October 2025. Doctors advised him that he needs surgery to remove the mass. Currently, Zaw experiences pain, swelling, and discomfort. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Zaw receive treatment. He is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on November 6th. He is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Nyi expressed his feelings and said, “I feel depressed due to anxiety about my health. As a result of my condition, I have been unable to work properly, further reducing my family’s income. As a migrant, I faced financial difficulties and could not afford my treatment. However, thank you very much to the Burma Children's Medical Fund and the donors for assisting with my treatment costs. After I fully recover, I can go back to work and support my family.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Habib is a bright and curious 13-month-old boy from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He is the only child of his parents and loves exploring his surroundings and playing with other children. As their firstborn, he brought immense joy and hope to his family. His father works as a daily laborer in construction, doing his best to provide for the family, while his mother stays at home to care for him. When Habib was about four months old, a visiting relative noticed something unusual while his mother was bathing him. She gently pointed out that Habib’s genital area looked similar to her own child’s condition and advised Habib’s mother to take him to a hospital for evaluation. At the hospital, doctors diagnosed Habib with hypospadias — a congenital condition that causes urinary dysfunction. The doctors explained that Habib would need surgery to correct the condition, or he would continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and be at risk of complications in the future. However, they advised waiting until he reached 10 kilograms in weight. Once Habib met the weight requirement, he was placed on the surgery waiting list. Months went by without any updates. His mother visited the hospital twice, anxiously inquiring whether the waiting time had shortened, but each time she was told that the list was still long. Feeling helpless and worried, she began to lose hope that her son would get the treatment he needed. Fortunately, Habib’s mother was later referred to our partner’s medical care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Overjoyed, Habib’s mother traveled with her son to BKMCM, where they were warmly received and the doctors conducted detailed assessments. Now, Habib is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on October 21st. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Habib’s mother said, “I pray that God will heal my child completely, help him recover well from the surgery, and bless him with full health.”

$1,293raised
Fully funded