Jeremy Beyda
Jeremy's Story

Jeremy joined Watsi on March 12th, 2013. 1,770 other people also joined Watsi on that day! Jeremy's most recent donation traveled 9,000 miles to support Josophati, a man from Malawi, to fund prostate surgery.

Impact

Jeremy has funded healthcare for 38 patients in 9 countries.

Patients funded by Jeremy

Myo is a 46-year-old man who lives in Burma with his wife and their seven-year-old son. From 2001 to 2002, Myo and his wife lived in Thailand while searching for employment. In 2002, at a medical checkup required to extend his stay in Thailand, Myo learned that he has mitral valve regurgitation. Normally, the mitral valve keeps blood flowing from the left atrium to the left ventricle. However, with mitral valve regurgitation, the valve leaks, allowing blood to flow in the opposite direction. This can cause fatigue, shortness of breath, weakness, or swelling of the feet and ankles. At the time of the diagnosis, Myo received two weeks' worth of medication, but no follow-up appointments were scheduled. Myo experienced no symptoms of his heart condition until mid-2016, when he began to have difficulty breathing. He sought care at several hospitals. He received a free echocardiogram, which confirmed that he will need to undergo surgery to replace his mitral valve. At his appointment with our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Myo spoke of the significant stress his health condition has brought him. He had to sell his motorbike to pay for medical tests and treatment. He says, "I just want to be a strong and healthy man to be able to look after my wife and young son." Fortunately, Myo is scheduled to undergo mitral valve replacement surgery on April 24. He will need financial assistance to pay the $1,500 required for the operation, transportation to and from the hospital, diagnostic procedures, lab tests, and ten nights in the hospital.

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Walter is a baby boy who lives in rural Guatemala with his parents and older brother. His father works as an agricultural day laborer. Walter was born via C-section in March after a complicated pregnancy. His mother has since been unable to produce enough breastmilk to feed Walter, causing him to lose weight. Without milk, Walter will not be able to maintain his current weight or to grow. Lactation failure can lead to starvation and dehydration and provoke electrolyte imbalances that can cause seizures. Brain development occurring during this delicate time can also be compromised, putting the baby at risk of long-term damage. To stabilize his condition, Walter was given a preliminary supply of formula. Walter's family is often unable to meet their basic expenses, which puts baby formula far outside of their economic reach. His parents have been worried about how to provide milk for Walter. Lactation failure, while dangerous, is easy to treat. By supplying Walter with formula and his family with health education, he will receive the calories he needs to grow and thrive. One-on-one motivational education with Walter’s mother will teach her how to create a nutritious, inexpensive diet for Walter. Walter’s immune system will strengthen, and he will grow to be a healthy, energetic baby. Our medical partner, Wuqu' Kawoq, is requesting $1,162 to pay for the treatment program, which is scheduled to begin on April 4. Walter's mother shares, "I have been worried, because I don't have enough breastmilk to feed my son. My husband and I have been thinking about what to do, because we don't have the resources to buy him milk, but now I want to thank you for the help my son will receive. May God bless you. My desire is to see my son grow healthy and be able to go to school."

$1,162raised
Fully funded