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United States   •   August 11th
Mike's Story

Mike joined Watsi on February 12th, 2015. Eleven years ago, Mike joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Mike's most recent donation traveled 1,900 miles to support Rosalinda, a student from Haiti, to fund treatment leading up to, and following heart surgery.

Impact

Mike has funded healthcare for 142 patients in 15 countries.

Patients funded by Mike

Pobit Dev is a 7-year-old boy from India. He hails from West Bengal and lives with his parents as an only child. His father works as a farmer, and his mother as a homemaker. Pobit is currently attending school in the 2nd grade. He enjoys eating and loves riding his bicycle. When he was five, Pobit Dev suffered burn injuries after falling on an open fire while playing with friends. He developed severe skin contractures affecting his right hand, left arm, elbow, forearm, and thumb, as well as his right cheek and presternal area. He is experiencing significant pain, and his daily life has been seriously impacted by the injuries. Despite two treatments in his home state, he was referred to Watsi's medical partner, G.S. Memorial Plastic Surgery Hospital and Trauma Center, for more advanced care. The initial focus will be on treating his hand and forearm first. These contractures restrict his hand movements and prevent him from doing activities he enjoys, also affecting his education. Pobit Dev has travelled more than 12 hours with his family to seek treatment at our partner's care center. On August 11th, specialty surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery to address his most pressing pain and discomfort. The treatment will help him regain his mobility, allowing him once again to play with his friends, ride bicycles, and continue his education. He needs help raising $1,442 to fund his treatment and care. Pobit Dev's mother shared, "I am hopeful about his treatment, and I just want him to be okay."

$1,442raised
Fully funded

Rodirick is a 61-year-old man from the Philippines. He was the primary provider for his family, but was forced to stop working because his health no longer allowed him to perform his job safely. Without a regular income, his family has relied on his retirement benefits and social pensions to cover their daily expenses while he awaits treatment. Despite his condition, Rodirick stays active by helping with light household chores and taking daily walks to maintain his strength. Access to surgery would give him the opportunity to recover, reduce his family's financial burden, and help him regain his independence. For seven years, Rodirick has dealt with an inguinal hernia. This hernia causes him immense pain that prevents him from moving freely. Fortunately, our medical partner can help him receive the care he needs. On July 24th, Rodirick will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation is supporting a portion of the cost of Rodirick's treatment. Our medical partner is raising the remaining $1,038 to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Rodirick said, "The foundation is a great help, especially for people like me who have no job and do not have enough money to pay for medical expenses. I am very thankful for their program, and I hope they can continue helping many more people who are facing the same situation as I am."

$1,038raised
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

Alice is a 45-year-old business woman from Malawi. She is a single mother of three children. Her first child is a second‑year university student, the second is in Form One, and the youngest is in Primary Eight. Alice runs a small retail shop selling items such as school bags and suitcases. Since separating from her husband, her modest income must support all of the household expenses and school fees for her children. She strives every day to support her family through determination and hard work. For about two years, Alice has been experiencing uncomfortable symptoms like abdominal pain, dizziness, and fatigue. She has been diagnosed with uterine fibroids and surgery has been recommended to treat her condition. Alice believes that surgery will restore her health and enable her to continue supporting her children. She shares that her children are her motivation and she is determined to regain her strength for their well-being and future. Alice is able to contribute to her surgery, but needs additional funds for the treatment. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,363 to fund Alice's surgery. On April 9th, she will undergo a hysterectomy to remove her uterus. Once recovered, Alice will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Alice says, "This condition has been an extra burden to my life, as it hinders my concentration on the work that helps my family. I am not able to pay for my surgery as a single mother. Your contribution will go a long way into supporting my family."

$1,363raised
Fully funded

Aaron is a quiet and calm three-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the 6th born in a family of seven children who live in a village in Kilifi County. Aaron was born with both spina bifida and clubfoot conditions, which has made his early years very challenging. He has already undergone surgery to address the spina bifida condition, but he is still unable walk, stand, or crawl on his own. Both Aaron’s parents are small-scale farmers who work hard to provide for their large family, but life has not been easy. After his spine surgery, Aaron started serial casting clinics at a county hospital to correct his clubfoot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. However, his feet began to swell, and the family slowly lost hope in the treatment. They did not know what to do next. One day, Aaron's family heard about a mobile clinic in Mombasa, organized by our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure Hospital. Without hesitation, they traveled to attend the clinic, hoping for a new beginning for their son. After an assessment, Aaron was scheduled for bilateral serial casting in preparation for surgery. Aaron and his family traveled to AIC Cure Hospital where he is currently undergoing serial casting. Following this, surgeons have scheduled clubfoot repair surgery on March 11th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Aaron's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to stand, walk, and live a more independent life. His parents look forward to the day he will join school like other children and grow up with confidence. Aaron's father says: “My prayer and hope is for my son to walk and join school, just like other children."

$1,286raised
Fully funded