Lakshmi GaneshUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER
Lakshmi's Story

Lakshmi joined Watsi on August 8th, 2013. Nine years ago, Lakshmi joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Lakshmi's most recent donation traveled 8,800 miles to support Nun, a 19-year-old construction worker from Cambodia, to fund fracture repair surgery.

Impact

Lakshmi has funded healthcare for 109 patients in 14 countries.

Patients funded by Lakshmi

Pheareak is a 17-year-old from Cambodia who lives with his parents, older sister, and younger brother. His parents are rice farmers, and his older sister works as a seamstress in a clothes factory. Pheareak stopped studying after grade six to help his family in the ancestral rice paddies. His favorite activities include playing football and swimming with his friends as well as eating his mother's amazing fried chicken. Four months ago, Pheareak was in a motorbike collision on his way home. He sustained a blow to his right shoulder on the concrete road and was knocked unconscious. He was transported to a local hospital, where he received emergency care. As the doctors were unable to diagnose his shoulder injury, they suggested he visit our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), for review. The doctors at CSC diagnosed his condition as a brachial plexus injury on his 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. Pheareak cannot move his arm and experiences pain, numbness, and lack of muscle control. Pheareak traveled to CSC's care center to receive treatment, as this is the only center in the country where this treatment is available. On July 25th, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he hopes to use his arm again. CSC is requesting $709 to fund this procedure. Pheareak contributed $100 to his care. Pheareak said: "I hope this surgery will help me to use my arm again. I would like to work in a factory or on the farm to support my family."

$709raised
Fully funded

Benedister is a 45-year-old single mother and small-scale farmer from Kenya. She plants maize and millet for her family's consumption and for sale. Benedister has seven children between 11 and 23 years old. When she is done with her farm work, Benedister always looks for casual jobs in order to earn extra wages. She is very hardworking, as she is her family’s sole breadwinner. One day, while walking around her compound, Benedister fell and injured her right lower limb. She was unable to walk, so she was carried by some of her relatives to the hospital. Her pain was so intense that she was given some pain medication, then sent for an x-ray. The x-ray revealed that she had a bimalleolar fracture with a joint dislocation, which means that in addition to a bone being broken, the ligaments on the inside of her ankle were injured as well. She was treated, and then her ankle was immobilized with a bulky jones splint. She is not able to walk on her own and is in a lot of pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On February 7th, Benedister will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. Afterward, she will be able to walk easily again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,145 to fund this procedure. Benedister says, “It’s really sad that I cannot walk without support. My children look up to me for all their needs and here I am now with a broken leg and cannot offer any help to them. Please help me get my bones fixed so that I will be able to work and live normally as before.”

$1,145raised
Fully funded

10 year old Dennis is the third child in a family of four children, all of whom study at a local primary school. Dennis' father - who is from Uganda - and his mother - who is from Kenya - separated several years ago. Now Dennis and his siblings live with their mother in Marakwet West, Kenya, where Dennis' mother is a casual laborer, working on local farms. On weekends and holidays, Dennis and his siblings assist their mother in her work, so as to earn additional money for the family. While helping a neighbor cut animal feed into small pieces, Dennis' hand was injured by a chaff cutter. When Dennis was brought to the hospital, it was determined that several of the fingers on his right hand had been damaged. Two of the fingers had to be amputated right away, while the third finger subsequently developed gangrene, and also needed to be amputated. While Dennis has recovered from his injuries, the wound on his hand has never healed completely. The surgeon advised the family that Dennis requires skin grafting, in order to replace the skin that he lost when his hand was injured, and to ensure the total healing of the wound. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is here to help. They are requesting $1,089 to fund Dennis' skin grafting procedure, which is scheduled for May 19th, at AIC Kapsowar Hospital. This procedure will enable Dennis to fully recover, so that he can return to school, and resume the life of a 10 year old boy. Dennis's mother said: "It is so sad that my son has lost his fingers, but I am grateful to God that he is still alive. I am looking forward to seeing him get well so that he may continue with his education and become successful in life. Kindly help him so that he may recover well."

$1,089raised
Fully funded