Colin D McCartney
Colin's Story

Colin joined Watsi on March 17th, 2017. 10 other people also joined Watsi on that day! Colin's most recent donation traveled 8,700 miles to support Daudi, a 6-month-old baby from Tanzania, to fund clubfoot repair surgery.

Impact

Colin has funded healthcare for 25 patients in 8 countries.

Patients funded by Colin

Myat is a two-month-old boy who lives with his family in Hpa-An Town, Karen State, Burma. His father passed away when his mother was two months pregnant with him. Myat’s mother is a homemaker and she takes care of him at home. All of his sister and brothers are students. Myat’s grandfather drives a tricycle taxi. On 6 June 2019, Myat was born without any complications at HGH. Since he was born, his mother noticed that he has been passing white coloured stools, but she did not do anything about it because she thought it was normal. When he was just over a month old, his mother noticed that Myat’s navel was bigger than normal. His mother then took him to HGH. The doctor examined his navel and told his mother not to worry too much and he also told her come back if it becomes bigger. A few days later, Myat’s mother noticed that his navel has become bigger and his mother took him to the hospital again. The doctor again took a look at Myat’s navel and advised his mother to take him to a hospital in Yangon for treatment. However, Myat’s mother did not have money to go to Yangon. On 6 September 2019 Myat received an X-ray at Mae Sot Hospital (MSH) and was given a diagnosis of a bulging navel and biliary atresia, a childhood disease of the liver in which one or more bile ducts are abnormally narrow, blocked, or absent. Currently, Myat still passes white coloured stools. He also has a bulging navel which never goes away. His mother is very much worried for him, especially that she just learned about his liver disease. Myat’s mother said, “I would like him to be like other children. I feel bad for him but at the same time happy that an organization Burma Children Medical Fund will help him for his treatment.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Chan is a 36-year-old woman who lives with her husband and father-in-law in Shwepyithar Town, Yangon Division. Chan’s husband works as a day labourer on a construction site, while Chan is a seamstress who works from home. In 2010, Chan started to feel tired, had a rapid heartbeat and developed joint pain. She went to the clinic in Thaton, where she lived at that time, and received an an echocardiogram (echo) and x-ray. The doctor also told her that, if her heart became too enlarged, she would not be able to control her condition with oral medication and she would not be able to have a baby. She then received oral medication for a week which made her feel better for a while. In September 2019, when she went back for her follow-up appointment, she received another echo. Following this, the doctor explained to her that her condition could no longer be stabilized with medication. As he knew that Chan could not afford to pay for her surgery, he referred her to Pinlon Hospital. On 17th September 2019, she met the staff at Pin Long Hospital and who then referred her to Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). Currently, Chan suffers from chest pain, has difficulty breathing, has a rapid heartbeat and has lost weight. In her free times Chan likes to sew, cook and do housework. “When I’m fully recovered, I will continue to work as a seamstress, save money and live happily with family,” said Chan. “Once I have enough money, my husband and I have decided to adopt one child. And I want to do charity work and help poor people as much as I can.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Two weeks ago, Elizabeth sustained a fracture of the tibia fibula after a fall on her right leg. She was taken to county referral hospital where she was admitted and a back slab was fixed to stabilize her fracture as she waits to be operated. Ten days later, there were no signs of her being treated because the family didn’t have money needed for the surgery. The fracture site developed blisters which later ruptured and formed wounds. Elizabeth's family requested to be referred to AIC Kapsowar hospital hoping they will receive help because they were worried about her condition. Elizabeth was brought to our hospital accompanied by a few family members. An X-ray was done on arrival which confirmed the fracture of the proximal tibia fibula. After a social worker's assessment, Elizabeth was admitted as she waits to be operated. Elizabeth is a mother of four girls. Her daughters are all married and they live with their husbands in the upcountry. Elizabeth's husband Joseph is old and he cannot perform any duties at home such as farming. Elizabeth is the breadwinner of the family since she tends to the farm. She feels his husband is now suffering because they don’t have enough food in the home and they only depend on farming. Elizabeth requires urgent surgery to fix her fracture but she cannot afford medical treatment due to lack of funds. $968.00 is needed for her to continue with treatment. The family is requesting for financial support to help Elizabeth get treatment required. Elizabeth’s daughter says, “Mum is sleeping helplessly in bed, we have nothing to offer for her surgery. I hope she gets treated, she really deserves a good life.”

$763raised
Fully funded