Uday Kiran MedisettyUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER
Uday's Story

Uday joined Watsi on March 18th, 2016. Eight years ago, Uday joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Uday's most recent donation traveled 4,200 miles to support Eyphril, a one-year-old baby girl from Bolivia, to fund heart surgery.

Impact

Uday has funded healthcare for 90 patients in 11 countries.

Patients funded by Uday

Eyphril is a one-year-old baby girl from Bolivia. She lives in a mining village in central Bolivia with her parents and older sister. Eyphril's father is a truck driver and her mother is a house cleaner. Eyphril was born with cor triatriatum, a rare heart condition where the upper chambers of the heart are subdivided by membranes into three chambers. These chambers prevent blood from flowing normally through her heart, leaving her weak and short of breath. On April 17th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, Surgeons will remove the membranes from her heart so that blood can flow normally. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to fund this procedure. Eyphril's mother shares, "Our family is praying for all of the doctors, nurses, and everyone else who is helping our daughter to become healthy."

$603raised
$897to go

Hassan is an only child whose parents separated before he was born. Prior to his birth, Hassan's mother worked alongside his grandmother, doing farm work to earn income. After Hassan was born, his mother had to stop working so she could take care of him. Hassan was diagnosed with spina bifida at birth, a condition that occurs when a developing baby's spinal cord fails to develop or close properly while in the womb. Hassan had a swelling on his back that was open and leaking. He was admitted in hospital for a few days while his mother was taught how to dress the wound. An MRI and a CT scan were done and he was scheduled for surgery weeks later. While home, his mother continued with the wound dressings as instructed until the leaking stopped. During one of the post-natal clinics, Hassan and his mother were referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids, for treatment. Upon arrival at BethanyKids, Hassan was examined and was additionally diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a build up of fluids in the brain. He was then scheduled for a spina bifida repair surgery, and the mother was told that once he recovered, he would be scheduled for a shunt insertion surgery. Due to financial challenges and a loss of income for Hassan's mother, the family is unable to meet the medical expenses. Without treatment, Hassan is at risk of lower-limb paralysis, infection of the exposed nervous tissue, development of tethered cord syndrome, and possible developmental delays. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Hassan receive treatment. On March 15th, surgeons at BethanyKids will conduct a spina bifida closure surgery to promote Hassan's healthy growth and development. Now, Hassan's family needs help to fund this $1,151 procedure. Hassan’s mother says, “A while back, I had already given up on Hassan's treatment. Because the community had never seen such a condition, I was told that I would always get children who have different medical conditions. After coming to this facility, I realized that this was not the case. My hopes were raised again and now I’m looking forward to the best outcome in Hassan’s treatment.”

$350raised
$801to go

Keina is an adorable preschooler from Haiti. She lives with her mother and grandparents in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. She's just started preschool and loves animals and the color pink. Keina has a life-threatening cardiac condition called patent ductus arteriosus. A hole exists between two blood vessels near her heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. Keina will fly to United States to receive treatment because the care she needs is not available anywhere in Haiti. On February 8th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which doctors will plug the hole with a device attached to the end of a catheter. Another organization, Gift of Life New York, is contributing $4000 to support surgery costs. Keina's family needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep, travel, and post-operative care. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and follow-up appointments. It also supports the cost of passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Keina's family overseas. Keina's mother states, "Our family would like to say thank you to everyone who is helping to heal Keina's heart."

$731raised
$769to go

Sandi is a young monk from Burma. He lives alongside his fellow novices and monks in a monastery. As a novice, Sandi does not have a personal income, but his family support him and the monastery provides him with food and shelter. In his free time, Sandi enjoys listening to the Dhamma. In February 2022, Sandi began experiencing blurred vision in both eyes. A CT scan revealed a cystic lesion in his brain, indicating a fluid-filled tumor, craniopharyngioma. Sandi experiences significant blurred vision in both eyes, occasional headaches and dizziness, and pain at the nape of his neck. Due to his poor vision, he cannot read books and cannot walk without assistance. Sandi sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. He is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on January 10th. Our partner is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Sandi said, "I want to express my gratitude to BCMF and donors for helping me. I would love to request continued assistance throughout my entire treatment. My desire is to fully recover my vision. Once I recover, I aspire to dedicate myself to studying and trying to become a monk."

$960raised
$540to go

Beatriz is a 18 month-old girl. Beatriz lives with her parents in a mining city in central Bolivia. Her father is a restaurant cook and her mother is a homemaker. Beatriz was born with a cardiac condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. This condition involves several related defects including a hole between two chambers of the heart, and a muscular blockage of one of the valves. These defects deprive her body of oxygen, and as a result she has required supplemental oxygen since she was a small baby. If left untreated, the condition can lead to heart failure. With proper treatment, many live until adulthood. Our partner facility International Cardiac Alliance is requesting $1500 to fund heart surgery for Beatriz. During surgery, doctors will repair the defects so that blood can flow normally through her lungs. Her mother shared: "We are excited for this surgery so that our daughter can breathe better and live a more normal life."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

San is a 50-year-old grandmother from Burma. She lives with her son and granddaughter. Both San and her son are subsistence farmers and her son occasionally works as a day laborer. Her six-year-old granddaughter is a nursery school student. During her free time, San enjoys spending quality time with her granddaughter and visiting the monastery. In February 2023, San began experiencing occasional back and lower left abdominal pain with discomfort. This made it difficult for her to walk and sit. After an abdominal ultrasound and physical examination, she was diagnosed with gallstones. San has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, San's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), San is scheduled to undergo a cholecystectomy on November 17. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of San's procedure and care. San said, “I feel sad and sorry for my son who has to work on the farm and help me with household chores. After I feel better, I will help him on the farm and handle all the household chores. I want to recover so that I can find work and pay back my debt. I want to spend time with my granddaughter and help her with her homework. I also want to go to the monastery and pray, as I have not been able to go since my condition started."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Marie is a mother of two from Haiti. She lives with her mother and two sons in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince; she previously worked in an apparel factory but had to stop working last year due to her cardiac illness. Marie has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral stenosis. One of the four valves of her heart was damaged due to an infection she suffered earlier in life, and she can no longer pump blood normally through her body. Marie needs surgery that is not available within Haiti so she will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On October 19th, she will finally undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will attempt to repair her existing damaged valve; if this is unsuccessful, they may need to implant an artificial replacement. Another organization, Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital, is contributing $25000 to pay for surgery. Marie's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep and followup. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. "I am hopeful that after this surgery, I can stop worrying so much about my health and my heart. I want to focus instead on my beautiful family and my future," Marie shared.

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Ma Pyae lives with her mother, brother, sister, and niece in Yangon Division, Burma. She works in a sewing factory, her younger sister is a day laborer, and her older brother is unemployed due to illness. Her mother is a homemaker, and her niece is a student. Their combined family income is enough to cover their daily expenses, but they cannot afford expensive surgery. Ma Pyae was born with a congenital heart defect, but her condition has deteriorated, and she has experienced fast breathing, heart palpitations, and cannot sleep. She went to see the doctor, received an echocardiogram, and was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect that affects the blood flowing through the lungs. Ma Pyae needs surgery as soon as possible. She still experiences heart palpitations and fast breathing if she is more active or walks a longer distance. She cannot sleep well at night because of her heart palpitations. Ma Pyae said, "I am a bit worried about my surgery, and I also worry that I will lose my job in the factory. After I recover from my surgery, I will continue to work in the same factory and contribute to my family."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Naw Say, a 30-year-old woman, resides in a refugee camp located in Mae Hong Son Province with her husband and daughter. Originally from Burma, they sought refuge in 2010 due to conflict in their homeland. Naw Say works as a nurse in the camp while her husband is employed as a day laborer in a nearby Thai village. They receive a monthly cash card payment of 848 baht (approximately 28 USD) from The Border Consortium, which barely covers their daily expenses. The organization Malteser International (MI) Thailand provides them with essential healthcare services at the camp's hospital. In her leisure time, Naw Say enjoys sewing clothes for her family. Currently pregnant with her second child, Naw Say's doctors have advised her to undergo a scheduled cesarean section (C-Section). This recommendation is based on her previous childbirth experience where her first baby's head couldn't pass through her pelvis opening, necessitating an emergency C-Section. Our partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping facilitate Naw Say's C-Section procedure on August 5th, and is requesting $1500 to help fund the procedure. Naw Say is in need of your support for this important medical procedure. Naw Say said, “I want to have a boy this time because I already have a daughter. I love being a nurse and I enjoy taking care of people who are sick."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Hlaing is a 55-year-old man from Thailand who lives with his wife, two sons, mother-in-law, and grandson. He is a construction worker, but he stopped working five months ago due to his health deteriorating. In his free time, Hlaing enjoys listening to music and taking walks in the forest to gather wood for the house. In February, Hlaing noticed a mass developing in his right nostril, which has grown big enough to block the nostril completely. He experiences difficulty breathing due to his right nostril being obstructed by the mass, has persistent coughing and loss of appetite, and sometimes has hot and watery eyes. He underwent a CT scan and was diagnosed with an inverted papilloma in his right nasal cavity, meaning that he has a non-cancerous tumor in the right side of his nose. Hlaing sought treatment through our medical partner Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) and is scheduled to undergo surgery to remove the mass from his nose on July 12th. Hlaing and his family need help to raise $1,500 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Hlaing said, “Thank you BCMF and the donors for paying for my treatment. I can’t afford it by myself. I have wanted to receive the surgery. I am happy to get support from you.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Dormaha is a four year old preschooler from Haiti. She lives with her parents in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, and likes dancing and watching cartoons. Dormaha suffers from a cardiac condition called ventricular septal defect. Blood leaks through a hole that exists between the two lower chambers of her heart, bypassing her lungs without obtaining the oxygen Dormaha requires. She needs surgery to prevent her from experiencing the weakness and shortness of breath that she currently lives with. The surgery that Dormaha needs is not currently available in Haiti, so she will be flying to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. Fortunately, on May 18th, she will undergo cardiac surgery at Hospital CEDIMAT, during which surgeons will sew a patch over the hole to close it. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, is contributing $8,000 to pay for the surgery. However, Dormaha's family also needs help to fund the costs of many other aspects of Dormaha's care. They are seeking $1,500 to pay for the lab tests, medicines, checkup and follow-up appointments, that are all part of Dormaha's critical treatment. This money will also go towards obtaining passports, and for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Dormaha's family overseas during her care. Dormaha's mother said: "Our family has been hoping for this surgery ever since our daughter was a small baby, and we are very glad the chance has arrived!"

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Nekanisa is a jovial and social 11-year-old girl. She attends Marlal primary school in Kenya and loves reading and playing with her friends. She aspires to become a nurse in the future and help hospital patients. Nekanisa is the child of a single mother, who depends upon farming to earn a living. Nekanisa was healthy at birth. However, about one year ago, she developed a problem with her leg that led to the contortion of her right knee, greatly affecting her mobility. Nekanisa visited Loitoktok General Hospital in Kajiado County for review, but due to financial challenges, she was discharged before she could be treated. As she walks with a lot of discomfort and is unable to run, Nekanisa sought help from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation. She is now scheduled to undergo a distal femur osteotomy on May 8th at AIC Cure International Hospital. She needs your help to fund this $1,224 procedure, which will enable her to walk pain-free. “I am requesting support from the donors to help me undergo surgery so that my foot can be corrected and I can resume my usual walking style,” Nekanisa told us.

$1,224raised
Fully funded