W
William C BabeauxUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER

William's Story

William joined Watsi on June 11th, 2017. Seven years ago, William joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. William's most recent donation supported Gabriel, a six-year-old boy from Kenya, to fund hearing aids.

Impact

William has funded healthcare for 105 patients in 12 countries.

Patients funded by William

Gabriel is a six-year-old boy from Kenya who enjoys playing and learning new things. His father is a construction worker, but his income is not always steady, and there are times when it is difficult for him to provide even the basic needs of the family. His mother is a homemaker and depends on her husband’s income to support the household. Gabriel has struggled with his hearing since birth and has not been able to develop speech like other kids his age. His parents first became concerned when they noticed that he did not respond whenever they called his name. As Gabriel grew older, his difficulties became more noticeable, especially when he started school. He struggled to understand his teachers and could not communicate easily with his classmates. While other children followed lessons, interacted with one another, and participated in classroom activities, Gabriel found himself struggling to understand what was being taught. Doctors have recommended hearing aids to help him access sound and support the development of the communication skills he has been missing. For his family, this brought new hope that Gabriel could finally have an opportunity to hear and communicate with the people around him. Fortunately, our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) can help. Gabriel is scheduled to be fitted with hearing aids on October 2nd. He and his family need your help in raising $1,171 to fund the devices and his care. Hearing aids could help Gabriel build confidence and reduce the isolation he has experienced for much of his young life. "Seeing my son isolate himself from others pains me deeply. I just want him to hear, communicate, and interact with other children,” Gabriel’s dad shared.

$629raised
$542to go

Mohammed is a playful and intelligent seven-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing football, running, and spending time with his friends. He is a first-grade student and the second child in his family. Mohammed has one older brother and two younger sisters. His father works as a daily laborer, while his mother is a housewife. The family lives in a rented house and faces financial challenges. Mohammed was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. When Mohammed was about one year old, they took him to a nearby health center. After examining him, the doctor advised the family to return when he was older, explaining that surgery could be performed at a later age. The family returned home, but as Mohammed grew older, they became increasingly concerned that the condition could affect his future. Fortunately, Mohammed is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on August 17th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. After surgery, he should be able to live more comfortably. Mohammed's father shared, "Thank you so much to everyone for listening to our concerns and responding to our needs. We are deeply grateful to all the staff for your kindness, care, and support. My prayer is that Mohammed will recover well, continue his education, enjoy good health, and have a stable and successful future. May God bless you all."

$769raised
$524to go

Ruth is 36 years old and a single mother of three from Malawi. She also has one grandchild from her firstborn. Ruth has experienced multiple family losses. Both of her parents and her two siblings are deceased. The only surviving relative is her uncle, who is physically disabled and fully dependent on her for care and support. She earns a living by selling tomatoes. In 2003, Ruth began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small swelling on the right side of her neck. Over time, the swelling grew bigger and began to affect her health. She developed symptoms including loss of voice, neck pain, headaches, and frequent coughing. After 15 years, she finally sought medical attention and was diagnosed with a goiter, an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth, and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Ruth receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on May 2nd at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and she and her family need help raising money. Ruth shared, "My only hope is you; I tried all that I could, but failed. I am looking forward to your support."

$1,015raised
Fully funded

Srey Neang is 18 years old and a twelfth-grade student from a small village in Prey Veng Province, Cambodia. She lives with her parents, who are rice farmers. She is the second of four siblings; her older brother works in a garment factory, while her two younger siblings are in school. She enjoys studying literature, which is her favorite subject at school, and she hopes to become a teacher in the future. In her free time, she likes listening to music and helping with housework. Her favorite food is spicy stir-fried chicken. Srey Neang has had scoliosis since she was 13 years old, a condition in which the spine curves abnormally to one side, often forming a “C” or “S” shape. As she has grown, the curve in her spine has progressively worsened and now bends toward the right side. This condition causes frequent pain and makes it difficult for her to sit for extended periods. Because of this, she struggles to concentrate in class and feels worried about being bullied by her classmates due to her appearance. She also experiences difficulty walking, which further affects her daily life. In the past, Srey Neang had not sought hospital treatment because her family could not afford the cost. Recently, a relative informed her family about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). On February 6th, surgeons at CSC will implant a metal “growing rod” into her spine to help correct the curve and allow for continued spinal growth. Her family can only afford to contribute $75 and needs help with the remaining $1,425. This will cover the costs of surgery, the implant, and post-operative care, including physiotherapy. Srey Neang's mother said, “After the surgery, I hope that Srey Neang will no longer have any pain so that she can do a good job at school and focus on her studies.”

$1,425raised
Fully funded

Leila is a 63-year-old woman from the valleys of Baringo County from Kenya. Together with her husband, she has raised six children through small-scale farming, depending on unpredictable harvests to provide food and school fees. Their income has never been stable, but their determination to educate their children has never wavered. Her firstborn son recently graduated with a Bachelor of Education in Special Needs Education and is still searching for employment. Her second-born daughter is married and lives away from home. The remaining children are still in school, each carrying hopes and dreams that depend heavily on their parents’ support. Leila is also a proud grandmother of two. In addition to farming, Leila once worked as a housekeeper in her neighbourhood to supplement the family’s income. However, age and increasing responsibilities forced her to stop. Even so, she continued to play a central role in sustaining her household. Three years ago, tragedy struck. While walking, she slipped and sustained an open fracture of her leg. She received treatment elsewhere and was placed in a cast. During follow-up visits, she was reassured that the bone was healing well and that she would soon walk independently again. But her pain never truly subsided. Instead of healing completely, she developed persistent drainage at the fracture site. Despite daily wound care, the wound never closed. She continued walking in pain, enduring discomfort so she could still care for her family. Two weeks ago, she fell again and refractured the same site. She noticed brittle, small bone fragments coming out through the wound, an alarming sign that something was deeply wrong. She was rushed to the hospital, where she underwent pain management and an emergency surgical washout. Realizing her condition required more specialised care, she chose to self-refer to AIC Kapsowar Hospital for further management. Upon arrival, investigations including X-rays and laboratory tests confirmed a diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis, a long-standing bone infection. She was admitted and started on intravenous antibiotics. She underwent surgical washout, debridement, and sequestrectomy to remove infected and dead bone tissue, along with placement of an antibiotic spacer to help clear the infection. Her recovery journey has now begun. In collaboration with the plastic surgery team, she is planned to undergo a flap procedure to provide proper soft tissue coverage, promote healing, and ultimately restore her limb function. The orthopaedic team will also place an antibiotic spacer to ensure she is completely free of infection. Leila has registered with SHA and submitted multiple times in pursuit of support. However, the process has been challenging, and she urgently requires financial assistance to undergo this life-changing surgery. We humbly ask for your support to help Leila access the surgery she desperately needs, so that the wound can close without complications. It is difficult for her to walk, and she is in pain. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Leila receive treatment. On March 2nd, surgeons at their care center will perform a contracture release surgery. This surgery is crucial; it offers her the best chance at complete recovery, relief from chronic pain, and the ability to walk independently again. Now, AMH is requesting $1,239 to fund Leila's procedure. Leila says, "I came to Kapsowar with faith that I will be able to go home a better person with healing in Jesus' name. I have a family that is dependent on me, and it hurts as a mother being far away from home."

$1,239raised
Fully funded

Nyi is a 38-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife and two children in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. Now he is a general day laborer, while his wife is a homemaker. One of his children is attending kindergarten, and the other one is too young to enroll in school. Their monthly income is just enough to cover their expenses, and sometimes, their wife’s friend, who works in Bangkok, supports them with their household's basic needs. In May 2024, Nyi noticed a swollen mass that caused him pain and discomfort. He visited the local clinic, where he underwent a physical examination, and after that, he had excisional surgery and was treated with oral antibiotics and painkillers. After the surgery, the symptoms initially disappeared, but in April 2025, the symptoms reappeared. His symptoms persisted, so he was referred to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot Hospital (MSH), in October 2025. Doctors advised him that he needs surgery to remove the mass. Currently, Zaw experiences pain, swelling, and discomfort. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Zaw receive treatment. He is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on November 6th. He is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Nyi expressed his feelings and said, “I feel depressed due to anxiety about my health. As a result of my condition, I have been unable to work properly, further reducing my family’s income. As a migrant, I faced financial difficulties and could not afford my treatment. However, thank you very much to the Burma Children's Medical Fund and the donors for assisting with my treatment costs. After I fully recover, I can go back to work and support my family.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Benyas is a shy four-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He lives in a small, rented house with his mother, grandmother, and two brothers. Life has not been easy for the family. His mother works as a domestic helper, while his father, who lives separately, does casual labor. Despite their hard work, the family often struggles to put enough food on the table. His grandmother, once a strong source of support, had to stop working due to asthma, which added even more strain to their situation. Benyas has been facing several health challenges that have further drained the family’s finances. One particularly difficult day, after experiencing itchiness and pain, he was taken to a hospital that referred him to a larger public hospital. However, the family had to wait long for treatment, leaving them frustrated and anxious. His grandmother was especially distressed, worrying about his future and saddened that Benyas had not yet started school. Just when hope seemed lost, a family friend advised them to visit our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Benyas was diagnosed with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future medical complications. Fortunately, Benyas is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on December 4th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Benya's grandmother said, "My only wish is for good health, education, and stability. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to see him in good health and reflect that after his treatment, I'll see him like other healthy children."

$1,293raised
Fully funded