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Gaurav's Story

Gaurav joined Watsi on February 6th, 2014. Ten years ago, Gaurav joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Gaurav's most recent donation supported Peter, a plumber from Kenya, to fund fracture repair surgery.

Impact

Gaurav has funded healthcare for 98 patients in 13 countries.

Patients funded by Gaurav

Sovannareach is a six-year-old first-grade student from Prey Veng Province in Cambodia. He lives with his grandmother, who is a rice farmer, while his mother works as a factory worker to support him. His parents divorced five years ago, and he has remained close to his family. Sovannareach enjoys reading and writing Khmer, and he hopes to become a doctor when he grows up. In his free time, he likes playing football with his friends in the village. His favorite meals are lemongrass sour soup and eggs. Sovannareach was born with scoliosis, a condition in which the spine curves abnormally to one side, often resembling a “C” or “S” shape. As he has grown, his spinal curve has gradually worsened, bending toward the right side. The condition causes him pain and makes it difficult for him to sit comfortably for long periods. As a result, he sometimes struggles to concentrate in class and worries about being teased by his classmates because of his appearance. He also has difficulty walking, which affects his daily activities. In the past, Sovannareach had never received hospital treatment because his family could not afford it. However, a relative told his family about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). They traveled approximately four hours to CSC for a consultation and to seek specialized care. On August 11th, surgeons at CSC plan to implant a metal “growing rod” into his spine to help control the curvature while allowing his spine to continue growing. CSC is requesting $1,500 to cover the costs of his surgery, the implant, and post-operative care, including physiotherapy. Sovannareach's grandmother said, “I hope this treatment will help control my grandson’s spinal curvature as he grows and keep his spine stable. I want him to continue walking, playing, going to school, and enjoying his childhood without his condition limiting his daily life.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Natanim is a quiet and gentle two-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing with his friends, watching cartoons, and spending time with his mother. He lives with his parents in a rented house. His father works as a shoemaker, and his mother is a housewife. As Natanim grew, he began experiencing symptoms such as pain, itching, and difficulty urinating. Concerned about his health, his parents took him to a health center, where, upon review, a doctor explained that he would need corrective surgery. The news worried Natanim's mother. She felt frightened, anxious, and uncertain about what would happen to her young son. The family was referred to a higher-level hospital for specialized care. There, doctors confirmed his diagnosis as hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. They explained that because Natanim had already been circumcised, his surgery would be more complex and would require specialized pediatric surgical care. Natanim was referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). He is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on July 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Natanim's mother says, "Thank you so much to everyone. May God bless you all. I am deeply grateful to the BethanyKids team and all the staff for welcoming us with such kindness and respect. The care and service we received were truly different from anywhere else we had been. Thank you for giving my son this opportunity to receive treatment. My greatest hope is that Natanim will grow up healthy and achieve his dream of becoming a football player. May God bless you all."

$1,293raised
Fully funded

Ei is a 12-year-old girl from Burma. She lives with her parents, younger brother, and younger sister in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. Originally from Yangon Division, Burma, the family moved to Thailand in 2021 in search of better job opportunities. Ei's father works in a sewing factory, while her mother is a homemaker. Both Ei and her younger brother attend a migrant school, while her younger sister is too young to attend school. The family lives in the dormitory of her father's workplace. In her free time, Ei enjoys learning Thai and English and doing her schoolwork. Ei was diagnosed with traumatic cataract of her right eye. She is experiencing blurred vision in her right eye, and she can only see objects close to her. She also suffers from right eye pain, is sensitive to light, and has to wear sunglasses when outside. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund lens replacement surgery for Ei. On May 21st, doctors will perform a lens replacement, during which they will remove Ei's natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure. Ei's father expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you so much to this organisation and the donors for helping with my daughter's treatment costs. We feel immense happiness for your support, which relieves the hardship of our family. Without your help, we could not afford her surgery, and we almost decided to postpone her surgery. I hope you can continue to stand for patients who actually need support, like my daughter, for a very long time."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Emily is five-year-old student who lives with her family in Medellin, Colombia. Her joy and curiosity shine through every day at preschool, where she interacts with her classmates with enthusiasm and tenderness. Her energy is contagious, and her sweetness leaves a special impression on those around her. When she grows up, she dreams of becoming a firefighter or a veterinarian. Emily was born with an inguinal hernia, a condition in which a small portion of abdominal tissue protrudes through the abdominal wall near the groin. This condition causes discomfort and tenderness, especially when coughing or exercising. Because she has to be cautious with her movements, Emily has begun to feel insecure, particularly during physical education classes and when playing at the park. Without surgery, Emily will continue to experience symptoms, will have difficulty fully enjoying her childhood, and will be at risk of future complications. Fortunately, on April 27th, Emily will undergo repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $1,005 to fund the surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live more comfortably. Emily's mother shared, "I want to express my deepest gratitude to the people that will support her surgery. Thank you for extending your generous hand without even knowing her personally. This gesture is, without a doubt, one of the purest expressions of human kindness. May God bless you abundantly, may He multiply your generosity with blessings in your life, and may He continue to guide every endeavor you undertake. Your support not only covers a medical need but also fills our hearts with hope and peace. Thank you for giving us hope that Emily can once again live out her childhood with freedom and confidence."

$1,005raised
Fully funded

Musa is a jovial and sociable 14-year-old boy from Narok County in Kenya. He is the last born in a family of seven, and is currently a Grade 7 student. His mother is a home maker, while his father works as a small-scale farmer to provide for their family. Like many boys his age, Musa enjoys being active, but his biggest dream is to become an athlete in the future. However, Musa’s journey has not been easy. He was born with bilateral clubfoot, a condition where the feet are twisted out of shape, which makes walking and running difficult. Because of this condition, Musa has often struggled with mobility, which has limited his ability to run and participate in sports like other children. Despite these challenges, Musa has not given up on his dreams. Musa is not new to our medical partner's care center, AIC CURE Hospital. He previously underwent surgery on his right foot, which is now corrected, greatly improving his mobility. Musa now needs corrective surgery on his left foot. Although resources are limited, Musa’s parents remain hopeful and supportive as their son continues his treatment journey. Musa was admitted to the hospital, and is currently undergoing serial casting in preparation for surgery on his left foot. Musa is scheduled for clubfoot repair surgery on March 11th at AIC CURE Hopsital. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Musa's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to stand upright, walk comfortably, run freely, and continue with his studies without hindrance. Most importantly, it will bring him closer to chasing his dream of becoming an athlete and, perhaps one day, representing Kenya in international athletic events. Musa says: “I really looking forward to standing upright, walking well, and achieving my dream of becoming an athlete in the future."

$1,286raised
Fully funded

Rahel is a 17-year-old girl from Tanzania. She lives with her family, who depend on small-scale farming and seasonal labor for their livelihood. Those close to her describe her as patient, respectful, and determined, someone who rarely complains even when things are difficult. Despite these challenges, Rahel has remained motivated about her future. Rahel has grown up carrying a heavy physical burden caused by burn scar contractures affecting her hand. She values education and practical skills and wants to be able to work and support herself. However, the functional limitation in her hand has made schoolwork, vocational tasks, and daily chores slower and more difficult, affecting both her confidence and productivity With limited and unpredictable income, accessing specialized reconstructive care was never financially possible. As a result, Rahel adapted as best as she could, learning to use her hand in alternative ways, avoiding tasks that required strength and flexibility, and quietly pushing through discomfort. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Rahel receive treatment. On February 17th, surgeons at their care center will perform contracture release surgery and a skin graft to give her a strong chance to regain grip strength and finger mobility, improvements that will directly impact her independence, learning ability, and future employability. Now, she needs help to fund this $832 procedure. Rahel says, “Because my fingers are tight and cannot open well, I struggle to hold things firmly or write for long. I hope this treatment will help me use my hand normally and work independently.”

$832raised
Fully funded

Naw Paw is a 55-year-old woman from Burma. She has been living in the refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand, with her husband, her son, her daughter, and her grandson for more than 20 years. Naw Paw is primarily a homemaker. Together with her son, she assists in growing and selling vegetables and produce from their garden. Her daughter is also a homemaker and cares for Naw Paw’s grandson, while her husband volunteers at the camp church. The family’s limited income from vegetable growing allows them to cover only basic daily living expenses. In her free time, Naw Paw enjoys playing with her grandson, tending to the garden and speaking with neighbours. Watching her plants grow brings her happiness. However, ongoing health issues and financial uncertainty have caused her significant stress. In June 2025, Naw Paw reported lower back pain and pain in her right lower abdomen. An ultrasound was performed, which revealed gallstones. Naw Paw has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, Naw Paw's symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Naw Paw is scheduled to undergo her cholecystectomy on January 12th. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Naw Paw's procedure and care. Naw Paw shared, “I am always worrying about where I can find more money, especially with my health problems. I feel very relieved and thankful to receive support from the donors during this time.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded