United Kingdom   •   http://twitch.tv/fremily   •   May 4th
Emily's Story

Emily joined Watsi on May 20th, 2016. Six years ago, Emily joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Emily's most recent donation traveled 5,300 miles to support Ei, a 12-year-old girl from Burma, to fun eye surgery so she can see better.

Impact

Emily has funded healthcare for 74 patients in 12 countries.

Patients funded by Emily

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

Athalya is a little girl whose smile brightens the spirits of everyone around her. Despite her young age, she shows a special sensitivity when it comes to caring for others. She deeply enjoys music and dance. Athalya dreams of becoming a dancer one day, moving freely and joyfully to the rhythm of her favorite songs. Athalya lives in the town of Rionegro, Antioquia, with her parents, who lovingly support her at every stage of her development. However, about ten months ago, Athalya began experiencing oral discomfort that disrupted her daily routine. After seeing a dentist, she was diagnosed with dentin caries, a condition that began to affect her oral health and also her overall well-being. The pain and discomfort caused by this condition made everyday activities such as eating, concentrating, and fully enjoying her games increasingly difficult. This caused concern among Athalya's family, who sought specialized care to prevent the situation from worsening further. Following a comprehensive evaluation by the dental team, it was determined that, given the extent of the damage and Athalya's age, the safest and most effective treatment should be performed under general anesthesia. This decision made it possible to plan a comprehensive procedure focused on properly restoring Athalya's oral health without causing her any distress. Fortunately, Athalya will get the procedure she needs under anesthesia on April 29th. Our medical partner, Clínica Noel, is requesting $1,109 to help fund her care. Her mother kindly shared, "For Athalya, this treatment represents an opportunity for relief and recovery. It is hoped that it will not only eliminate her physical pain, but also restore her peace of mind when eating, the energy to learn, and the confidence to continue dancing, smiling, and dreaming. Thank you for being part of this process and for lending us a helping hand at such a crucial moment for her health and well-being. May God multiply your kindness and bless you always for everything you do from the heart."

$1,109raised
Fully funded

Bridgit is a little girl from Kenya. She is the youngest of her three siblings and is from Nairekia Ngale village in Narok County. Bridgit has clubfoot in both her feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Though young, Bridgit's journey has already been marked by pain and rejection. When Bridgit was two years old, her father left the family, unable to accept her disability. This left Bridgit's mum not only heartbroken, but also burdened with the full responsibility of providing for her children. With no stable income, she began working on other people’s farms to earn a small wage. The work is exhausting and unpredictable, but she perseveres each day for the sake of her children. There were moments of uncertainty, yet Bridgit's mum chose not to give up. Instead, she gathered strength and pressed on with faith. Hope came unexpectedly. One day, as Bridgit was playing in the village, church elders noticed her condition and felt compelled to help. They invited her mum to church and shared about the services offered at CURE International. Moved by her situation, the church congregation contributed funds for transport and ensured that Bridgit could travel for a medical review. At CURE Children's Hospital of Kenya, doctors assessed Bridgit and enrolled her in serial casting as preparation for corrective surgery. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital, will perform clubfoot repair surgery for Bridgit on March 2nd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Bridgit's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk, run, and play without difficulty. She will have the chance to join school and build friendships confidently. Her restored mobility will not only change her physical life, but also rebuild her self-esteem. “I am looking forward to seeing my child healed. When she gets better, I will give 10% to God as a thanksgiving offering,” Bridgit's mum told us.

$1,286raised
Fully funded

Moses is a 27-year-old man from Kenya. He is single and lives with his parents. He earns a living selling second-hand shoes, while his father works as a construction worker. On January 1st, 2026, Moses was involved in a road accident. He was traveling on a motorbike when another motorbike lost control and struck him on the right side, causing injuries to his right arm and right leg. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where first aid was administered, and he was subsequently discharged. Moses later came to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, for further treatment and has since undergone several surgeries to manage injuries to his arm and leg. His recovery has been steady; however, further imaging revealed that his jaw was fractured and requires a mandible ORIF. Since the accident, Moses has been unable to open his mouth and has been on a liquid diet. He is currently in pain and requires surgery, but his insurance coverage has been fully exhausted. The family already has an outstanding hospital bill and has been unable to raise additional funds. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On January 16th, Moses will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will enable him to undergo the necessary surgery, begin his recovery, and resume a normal diet. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,115 to fund this procedure. Moses says, “I am in constant pain. My mouth feels stuck, and I haven’t been able to eat properly since the accident.”

$1,115raised
Fully funded

Salim is a 20-month-old baby boy from Ethiopia. He delights in playing with anything he can find and loves spending time with his siblings. As the third child in his family and their first baby boy, he holds a special place in his parents' hearts, bringing them immense joy. Salim’s parents live in a single-room home. His mother is a devoted home maker, and his father works for a government facility. They face significant challenges in providing for their family, especially as Salim's health issues continue to strain their limited resources. Within a few days of Salim's birth, it became clear that something was wrong. He struggled to breastfeed, did not cry, and appeared unusually lethargic. Weighing only 2 kg at birth, the concern prompted his mother to seek immediate medical attention. Salim's mother went back to the hospital where he was born and upon review, was told that her son would need surgery. They were referred to another facility for care. Salim was born with an anorectal malformation, a congenital condition that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. During a follow up visit two months later, Salim's mother learned about our medical partner care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM), from the organization's field coordinator. Her husband’s colleagues had contributed some funds toward Salim’s treatment, but it was not enough to cover the full cost of treatment, especially when factoring in the travel expenses from Sekota to Addis Ababa. Determined, she traveled to BKMCM Hospital and after a consultation with the doctor, she felt a renewed sense of hope, even though she was informed that Salim needed to gain more weight before surgery could proceed. With her heart full of optimism, she returned home. A year later, Salim’s mother brought him back to hospital where his surgery has been scheduled for July 29th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to cover the cost of Salim's procedure and care. After his recovery, Salim will no longer have bowel dysfunction and will not be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Salim's mother says, "My hope is that my son will regain his health after the surgery. I long to return home with him thriving. I am grateful for this opportunity, that will help him be healthy, just like my other children."

$1,500raised
Fully funded