Jordan PereiraUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER
Jordan's Story

Jordan joined Watsi on April 27th, 2019. Five years ago, Jordan joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Jordan's most recent donation traveled 6,900 miles to support Hein, a four-year-old boy from Burma, to fund eye surgery.

Impact

Jordan has funded healthcare for 63 patients in 11 countries.

Patients funded by Jordan

Hein is a four-year-old boy living in Burma with his parents and sister. His mother is a homemaker while his father works as a second-hand motorbike broker to provide for their family. The family faces financial struggles and Hein's grandparents often step in to offer financial assistance during times of need. Hein's sister is a student, while he stays at home with his mother. When Hein was two years old, his mother noticed that he had a small lump on his right eyelid. He rubbed his eyes frequently, experienced discomfort and sometimes woke up with his eye swollen. His mother took him to a nearby hospital in 2022 and he was given some eye drops and an antibiotic. The doctor further suggested that Hein’s mother take him to an ophthalmology hospital, which specializes in eye care, for further investigation. However, due to security concerns stemming from the civil war and the high costs associated with the journey, Hein's mother was unable to make the trip. As time passed, Hein's condition deteriorated, with increased swelling and itchiness. Presently, his right eye is painful, showing signs of redness and swelling. Hein's mother brought him to our medical partner's care center for treatment. On March 25th, Hein is scheduled for a cyst excision procedure that will provide him relief and improve his vision and eye movement. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund the procedure. Hein’s mother said, "I have been trying my best to seek treatment for him, and even though I cannot afford it, I hoped to find a way for him to get treated. I want him to grow up like other children and enjoy his life. As a mother, I always want the best for him, and I want to support his future ambitions. I am so happy to learn that my son's medical treatment will be supported by donors. I am happy and relieved, and I hope that Hein's condition will be cured."

$727raised
$773to go

Oliver is a married mother of four children, all of whom are married with children except the last one who is still in school. She is a farmer together with her husband. Her second child, a daughter, has been there for her support throughout her illness. Oliver likes chatting with her daughter and enjoys eating nsima made from cassava maize flour served with fresh fish. Oliver was well until one year ago when she noted a small lump on her right breast that was not painful. She visited her nearest hospital where some pain medication was provided. She visited many other hospitals after noting that the growth was becoming bigger as time passed. At one of the hospitals, a diagnosis of suspected breast cancer was made before proceeding to Kamuzu Central Hospital for further assessments. At Kamuzu Central Hospital (KCH), different tests were done, and a diagnosis of invasive ductal carcinoma was made followed by four cycles of neoadjuvant therapy. Oliver was later scheduled for surgery on January 15th this year but unfortunately, she did not report back since she did not have the funds. On January 29th, Oliver went back to KCH where she was referred to our medical partner's care center Partners in Hope Medical Center (PIH) so that she can undergo surgery more urgently. Of late, Oliver has been experiencing needle pricking pains, and weakness affecting her farm work plus household chores as a mother. On January 30th, Oliver reported to PIH and met the surgeon who confirmed the need for a modified radical mastectomy. Modified radical mastectomy is the removal of the entire breast, including the nipple, areola, and skin plus most axillary lymph nodes. Oliver believes the surgical operation will help her get back home in a good condition and enable her to resume her farm work. Oliver said, “Kindly remove this breast for me to have my peace of mind after getting rid of these bad symptoms that I experience, I would rather be able to move on in my age.”

$381raised
$813to go

Originally from Burma, Cherry is a 34-year-old woman who lives with her father's cousin and her two cousins in Tak Province, Thailand. Her two cousins are students, while Cherry is a homemaker. Her father's cousin runs her own small business, selling everything from makeup to food online or through her friends. They work hard to support their family. In the beginning of 2023, Cherry began to experience troubling symptoms, including swollen neck and discomfort when swallowing food. She was diagnosed with thyroid goiter. 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, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Cherry receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on January 24th at Mae Sot General Hospital. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. She and her family need help raising $1,500 for her treatment. Cherry said, "I feel stressed about my condition. Since I heard that my family who lives in Burma have now become displaced, I have felt more stressed and I am worried about them. I want to get treatment and recover soon so that I can look for a job and support my family back home. Thank you to all the donors and the organisation Burma Children Medical Fund for being willing to help me by paying for my treatment cost."

$1,032raised
$468to go

Negaso is a young boy from Ethiopia. He is the third child of his parents. He loves playing football with his friends and wants to attend school. He loves the spinach his mother makes. When he was only one day old, he underwent a emergency colostomy in Butajira Hospital as he was born with a birth condition that leads to intestinal blockage. His mother has a small vegetable business on the streets. At the same time, his father is a daily laborer, and their income is minimal. Negaso wants to go to school and cries when he sees other students go to school by school bus in the morning. His family can't send him to school since he has a colostomy, and they haven't been able to get him the necessary follow-up treatment for his condition. He needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Negaso is now scheduled to undergo surgery to heal his condition on January 4th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, requests $1,500 to cover Negaso's procedure and care. After his recovery, Negaso will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing severe health complications in the future. His mother said, "I worry that kids would touch his colostomy while I keep him on the street market with me."

$1,140raised
$360to go

56 year old Sylvia lives with her sister in the Philippines. As she has no family of her own, she takes care of her sister's home to earn money for her personal expenses. Several years ago Sylvia began to experience troubling symptoms, including cough, itchiness and pain in the area around her throat. In June she was examined at our medical partner's care center Our Lady of Peace Hospital, where she was diagnosed with a multinodular, non-toxic goiter. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is able to help Sylvia receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on November 25th at Our Lady of Peace Hospital, when surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. A portion of the cost of her treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP needs your help to raise the remaining $935 to cover the cost of Sylvia's procedure and care. Sylvia said: "This operation is very important to me since it will help me go back to doing my usual chores properly. I'm very grateful to Watsi and its donors for helping me with my expenses for this life-changing surgery."

$463raised
$472to go

66-year-old Anna is a widow from Malawi where she lives with her two daughters, one of whom runs a saloon while the other sells second-hand clothing. Anna is in the business of renting houses. Last year, Anna noticed an asymptomatic swelling on the left side of her neck. She visited the nearest clinic where she was referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital for tests on her thyroid. Anna was diagnosed with a goiter and was informed she would need surgery. Surgeons at Partners in Hope Hospital are scheduled to perform a thyroidectomy on May 3rd, during which all or part of Anna's thyroid will be removed. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is seeking $1,015 to cover the costs of Anna's procedure and care. Anna is hoping to get better after surgery so that she can continue supporting her family as a caring mother. Anna believes that her two daughters are the greatest priority in her life and that she has to be in good health for their sake as their only remaining parent. Full of smiles, Anna said: “Thank you, sponsors. I did not know this day would come in my life; I can smile again.”

$1,015raised
Fully funded

Gifton is a fifteen-month-old boy. He is the only child in his family and resides in an urban area Nairobi. His mother, Mercy, works as a housemaid in the area, undertaking various household tasks, including washing clothes. Gifton's mother noticed a deformity in his feet immediately after birth. His feet were turned inward, not as other children's. Gifton has been diagnosed as having clubfoot of both feet--a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. As Gifton grows, this will cause difficulty walking and even wearing shoes if not corrected. Mercy sought medical help for Gifton. When he was just one month old, a course of serial casting to correct the position of his feet was started. Despite these efforts, the condition has not improved, prompting Mercy to seek a pediatric orthopedic review. Doctors at AIC CURE International Hospital in Nairobi have determined that Gifton needs bilateral PMR surgery to correct the deformity. This surgery will be performed on October 23. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Gifton's clubfoot repair. After treatment, there will be a significant impact on Gifton, as the treatment will realign his feet to their normal position. As he grows, he will gain the ability to walk comfortably, just like other children. “I am appealing for help from well-wishers to help my boy walk comfortably like other children,” Gifton's mother told us.

$1,286raised
Fully funded

Kaleb is the only child of his mother and father; they live in La Paz, Bolivia. His father works in construction and his mother is a homemaker. Kaleb was born two months premature with a ventricular septal defect, or a hole between the two lower chambers of his heart. Blood leaks through this hole, leaving the lungs unable to obtain oxygen. This leaves Kaleb weak and short of breath, and making it hard for him to gain weight. Last year Kaleb underwent a surgery to prepare him for the one he currently needs. It stabilized his heart so he could gain some weight in order to safely have the congenital cardiac surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is able to help with his upcoming procedure. Kaleb and his family need help raising $1,500 for his surgery that will take place September 14th. Kaleb’s mother says “Our son has been in and out of the hospital and very sick ever since he was born. We hope he will have a chance to be a normal child after his surgery."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Ed is a 39-year-old father from Burma who lives with his wife and two sons. His sons are students, while his wife is a homemaker and volunteer at their church. In his spare time, Ed loves listening to gospel songs, reading the Bible, and preparing sermons for his congregation. In March 2023, Ed began passing blood in his urine and experiencing back pain in his left side. When medication from a pharmacy did not help, he sought treatment at a hospital, where he was diagnosed with a left ureter stone. Doctors want Ed to undergo Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy (ESWL), a procedure where high energy shock waves are passed through the body and used to break stones into pieces as small as grains of sand. Fortunately, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), can help. On August 11th, Ed will undergo ESWL at BCMF's care center. BCMF is requesting $1,125 to fund the treatment and Ed's care. Ed said, "Because of my condition, I have not gone to church for two weeks. The church members are worried about me and pray for me".

$1,125raised
Fully funded

Kyaw resides in Karen State, Burma, with his parents, aunt, and two brothers. Due to concerns over potential bombings by the military regime following the 2021 coup, Kyaw and his brothers had to stop attending school. His mother takes care of the household as a homemaker, while his aunt enjoys her retirement. Kyaw's father and oldest brother earn a living as day laborers, involved in loading and unloading trucks. In his free time, Kyaw finds solace in listening to songs and playing games, making the most of his free moments. On June 1st, Kyaw began to encounter discomfort and swelling in his lower left leg and difficulty bending his left knee. As the pain escalated, he sought medical attention, and the doctor's diagnosis revealed a tumor in his left leg. Subsequent diagnostic tests confirmed that he has osteosarcoma affecting his left tibia. Medical professionals recommend an amputation of his lower left leg to prevent the cancer from spreading. Now, his family seeks your help funding this $1,500 to ensure his recovery and significantly improve his quality of life. He said, “I would like to say thank you so much to you. This is the worst pain that I have ever felt. I want to be free from this pain and worry.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Jeremy is a two-year-old toddler from Haiti. He lives with his parents, who run a small grocery kiosk in Port-au-Prince. He is their only child. Jeremy was born with ventricular septal defect (VSD). VSD is a cardiac condition where there is a small hole in the wall that separates the heart's lower chambers. Due to this hole, oxygen-rich blood mixes with oxygen-poor blood, causing weakness and shortness of breath. On June 12th, Jeremy will undergo cardiac surgery in the Dominican Republic. During this procedure, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in Jeremy's heart so that his blood can't leak through it. Our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance (HCA), is contributing $8000 to pay for surgery. However, Jeremy's family needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep and transport. Jeremy's family is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and preoperative and postoperative appointments. This sum will also support passport obtainment and the social workers from HCA who will accompany Jeremy's family overseas. Jeremy's mother said: "Our family is very excited to know that our son has been chosen for surgery. We're all praying for him."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Mohamed is a happy, outgoing, and playful 5-year-old from Kenya. He has one younger sibling. Mohamed's father works as a vegetable vendor, and his mother stays home to care for the family. When Mohamed was about three years old, his parents noticed a bend on his left foot which continued to increase over time. He has been undergoing physiotherapy but experiences pain and difficulty walking long distances. Mohamed was diagnosed with clubfoot of his left foot, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. His family traveled to our medical partner's care center, where surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on May 15th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $1,286 to fund this procedure. Upon recovery, this surgery will allow Mohamed to be able to wear shoes and walk pain-free as he begins school soon. Mohamed's father said: "My Joy is to see my son undergo surgery and walk like other children. I will appreciate any kind of support."

$1,286raised
Fully funded