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Fortunatus NnamdiUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER

Fortunatus' Story

Fortunatus joined Watsi on March 4th, 2026. Eight months ago, Fortunatus joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Fortunatus' most recent donation supported Hector, a teacher from Malawi, to fund surgery to get back to his normal life.

Impact

Fortunatus has funded healthcare for 13 patients in 9 countries.

Patients funded by Fortunatus

Hector is a secondary school teacher from Malawi. He is married and has four children. To support his family, he works part-time. He traveled from Blantyre to Lilongwe seeking assistance for a surgical procedure known as an ileostomy reversal. Twelve months ago, Hector began to experience troubling symptoms, including severe abdominal pain. He was diagnosed with bowel obstruction. He subsequently underwent surgery and was advised to return after three months for reversal of the stoma. Unfortunately, this did not materialize due to limited access to surgical support. Since then, Hector has endured significant physical, social, and emotional hardship. Living with a stoma for an extended period has affected his ability to eat and sleep comfortably. He frequently experiences discharge, which has impacted him socially and in his community. As a result, he shared that he has felt isolated, lonely, and psychologically distressed. When Hector learned that Partners in Hope (PIH) was supporting patients requiring surgery, he decided to travel to Lilongwe in search of assistance. His greatest desire was to undergo ileostomy reversal surgery and regain the comfort, dignity, and peace of mind he once enjoyed. By the time he sought support, five months had passed since he had become due for reversal surgery. Fortunately, on September 28th, Hector was reviewed by a surgeon at our medical partner PIH, who confirmed his condition and emphasized the importance of proceeding with the ileostomy reversal, but he would need financial support. An ileostomy reversal is a surgical procedure that reconnects the bowel and restores the pathway for the passage of stool after a temporary stoma has been created. Physicians recommend a laparotomy, which is a surgery that opens up the abdominal cavity to treat his condition. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,244 to fund Hector's surgery. On October 2nd, he will undergo surgery at our medical partner's care center, Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully greatly improve his quality of life. "I can see my life going down as time passes by. I came all the way from Blantyre because I trusted your support. Kindly help me get better so I can continue supporting my family," shared Hector.

$704raised
$540to go

Hser is a 43-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her two daughters and her husband in a refugee camp in Umphang District, Tak Province, Thailand. Her family is originally from Karen State, Burma, but fled to the camp due to the fighting in their homeland. In the camp, her older daughter is a teacher while her younger daughter is a student. Her husband sometimes works as agriculture day laborer outside of the camp, while she is a homemaker. In October 2025, Hser started to notice a mass on her left breast. The mass was very small, so she thought it might go away by itself. But a few weeks later, the mass was still there, prompting her to go to the clinic in the camp. She was referred to a bigger hospital, where doctors informed her she may have cancer and would need surgery to prevent the cancer from spreading. However, she did not have the financial resources to undergo surgery. In August 2026, the mass started to grow bigger and cause her pain. She visited our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital, where doctors informed her she needs to undergo a mastectomy, surgery to remove her breast. Fortunately, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, can help. On September 1st, Hser will undergo surgery, and she needs help raising $1,500 to help cover the cost of her procedure and care. Hser said, "When I learned that I have cancer, I started to worry - and even though I receive surgery, will I recover from it? When it started to be painful, I thought I would need surgery so that it wouldn't be painful anymore. When I heard from my daughter that there is an organization that could support me with surgery costs, I feel a bit better. If not for the support from donors, I would give up on surgery and choose to suffer, as I know my family could not afford it."

$1,018raised
$482to go

Thein is a 43-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her mother, husband, and 18-year-old daughter in refugee camp in Phop Phra District, Tak Province, Thailand. Thein’s mother is retired, her daughter is a student, and her husband is a post-stroke disable person. Thein sells mohinga (Burmese noodles) in front of her home. However, her income is not enough to cover the family’s household expenses, and they have had to borrow 12,000 THB ($375 USD) from a neighbour to meet daily life expenses. For basic health care, the family usually visits the hospital in the refugee camp, which provides free health services. Since August 2023, Thein has been experiencing continuous bleeding, similar to menstruation, which has lasted for three months at a time. She also experiences tiredness and dizziness. Thein has been diagnosed with a myoma in her uterus and has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Thein's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Thein is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on April 20th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, this treatment will help Thein be free from continuous bleeding and able to perform her daily tasks normally. Thein expressed her happiness by saying, “Thank you very much to this organisation [HFA-BCMF] and the donors for being willing to help with my treatment costs. I really want to recover from my health issue, which would not be possible without your assistance.” She also added, “I will work hard to repay my debt after I fully recover.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Yonatan is a lively six-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He lives in a close-knit family of four. Yonatan is growing up alongside his brother in a home filled with love, supported by his hardworking father, who drives a taxi, and his caring mother, who stays home to look after the boys. While Yonatan's father spends long, tiring hours on the road to provide for everyone, the boy’s happy childhood has been interrupted by a difficult health battle. Because of chronic tonsillitis, he is stuck in a stressful loop of recurring pain and constant trips to the hospital, which keep him away from the fun and games he loves. Two years ago, Yonatan had been experiencing fever, recurring sore throats, and difficulty swallowing. Because his high fevers and sharp throat pain kept coming back, even the simplest parts of his day have become incredibly hard. Sitting down for a family dinner is no longer fun. Instead, every bite of food is a painful struggle that leaves Yonatan exhausted. Even at night, when he should be resting, the discomfort keeps him awake and tossing and turning. This constant battle leaves Yonatan feeling so weak and drained that he just can’t find the strength to run, jump, or keep up with his brother like he used to. Yonatan was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Fortunately, our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is able to help. They are requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Yonatan, which is scheduled to take place on March 4th. Surgeons will remove his tonsils, hopefully relieving Yonatan of his symptoms and helping him live more comfortably. "In our home, we are all counting down the days until Yonatan feels like himself again. What we are most excited about is seeing him enjoy his favorite snacks without that sharp, burning pain every time he tries to swallow. We miss seeing Yonatan full of life, and we can’t wait for him to finally have the strength to run around and keep up with his brother during playtime. For our family, seeing him healthy and active again will be the greatest gift of all," said Yonatan's parents.

$700raised
Fully funded

Meet Seleman, a cheerful and outgoing four-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the youngest of four children and currently attends preschool, where he spends most of his time playing and learning new things. He enjoys his language classes, and he recites the alphabet letters repeatedly. Seleman's father supports the family by selling jewelry on the streets, working long hours to provide for his children. Despite financial challenges, the family is deeply committed to ensuring Seleman receives the care he needs. Seleman was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus. This condition has caused his legs to bow inward as he has grown. Several factors can cause this condition, such as growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found in contaminated drinking water. As a result, the knees can be angled inwards or outwards, making it difficult to walk and may cause long-term joint damage. Due to the condition, Selemane is unable to walk confidently, keep up with his peers, and enjoy an easy school life. Seleman will undergo surgery on January 16th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. This treatment will restore Seleman's mobility, allow him to participate in a variety of activities, and significantly decrease his risk of future complications. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $777 to fund treatment for Seleman. Seleman's father said, "It has been hard seeking treatment for him because these days everything costs a lot of money. Thank you for making his treatment possible."

$777raised
Fully funded

Adriana is a seven-year-old girl from Colombia. Approximately one year ago, she was first evaluated by a pediatric dentist, who diagnosed multiple deep dental cavities. Since then, she has been under ongoing observation. However, the progression of the disease has led to inflammation, the presence of pus, and difficulty eating. Although Adriana isn't currently experiencing any pain, her condition significantly impairs her physical and functional development. The management process of Adriana's condition has been complex, and it was ultimately determined that treatment must be performed under general anesthesia due to the number of affected teeth and the patient’s young age. Fortunately, Adriana will receive treatment from our medical partner, Clínica Noel, on April 20th. They are requesting $1,109 to cover the cost of her treatment. This will not only alleviate Adriana's physical pain but will also significantly contribute to restoring her quality of life and overall development. Adriana's mother shares, "As a mother, my greatest hope is that my daughter can improve her quality of life, grow up to be a healthy child, become more independent, and have better opportunities for her future. We are currently seeking support to access the treatment she needs, in the hope of providing her with a fuller, more dignified life and greater opportunities for development. We are fully confident that, with the right help, her treatment will be successful and she will make a full recovery. To everyone who wishes to support us, I want to express my most sincere gratitude. Your help represents immense hope for us and a light on this path. I am convinced that every act of kindness is rewarded and that God blesses those who act with a compassionate heart. My daughter would be immensely happy to receive this help, as it would mean a valuable opportunity to improve her well-being and transform her life."

$1,109raised
Fully funded