B

United States
Bonnie's Story

Bonnie joined Watsi on January 8th, 2014. Ten years ago, Bonnie joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Bonnie's most recent donation traveled 1,900 miles to support Legrand, a three-year-old boy from Haiti, to fund heart surgery.

Impact

Bonnie has funded healthcare for 131 patients in 13 countries.

Patients funded by Bonnie

Sreynit is a 13-year-old student from Cambodia. She lives in Kandal Province with her parents and two younger siblings. Her father works as a Forestry Administration officer, while her mother is a housewife. She enjoys studying Khmer literature and hopes to become a nurse when she grows up. When Sreynit was three months old, she suffered a head injury after a wooden part of her hammock broke and struck her head. She was treated at a local hospital for more than two months and was diagnosed with a brain hematoma. Since then, she has had weakness on the left side of her body, including a contracted left wrist. The weakness has affected her left arm and leg. Her left wrist remains held in a flexed and outward-deviated position, with limited movement and difficulty holding objects. She also has mild muscle atrophy and has difficulty balancing on her left leg, which can affect her mobility and everyday activities. When Sreynit's family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On September 16th, surgeons at CSC will perform a joint arthrodesis procedure to fuse her wrist and left thumb MCP joint and to help provide greater stability to her wrist and thumb and improve the position of her left hand. This may give her a more useful grip and make it easier to use her hand during everyday activities and become more independent. Now, Sreynit needs help to fund this $611 procedure. Sreynit's mother said, “I hope the surgery will make my daughter’s left wrist and thumb more stable and help her use her hand more easily. She has had difficulty using this hand for many years, and I hope the treatment will make everyday activities easier for her and help her become more independent.”

$224raised
$387to go

Taung is a 64-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his daughter, son, and two grandsons. He is retired and helps with household chores to support his family. His daughter is divorced and raises chickens and pigs for their own consumption, selling the surplus to buy additional food and cover their basic needs. Each of his grandsons goes to middle school, while Taung's son has a mental illness and stays home. He also has another daughter who helps support him. His family has enough income for their basic needs and healthcare, but they have struggled to meet the financial obligations of Taung's needs. Currently, Taung is experiencing upper abdominal pain, and he feels discomfort when walking for long periods or sitting down. Eating to fill his stomach can also lead to discomfort, so he eats only in small quantities. After seeking medical help at our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot Hospital, the doctor has diagnosed Taung with a bile duct stone and has recommended surgery. Taung has been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. If left untreated, Taung's symptoms will continue to worsen and put him at risk for further health complications in the future. Taung is scheduled to undergo his cholecystectomy on August 13th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Taung said, "Due to my condition, I experience severe pain sometimes. I could not help much with household chores. When the pain is severe, I could not eat and could not sleep well. I want to recover, and then I would like to plant banana trees and other vegetables to sell and make income to support my family. Thank you to all the donors for helping me."

$967raised
$533to go

Daw Win is a 66-year-old woman from Burma who lives with her daughter, grandson, and two granddaughters in Phop Phra District, Tak Province, Thailand. In 2022, the family fled their home in Bago Division, Burma, to escape nearby conflict. Daw Win is a homemaker, and her grandchildren are students. Her daughter is a teacher and also picks up work as a day labourer during school holidays. In late December 2025, Daw Win started experiencing lower abdominal pain and pressure around the mass when sitting. She has frequent urination and cannot sit for long periods of time due to the pain, preferring to lie down on her side. She has been diagnosed with a uterine myoma. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Daw Win's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Daw Win is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on June 11th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, this surgery will help Daw Win be free from pain and discomfort, and she will be able to spend time with her family and help with household chores comfortably. Daw Win said, "After surgery, I will return home to help with household chores and take care of my grandkids so that my daughter can go back to work full-time. Thank you so much to this organization and the donors for being willing to support my treatment.”

$995raised
$505to go

Benjamin is a six-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the third-born in a family of three children, and lives with his parents, whose livelihoods depend on small-scale business activities to sustain their household. Benjamin's family describes him as a bright and curious child, who enjoys learning and playing with other children in the community. Benjamin has been diagnosed with bilateral genu varus or "bow legs," a condition where the knees curve outward while the feet and ankles touch. Several factors could 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 potentially causing long-term joint damage. The condition has affected Benjamin's posture and mobility, making prolonged standing and walking increasingly difficult. Without treatment, the condition could continue to worsen as he grows, potentially limiting his movement and participation in school and daily activities. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $810 to fund treatment for Benjamin. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 24th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Benjamin's mobility, allowing him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decreasing his risk of future complications. Benjamin's father said: "I wish for his legs to be strong, so that he can walk independently with his friends to school, without us worrying about his well-being."

$810raised
Fully funded