Dara Lynch
Dara's Story

Dara joined Watsi on August 2nd, 2016. 23 other people also joined Watsi on that day! Dara's most recent donation traveled 6,400 miles to support Yang, a grandmother from Cambodia, to see clearly again.

Impact

Dara has funded healthcare for 6 patients in 3 countries.

Patients funded by Dara

This is Esther, a one-month-old girl from Kenya. She was born via caesarean section after a scan revealed that her head was abnormally big and normal delivery would not be an option. Esther’s parents took her to a neurosurgeon, and there she was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a disorder where extra cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the cranium. This condition could become painful for Esther as the liquid presses against her brain. And if untreated, the long-term consequences could be severe. To avoid these outcomes, Esther needs to have a shunt surgically implanted in her brain. The shunt will help drain the fluid away from her head so that the swelling subsides. Esther’s parents were relieved to hear that their child has a good chance of survival if she undergoes this procedure—but they cannot afford it. Esther’s mother is a stay-at-home mom, and Esther’s father has just founded a research business that is financially struggling. With the little savings they had, Esther’s family have managed to raise $52, but this falls short of the funds required. “I am in a financial crisis and would appreciate anyone who contributes to Esther’s treatment,” Esther’s father says. For $615, we can make up the differential that lies between Esther’s family and the operation their baby needs. This funding will also cover the medications, lab tests, and five-day hospital stay that will accompany Esther’s surgery. Let’s help Esther’s family make it through their financial straits so that their one-month-old can grow into a healthy and strong little girl.

$615raised
Fully funded

Kevin is a 20-month-old boy from Guatemala. He is far too small for his age since he hasn't had access to the nutrient and calorie-rich diet that he needs to grow and develop healthily. His mother has noticed that he isn't growing as well as the other children in the community, and is eager to help her son reach his full potential. Kevin's lack of calories and nutrients has also made his immune system weak and unable to fight off fevers, diarrhea, and respiratory illnesses, making him waste energy getting over sicknesses instead of growing and playing. In the long term, Kevin could have a low IQ, and increased risk of chronic diseases as an adult if he does not receive treatment. Kevin is the youngest of two children. He lives with his family in a rural mountainous community in Guatemala in a one-room adobe house. He loves to play with his toy cars and his ball, especially when his older brother is around. His parents want nothing but the best for them, but they depend on his father's inconsistent income--he works as a day laborer--meaning they typically live on only a couple dollars per day. His parents cannot even afford to give him one egg, vegetable, or piece of fruit per day--meaning without treatment, he will not be able to recover from malnutrition. Growth monitoring, micronutrients and food supplementation will help Kevin recover from malnutrition--saving his life now and putting him on track to live a better life in the future. He will gain weight and grow taller to catch up with other children his age. His immune system will grow stronger with the increased caloric intake, helping him get sick less often. This will further increase his appetite and help him use the extra calories to reach important developmental milestones instead of those calories being wasted on getting over frequent illnesses. His parents will receive the support they need to feel empowered to give Kevin the diet he needs to grow and develop healthily. Intervention now will prevent the future devastating effects of malnutrition, and give Kevin the chance to live a healthy and productive life, finish school, get a good job, and escape the cycle of malnutrition and poverty that made him sick in the first place.

$512raised
Fully funded