Agnes Oshiro
Agnes' Story

Agnes joined Watsi on April 27th, 2019. 5 other people also joined Watsi on that day! Agnes' most recent donation traveled 8,500 miles to support Emma, a joyful young woman from Kenya, to fund gallbladder treatment.

Impact

Agnes has funded healthcare for 10 patients in 3 countries.

Patients funded by Agnes

Looking jovial, 26-year-old Emma walks into the office wearing a broad smile. However, behind the joy and smile are recurring stomach pains that give her sleepless nights. Emma was diagnosed with symptomatic cholelithiasis - a gall bladder disorder that requires laparoscopic cholecystectomy analgesia surgery. If left untreated, cholelithiasis can lead to serious complications such as tissue damage, tears in the gallbladder, and infection that could spread spreads to other parts of her body. In Mid-April 2020, Emma started experiencing recurring pains burning in nature. She tried managing the pains using over the counter pain killers but the pain kept recurring. About a week later she was forced to visit a health centre in her home town Kayole for medical checkup. Emma was treated for suspected ulcers at the facility and was discharged with anti-acids. The pains seemed under control for over a month but they recurred in July. She went back to the same facility where a scan, x-ray, and further tests were recommended. Results indicated that she had cholelithiasis and she required urgent surgery. Doctors from the facility recommended she go to Kijabe Hospital for treatment. Emma is a single mother of one. She shared that she is raising her 6-month-old baby on her own after the father of the child left them and declined responsibility. She works as a shop attendant about 10km from her home and earns a total of $100 monthly income as her salary. To enable her to fend for the family, she has a house helper who takes care of her little child while she out looking for their daily bread. She pays the house help $35 a month. The three live in a single room rental which costs $50 a month. The remaining less than $20 is not enough to buy food and basic needs and still cover the cost of surgery. Emma is the oldest in a family of three. Her siblings are unemployed and live with their mother in the village. They depend on produce from their ¼ acre farm for survival. Emma’s employer and few close relatives contributed a small amount for the surgery but she still needs $616 in financial support to fund the treatment. Emma shared, “I need this surgery to get better and take care of my small family. I am the father and the mother to my little kid and my siblings depend on me. The small salary I get I barely make enough for our family and we basically live from hand to mouth. I have to spend all the income I make.”

$616raised
Fully funded

Babikyengyire is the mother of one child who is 7 years old and in first grade at primary school. Her husband died in an accident in 2012. She later managed to buy a piece of land and constructed a three-room semi-permanent house for shelter. A long time ago, in 1989, she thought she was gaining weight with an expanded neck because it was painless. She got married in 2009 and when she got pregnant in 2012, she developed neck pains especially after walking long distances. After delivery, the swelling increased as well as her pain. She is a member of the church choir, but she could no longer sing because it was too painful. Currently, she feels much pain when she wears a mask due to the ongoing COVID-19 regulations in the country. She is hopeful to find a solution from Watsi's Medical Partner Care Center Rushoroza Hospital. At Rushoroza, she presented with long-standing history of bi-nodular neck swelling. Thyrotoxicosis, airway obstruction, difficulty in breathing could be the end result if not treated through a thyroidectomy. Babikyengyire is a businesswoman who carries clothes around town to her customers, though she shared that she is finding it challenging now due to her condition. She feels uncomfortable being in public because of her neck swelling. She seeks financial support for her surgery because her small business can hardly raise a fraction of the total surgery charges. Babikyengyire shared, “I hope for a successful surgery. After the surgery, I believe that I will be able to travel long distances that will help me reach out to more customers and improve my business.”

$307raised
Fully funded

Brian is a 4-year-old playful preschooler from Kenya. Brian’s mother is a single parent from a very humble background. When Brian was born with scrotal swelling, his parents separated because they believed it was a curse. When he was a baby, Brian was taken to the hospital with complaints of a congenital right scrotal swelling. A repair was done at a different hospital when he was 20 months old but did not cure his condition. His condition has gradually persisted prompting his teacher and grandmother to take him to Watsi Medical Partner's Care Center Kapsowar Hospital. Brian has discomfort while walking. He also has pain on micturition which has always affected his general well-being. He has been raised largely by his older grandmother who hadn't taken him for treatment and never spoke about Brian’s condition. It was not until his class teacher noticed a swelling when he informed well-wishers in the village and he was brought to the hospital to be seen. Brian was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia after undergoing several lab tests and an ultrasound. Brian is a lovely boy who needs all our help so that he can be happy just like other children. Fortunately, on March 16th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $384 to fund Brian's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Brian’s grandmother says, “I am happy that his condition can be treated surgically. Brian needs to be like other children and play with friends without stigmatization.”

$384raised
Fully funded