Ville SaarinenUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER

Finland
Ville's Story

Ville joined Watsi on May 19th, 2014. Twelve years ago, Ville joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Ville's most recent donation traveled 6,300 miles to support Cristopher, a future architect from Colombia, to fund hernia repair surgery.

Impact

Ville has funded healthcare for 142 patients in 16 countries.

Patients funded by Ville

Evelyn is a 10-year-old smart and friendly young girl who lives in Quibdó, Colombia with her family. Her joy and curiosity shine through every day at school, where she interacts with her classmates with enthusiasm and warmth. When she grows up, Evelyn wishes to become a great veterinarian. Since birth, Evelyn has had an umbilical hernia, a condition in which a small portion of abdominal tissue protrudes through the navel. The condition has been causing her discomfort and tenderness in the navel area, especially when performing activities like jumping, playing and enjoying her childhood. Surgery has been recommended to correct the hernia, and prevent possible future complications. Fortunately, Evelyn is scheduled for repair surgery on August 20th. Our medical partner, Clínica Noel, is requesting $1,005 to fund Evelyn's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow her to live a healthier life. Evelyn’s mother says, "I would like to express my deepest gratitude for your support in my daughter’s surgery. Your generosity, solidarity, and big hearts are a true beacon of hope during this very important time for our family. Thanks to your help, we will be one step closer to giving my daughter the opportunity to receive the treatment she needs. We will never forget this noble gesture. May God bless you abundantly, grant you health, peace, and prosperity, and multiply all the good you have sown in our lives. With all our love, respect, and eternal gratitude."

$496raised
$509to go

Kidus is a cheerful, active, and sociable two-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing with other children, and enjoys toy cars. As the first child in his family, he brings immense joy to his parents. His mother is a homemaker, while his father works as an assistant to transport drivers. Their income is limited, and the family lives in a house owned by a relative. Kidus was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. His condition was discovered shortly after birth while he was still in the hospital. The doctors informed his parents that he should not undergo circumcision, because corrective surgery would be required in the future. They advised the family to seek further medical review at a higher-level hospital. The news was very difficult for Kidus's parents. His mother became deeply distressed, and often cried because she worried about her son's future. His father was also greatly affected by the situation. Determined to find help, they took Kidus to a public referral hospital, where doctors assessed his condition and informed the family that Kidus would likely require two surgical procedures. However, because he was still young, he was put on a surgical waiting list. The family patiently waited for two years before receiving a call from the hospital. They were referred to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM) for surgical treatment. Fortunately, Kidus is now scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on June 8th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of Kidus' procedure and care. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms, and he will be at risk of future complications. Kidus' mother expressed her gratitude, saying: "I pray that Kidus will recover well, and have a healthy future. Thank you very much for this opportunity and support. May God richly bless you, reward your kindness, and bless the work of your hands. We are truly grateful for all that you have done for our family."

$1,293raised
Fully funded

Clemence is a small-scale farmer from Malawi. He is married and has two children. Five years ago, Clemence began to experience troubling symptoms, including abdominal symptoms whose cause was unclear. He moved between hospitals without improvement. In 2021, it was discovered that his esophagus was obstructed, and he underwent treatment. Fortunately, his symptoms reduced and he experienced some relief. However, in 2025, he began experiencing severe gastroesophageal reflux symptoms, including heartburn, chest pain, and regurgitation, sometimes causing food to come up through his nose, especially when lying down. This created a constant fear of choking in his sleep. During one of his recent hospital visits, he underwent an endoscopy. Doctors have now diagnosed him with a hiatal hernia, and he was urgently referred to our medical partner PIH for support where surgery is recommended. 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 Clemence's surgery. On February 6th, he will undergo surgery at Partners in Hope Medical Center. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully greatly improve his quality of life. Clemence said, "Kindly help me to get better, I am afraid of eating in fear of choking that can cause death; food comes through my nose sometimes and I am very terrified now. I can no longer do anything to generate cash apart from spending."

$1,244raised
Fully funded