Robert's Story

Robert joined Watsi on May 23rd, 2017. Seven years ago, Robert joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Robert's most recent donation supported Mar, a 56-year-old woman residing in a refugee camp from Thailand, to fund hernia repair surgery.

Impact

Robert has funded healthcare for 101 patients in 10 countries.

Patients funded by Robert

Noah is a 3-year-old boy from Tanzania. He is the second-to-last child in a family of 4 children. His family resides in a remote village known in Simanjiro, Tanzania. Noah’s mother is a homemaker and also assists her husband with agricultural activities, given that farming is their primary source of sustenance and income. Noah takes pleasure in helping others and enjoys solving puzzles alongside his friends. When Noah was merely eight months old, he was crawling around the house and ventured into the kitchen alone, just as his mother was occupied with washing chores. Inadvertently, he encountered a pan which slipped from the stove, causing hot water to spill onto the left side of his body, resulting in severe burns on his left armpit and elbow. Noah’s parents swiftly transported him to the nearest medical facility for urgent treatment. After receiving initial first aid, he was subsequently discharged with instructions for proper wound care. Despite these efforts, his wounds took two months to fully heal. Even after healing, noticeable damage to the skin remained on his left axilla (armpit) and elbow, which subsequently restricted the range of motion in his left arm, leading to his discomfort while crawling. The gravity of the situation became apparent to Noah’s parents, who were initially unaware of the necessity for further medical intervention to enhance their son’s quality of life. Noah was diagnosed with burn scar contractures affecting his left axilla and elbow. The contractures tighten the skin around the arm such that he is unable to use his hand without discomfort. Recognizing the significance of their son’s well-being, Noah’s parents humbly seek assistance to ensure he receives the requisite treatment to enhance his quality of life. Fortunately, our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is helping Noah receive treatment. On August 14th, surgeons will perform a burn contracture release surgery to enable him to use his hand with ease and improve his quality of life. AMH needs help raising $874 to fund the procedure. Noah’s father says, “We are excited for his treatment as this condition has made him less interactive with his peers, and we are hopeful for a positive outcome from the treatment."

$874raised
Fully funded

Meet Janet, a kind and optimistic woman from Uganda. Her father passed away in 1990, and her mother passed away in 2003, leaving Janet and her siblings to be raised by her paternal uncle. Janet is the second-born in a family of four children, with one brother and two sisters, all married and engaged in farming. When she was younger, her uncle could not afford her school fees for further study. Despite this setback, due to her excellent performance in her senior 6th year of school, Janet was employed to teach in a vocational institute. Unfortunately, Janet lost her job due to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. She now supports her family through farming, primarily cultivating food crops for home consumption and selling the surplus to generate income. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family. Janet experienced five neonatal deaths during her marriage. She and her husband separated due to family conflict over this experience. Janet is currently expecting her sixth child with her partner. Janet has received comprehensive antenatal care. Due to her obstetric history, her doctors recommend that she deliver via a cesarean section. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Janet undergo a C-Section on December 14th. This procedure will cost $252. Janet said, “All I pray for is a successful delivery, a live baby. I believe with your support my surgery will be a success.”

$252raised
Fully funded

George is a small-scale farmer who works alongside his wife, and they primarily cultivate potatoes. He completed his education through sixth grade before discontinuing his studies. George's eldest child is 52 years old, while the youngest is 23 years old. Most of his children are married and have familial responsibilities. For around nine months, George has had a right inguinal hernia. It started as a small painless swelling in his inguinal region. Initially, he believed it would resolve on its own over time, given the absence of pain. Consequently, he didn't seek medical attention at the time. However, he recently began experiencing elevated temperatures around the inguinal area, particularly when standing for extended periods. Concerned, he shared his symptoms with a friend, who advised him to seek medical attention. George reports that he can work as usual and his productivity has not been significantly affected. However, he fears that if left untreated, his condition may hinder his ability to work effectively in the future. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On July 12, George will undergo hernia repair surgery at our AMH's care center. AMH is requesting $170 to fund George's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. George says, “I hope for a successful surgery. I will continue with farming so that I may be able to take good care of myself and my family.”

$170raised
Fully funded