Jon's Story

Jon joined Watsi on February 18th, 2026. Nine months ago, Jon joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Jon's most recent donation supported Maria Fernanda, a 10-year-old girl from Colombia, to fund hernia repair surgery.

Impact

Jon has funded healthcare for 9 patients in 6 countries.

Patients funded by Jon

Ly Chheng is a 77-year-old man from Cambodia. He lives in Phnom Penh with his wife and their third child, who works as a tailor. He has six children in total, all of whom are married and have their own jobs. He is no longer working, and in his free time, he enjoys planting vegetables around his home. Ly Chheng has severe cervical spinal stenosis, a condition in which narrowing of the spinal canal puts pressure on the spinal cord. He has experienced intermittent numbness and weakness in his hands and extremities for approximately four to five years, with his symptoms becoming progressively worse since early 2026. He now experiences numbness and weakness in both hands, hand clumsiness, difficulty walking steadily, and frequent urges to urinate. He also has neck stiffness and pain that can extend toward his shoulders. These symptoms have made it increasingly difficult for him to move around safely and manage his daily activities independently. Ly Chheng's family was referred to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), to seek specialized care. On August 17th, surgeons at CSC plan to perform cervical spine decompression to relieve pressure on his spinal cord and help prevent further deterioration. The surgery costs $1,500, and his family can contribute $50, but they need help covering the remaining $1,450. After surgery, he hopes to have less numbness and weakness, walk more steadily, and become more independent in his daily activities. Ly Chheng said, “I hope the treatment will relieve the pressure on my spinal cord, improve the numbness and weakness in my hands, and help me walk more steadily. I want to be more independent and able to manage my daily activities more comfortably.”

$914raised
$536to go

Maria Fernanda is a 10-year-old student from Colombia. She is known for being intelligent, charismatic, and very friendly. She is a sweet, kind-hearted girl full of dreams who enjoys spending time with others and leaves a special impression on everyone she meets. Her optimistic spirit and her ability to face challenges with courage are an inspiration to her family and to those who accompany her on her journey. Three years ago, Maria Fernanda was diagnosed with an umbilical hernia, a condition in which a small portion of abdominal tissue protrudes through the navel. Umbilical hernias usually cause mild tenderness or discomfort around the navel, which becomes more noticeable when the child cries, coughs, or exerts himself. Surgery has been recommended to correct the hernia and prevent possible future complications. On October 20th, Maria Fernanda will undergo hernia repair surgery, and our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $1,005 to fund Maria Fernanda's surgery. Once completed, this procedure should allow her to live more comfortably. Maria Fernanda's mother said, "I want to express my deepest gratitude to the people who are supporting her surgery. Thank you for extending your generous hand without even knowing her personally; that gesture is, without a doubt, one of the purest expressions of human kindness. May God abundantly bless your life and that of your family. Your support not only helps us meet a medical need but also restores our hope and peace of mind, knowing that María Fernanda will be able to receive the care she needs. We will always be grateful for this act of love and solidarity."

$1,005raised
Fully funded

Ree is an 18-year-old young woman from Burma. She lives in Mae Ramat District, Tak Province, Thailand, with her mother, father, younger brother, husband, and son. She is a homemaker and looks after her one-year-old son. Her younger brother is a student. Her mother, father, and husband are subsistence farmers. When work is slow at the farm, they also work as day labourers. On 28th February 2026, Ree, her husband, and her son were driving back home from the market in the evening on a motorbike. Suddenly, they were hit from behind by a drunk driver, and all three of them fell from the bike onto the left side of the road. Nah suffered road rash on her face and leg, and realized that she could not stand up. Her son’s head was bruised and swollen, and on the left side of her husband’s body, there was also heavy bruising. An ambulance arrived on scene and took Nah to a nearby hospital. The doctor explained that her left ankle was fractured, requiring surgery. She was referred to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Ree will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for March 7th and Ree needs to raise $1,500 to fund her procedure and care. This procedure will help Ree be able to walk and go back home to take care of her son, and she will no longer be in pain after treatment. Ree said, “I don’t even know what to say, but I feel sad. I have no idea where to look for funding for my treatment. I cannot walk and have to depend on my father for everything, and I miss my son at home.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded