Pamela ShawUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER
Pamela's Story

Pamela joined Watsi on June 27th, 2013. Four years ago, Pamela joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Pamela's most recent donation supported Arkam, a seven-year-old student from Tanzania, to fund contracture release surgery.

Impact

Pamela has funded healthcare for 55 patients in 10 countries.

Patients funded by Pamela

Arkam is seven-year-old primary school student from Tanzania. He lives with his grandparents while his parents work in another region of the country. Both his grandparents along with his parents, work together to provide for his needs. However, the grandparents also care for three more grandchildren. Arkam was born with a congenital condition that limits the full use of his fingers on both hands. Despite making efforts to seek treatment, the family encountered difficulties due to the high cost of medical expenses. In 2023, they reached out to our medical partner's care center Kafika House and were invited for a review. Earlier this month, Arkam was brought to Kafika House by his grandfather for consultation. Specialist surgeons at the center have proposed a contracture release and skin graft to help him gain use of his fingers. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Arkam receive treatment at their care center Kafika House. On March 6th, surgeons will perform a contracture release surgery to enhance the functionality of his hand. Now, his family needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Arkam’s grandfather says: “I hope my grandson will be able to use his hand because it will make it easier for him while in school.”

$152raised
$722to go

David is a 14-year-old boy from Prey Veng province in Cambodia. As his parents work on fishing boats in Thailand, David lives with his grandmother, his older sister, her husband, and their son. David has never been to school and requires full-time care from his grandmother. David was born with severe scoliosis and has never been able to stand up or walk. Due to his condition, David is also in a lot of pain. David and his family traveled three and a half hours to visit our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, for a consultation. On March 6th, David will undergo spinal fusion surgery to straighten his bones. This procedure can relieve him of pain and prevent the condition from worsening. David and his family need your help to fund the $1,500 cost of the surgery and post-op care. David's grandmother said: "We hope he can feel better and not be in pain."

$721raised
$779to go

Thaw is a two-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his parents and elder sister in Zee Kone Village, but his family migrated to Thailand four months ago to seek better job opportunities. His father works as an agricultural day labourer, while his mother is a homemaker. Thaw’s elder brother and sister take turns working as agricultural day labourers. Thaw’s mother carefully manages their income, and their combined family income is enough to cover their daily basic expenses. Thaw receives free healthcare services at Mae Tao Clinic (MTC). On 2 July 2021, Thaw was born through emergency caesarean section. His mother noticed on the following day, while cleaning Thaw’s body, that he was born with a worrying condition that makes it challenging to go to the bathroom. Thaw’s mother immediately informed the doctor, who then referred Thaw to hospital in Ayeyarwady Division. Unfortunately, due to a lack of facilities, he did not receive the necessary treatment at this hospital. He was subsequently recommended to go to Yangon Hospital. However, due to financial limitations, Thaw’s mother could not afford to take him to Yangon Hospital, leading her to cease efforts to seek Thaw’s treatment. Fortunately, Thaw was able to defecate through a fistula however Thaw began to experience troubling symptoms, including at present, Thaw is passing stool through the fistula, experiencing constipation with bowel movements occurring every four or five days, with a distended abdomen. Thaw has been diagnosed with imperforate anus with fistula and his doctors recommend a colostomy. A colostomy is a surgery that creates an opening for the colon through the abdomen. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1500 to fund Thaw's surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital scheduled January 31st. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully alleviate him symptoms. Thaw’s mother expressed her concerns saying, “I want my son to have a healthy, long life. I was always worried about him, and he couldn’t receive treatment due to lack of money. Now, with the help of BCMF and donors, he can undergo surgery. Thank you."

$758raised
$742to go

Keisha is a 5-month-old baby girl from Haiti. She is the first child of her parents. Keisha has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid - the fluid which surrounds the brain - accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. The accumulation of fluid has caused Keisha’s head to expand beyond a normal range. Without treatment, Keisha will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Keisha is scheduled for surgery to put a flexible plastic tube called a shunt in her brain to redirect the cerebrospinal fluid into another part of her body. Draining the excess fluid from Keisha’s brain will reduce the pressure and greatly improve the quality of her life. With proper treatment, Keisha will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. Keisha is scheduled for surgery on December 8th at Hospital Bernard Mevs, the only site in the country where this care is currently available. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $957 to cover the cost of surgery. Her family is grateful Keisha is able to have surgery to prevent long-term damage to her brain.

$497raised
$460to go

Sroeun is a 60 year-old mechanic who lives in Kampong Thom province with his wife, a rice farmer. Their four children have left the province to find jobs closer to the capital city. The children are able to send small amounts of money home, to help support Sroeun and his wife which helps make life a little bit easier. In his free time, he enjoys listening to the radio and watching the news. Seven months ago, Sroeun was in a motorbike accident and fractured his right hip. A clinic near his home suggested he travel a few hours to a hospital for treatment, but Sroeun was scared of the costs and went back home to be treated by a traditional healer in his village. Unfortunately, the fracture has not healed. Now he cannot walk and is in chronic pain. Fortunately, Sroeun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Sroeun of his pain and allow him to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for December 4th, and Sroeun's family needs help raising $1,118 to pay for this procedure. He shared, "I hope I can stand on my feet and walk without pain. I want to return to work and be able to do things around the house."

$578raised
$540to go

Nya is a 62-year-old woman from Burma. Nya lives with her husband, mother, daughters, son-in-law, and grandsons. Nya, her mother, and her husband are retired, while her son-in-law works for a community-based organization. In her free time, Nya enjoys foraging for vegetables in the forest. On August 18, 2022, while fleeing from airstrikes on their village by the Myanmar military, Nya fell and broke her right hip. Since then, Nya has experienced pain in her right hip which worsens at night and in cold weather, making it difficult for her to walk. She must rely on crutches to get around. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Nya will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for November 3. BCMF is requesting $1,500 to fund the surgery. This procedure hopefully will help Nya walk more easily and alleviate her chronic pain. Nya said, "I would like to pay respect and give thanks to kind people like BCMF staff and all the donors who are willing to help people like me. May you all be more blessed and successful in your work."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Gladness is a 5-year-old smart and vibrant girl who enjoys interacting with all kinds of different people. She is the firstborn in a family of two children, and her parents make a living by selling thrift clothes and shoes in Arusha city. Gladness has faced significant health challenges since she was one year old. During playtime she tripped and fell, resulting in an injury to her leg. Her father promptly took her to the hospital, where they received ointment to massage the affected area. Unfortunately, two years later, she had another accident that dislocated her right knee. It was during this hospital visit that the medical professionals discovered a previous, untreated fracture from her first accident, which has caused other problems. Gladness and her father traveled over 180 kilometers to the medical center and our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is requesting $880 to fund her surgery, which is scheduled for June 27th. Treatment will hopefully restore Gladness's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Gladness’s father shared, "I hope this treatment will help my daughter. I wish for her to grow up without any abnormalities."

$880raised
Fully funded

John is a devoted farmer and a loving father of three boys. He finds solace and fulfillment in tending to his farm, caring for his sheep and cows. Unfortunately, last year, he suffered a leg injury that affected his mobility, and he now relies on a walker to move around. Thankfully, his wife has been a great support, assisting him with daily tasks since the accident. When our medical partner first encountered John, he had come to the emergency department with a four-day-old fracture. The injury occurred when he bravely confronted a wild animal that had threatened his sheep during the night. However, he slipped on muddy ground during the encounter, resulting in a severe injury to his right leg. Upon closer examination, doctors discovered that John had experienced a previous fracture in the same leg about a year ago, which had never received proper treatment. Despite getting a cast in a nearby health facility, John and his family couldn't afford the transportation to Kapsowar Hospital for treatment by an orthopedic surgeon. Consequently, he endured pain and had limited use of his limb. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH) has skilled surgeons who can offer assistance. On August 2nd, John is scheduled to undergo a fracture repair procedure, known as an open reduction and internal fixation. This intervention will alleviate his pain, allow for proper healing, and restore his ability to work and provide for his family. To support John's journey to recovery, AMH is seeking $1145 to fund the procedure. Your generous contribution will make a significant impact, giving John the opportunity to heal, regain mobility, and continue his vital role as a provider for his family. John says, "I have had problems with my body, and my financial status is very poor. I wish I was well and with energy so that I can do my daily chores. Please help me undergo this surgery so that I may be strong and be able to restore my mobility.”

$1,145raised
Fully funded

Kim Huoy is a 13-year-old girl who lives in Kampong Cham province, Cambodia, with her parents and two brothers. Her mom works long hours in a factory making medical gloves, and her father works at a nearby construction site. Kim Houy's favorite subject is Cambodian history, and her dream is to get good grades so she can study to become a writer. In her free time, she likes to read and play hide and seek with her friends in the village. For the last few years, Kim Houy has had bad posture, and occasional discomfort in her back. Then, in June, she fell off the top of the stairs at the front of her house, which caused her back pain to worsen. Her parents took her to a nearby clinic, where her x-ray showed curvature of the spine, and she was diagnosed with scoliosis. Kim Houy and her family traveled 3 hours by shared taxi hoping to receive treatment at our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC). On July 31st, she will undergo a scoliosis correction procedure with implants to improve the position of her spine. Surgeons will realign and fuse together the curved vertebrae so that she feels comfortable and can stand straighter. Her mom shared, "I hope my daughter can feel better after surgery and go to school without any problems."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Mameulove is a 10th-grade student from Haiti. She lives with her parents and three siblings in a neighborhood of Port-au-Prince. In addition to studying, Mameulove helps her parents with their ironwork business. Mameulove has a cardiac condition called pulmonary valve stenosis. When she was six, she underwent surgery for a condition called Tetralogy of Fallot. While the surgery was successful, one of the valves of her heart could not be completely repaired at that time. Now, Mameulove needs to undergo cardiac surgery to repair or replace her pulmonary valve so that it functions normally. She will fly to the United States to receive treatment on July 10th. Another organization, the Baylor Scott and White Heart Hospital, is contributing $20,000 to pay for surgery. Mameulove's family also needs help to fund the costs of her surgery prep, which is $1,500 and covers all labs, medicines, check-ups, and follow-up appointments. Additionally, it covers the cost of the passports they need to travel and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Mameulove's family overseas. Mameulove said, "I am so grateful to everyone who is helping me to have a strong and healthy heart!"

$1,500raised
Fully funded

San is a 26-year-old factory worker who lives with his wife and five-year-old daughter in Kandal province in Cambodia. His wife is employed at the same factory where San works. In March 2023, San was the victim of an attempted robbery, during which the left side of his neck was injured. He was treated at a local hospital, where surgeons attempted to do a nerve transfer. However, the doctors told San that his condition would require further investigation and treatment. San was referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, where he was diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his left side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in a loss of function and sensation. Currently, San can't move his arm and his left hand is paralyzed. He also experiences a great deal of pain and is unable to work or care for himself. With assistance from the Children's Surgical Centre, San is now scheduled to undergo brachial plexus repair surgery on May 9th at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, the only facility in the country where this surgery is available. After he has recovered, San hopes to be able to use his arm and hand again. Children's Surgical Centre is requesting $709 to fund this procedure. San said: "I'm hoping to regain movement in my arm and to get back to work."

$709raised
Fully funded

Janet is a 6-year-old girl from Tanzania. She is a bright-eyed, curious girl living in a remote village called Manyus, Tanzania. She is the second youngest of five children, raised by her hardworking parents, who do everything possible to provide for their family. Her father is a farmer and cattle breeder; however, due to the fluctuating prices of crops and cows, he struggles to make enough money to provide for his family. From a young age, Janet's legs started bowing, making it difficult to walk, run, or play like other children her age. Janet was able to reach our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), where she was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus. Her legs bow outward so that her knees do not touch. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, often stemming from contaminated drinking water. AMH is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Janet. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 17th. Treatment will hopefully restore Janet's mobility, allow her to participate in various activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Janet’s mother says, “We are concerned about her future. I hope my daughter will be better after this treatment.”

$880raised
Fully funded