K
Karthik GanesanUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER

United States
Karthik's Story

Karthik joined Watsi on April 25th, 2015. Eleven years ago, Karthik joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Karthik's most recent donation traveled 8,800 miles to support Sarey, a 20-year-old man from Cambodia, to fund surgery to improve his strength and mobility.

Impact

Karthik has funded healthcare for 152 patients in 13 countries.

Patients funded by Karthik

Sarey is a 20-year-old rubber farmer from Cambodia. He lives with his parents and five younger siblings. His parents work as day laborers on a rubber farm, and all his younger siblings are still students. In his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball with his friends in the village. On May 16, 2026, Sarey was riding his motorbike when it overturned at a corner, injuring his right shoulder. He was unconscious for approximately three days and received treatment for one week. However, his condition did not improve, and he was discharged and returned home. He continued to experience difficulties moving his right arm and later came to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), for further investigation and treatment. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his right 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 loss of function and sensation. This has left him unable to raise or move his right arm. He also experiences nerve pain and reduced sensation from below his elbow to his hand, as well as drooping of his right eyelid. These difficulties affect his ability to carry out everyday activities and limit his independence. On October 21st, Sarey will undergo brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he will hopefully be able to regain some movement in his right arm, use his shoulder and elbow more effectively, and perform daily activities with greater independence. He also hopes to return to playing volleyball with his friends. Sarey can contribute $100, but needs help raising $637 more to fund his procedure and care. Sarey said, “Since my injury, I haven’t been able to use my right arm as before, and the nerve pain makes daily life difficult. I hope this treatment will help me regain movement and become more independent so I can return to my usual activities.”

$100raised
$537to go

Kenawaka is a playful and cheerful 15-month-old boy from Ethiopia, who enjoys spending time with his older sister. He lives with his parents and sister in a rented home. His father works as an accountant to support the family, while his mother is a homemaker. Kenawaka's mother first noticed that something was different when she took Kenawaka to the hospital for circumcision. After examining him, the doctor told them that he would need specialized assessment and treatment, and referred them to a public referral hospital in the capital city. Following the referral, Kenawaka's parents waited another year due to a long surgical wait list. Though they were increasingly anxious, they could not afford care in a private facility so they continued hoping that they would be attended to soon. Recently, the referral hospital informed Kenawaka's parents to bring him to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). Kenawaka was diagnosed with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. Fortunately, Kenawaka is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on September 25th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Kenawaka's father said, “Thank you so much to everyone at BethanyKids. We are truly grateful to all the staff for their kindness and care. Everyone has treated us with so much respect and made us feel comfortable throughout this journey. We are very happy and thankful for the support Kenawaka has received. We love our son so much, and our greatest wish is to see him healthy and happy after his surgery.”

$1,128raised
$164to go

Sudeyes is a 20-month-old boy from Ethiopia. He enjoys spending time with other children, especially playing football. He lives with his mother in the same home as his grandparents, who provide him with additional love and support. As a single mother, Sudeyes’s mother works as a teacher and is committed to providing the best possible care for her son. With the support of her parents, she raises her son in a loving home. Immediately after Sudeyes' birth, healthcare providers informed his mother that he was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, experience uncomfortable symptoms and would be at risk of future complications. The news was overwhelming to his mother, and she feared what it would mean for her son’s future. Before leaving the hospital, she was referred to a specialized facility for further evaluation. When Sudeyes was just two weeks old, his mother took him to the referral hospital, where he was placed on the surgical waiting list. Nearly a year later, he underwent the first stage of his reconstructive surgery. The procedure was successful, but he required a second operation to complete his treatment, and he was placed on a lengthy waiting list. Since the waiting list was lengthy, Sudeyes's mother took him to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). During their visit, the medical team warmly welcomed them, carefully explained his condition, reviewed his previous treatment, and outlined the remaining surgical plan. Their compassionate communication and professional care reassured her, and she felt confident that her son was in capable hands. Fortunately, Sudeyes is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on August 20th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Sudeyes' mother shared, "I also encourage continued collaboration with government hospitals, where many children and families are waiting and suffering because they cannot access timely surgical care. This partnership gives hope to families like ours and changes children's lives."

$1,293raised
Fully funded

Bridgit is a little girl from Kenya. She is the youngest of her three siblings and is from Nairekia Ngale village in Narok County. Bridgit has clubfoot in both her feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Though young, Bridgit's journey has already been marked by pain and rejection. When Bridgit was two years old, her father left the family, unable to accept her disability. This left Bridgit's mum not only heartbroken, but also burdened with the full responsibility of providing for her children. With no stable income, she began working on other people’s farms to earn a small wage. The work is exhausting and unpredictable, but she perseveres each day for the sake of her children. There were moments of uncertainty, yet Bridgit's mum chose not to give up. Instead, she gathered strength and pressed on with faith. Hope came unexpectedly. One day, as Bridgit was playing in the village, church elders noticed her condition and felt compelled to help. They invited her mum to church and shared about the services offered at CURE International. Moved by her situation, the church congregation contributed funds for transport and ensured that Bridgit could travel for a medical review. At CURE Children's Hospital of Kenya, doctors assessed Bridgit and enrolled her in serial casting as preparation for corrective surgery. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital, will perform clubfoot repair surgery for Bridgit on March 2nd. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Bridgit's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk, run, and play without difficulty. She will have the chance to join school and build friendships confidently. Her restored mobility will not only change her physical life, but also rebuild her self-esteem. “I am looking forward to seeing my child healed. When she gets better, I will give 10% to God as a thanksgiving offering,” Bridgit's mum told us.

$1,286raised
Fully funded