United States   •   April 28th
Sydney's Story

Sydney joined Watsi on July 17th, 2017. Five years ago, Sydney joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Sydney's most recent donation traveled 8,800 miles to support Vun, a construction worker from Cambodia, to fund spine surgery.

Team
Impact

Sydney has funded healthcare for 78 patients in 12 countries.

Patients funded by Sydney

Vun is a 38-year-old construction worker from Kampong Cham, Cambodia. He lives with his wife, who grows cassava, and their two school-aged children. As the family's primary income earner, he works long hours performing physically demanding construction work while also helping his wife on the farm whenever possible. About two months ago, Vun began experiencing severe lower back pain that radiated down his left leg. The pain gradually worsened and became especially severe during the past week, making it difficult for him to walk, stand for long periods, and continue working. A CT scan revealed a large herniated disc between the L5 and S1 vertebrae, compressing the nerve. After learning about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled two hours to reach the hospital and seek specialized care. On July 17th, he will undergo an L5–S1 discectomy (spinal surgery) at CSC to remove the damaged disc and relieve pressure on the affected nerve. The surgery is expected to reduce his pain, restore his mobility, and help him return to work and support his family. However, the cost of treatment is beyond what his family can afford, and he needs financial assistance to receive this life-changing surgery. They can contribute $100, but need help raising $1,500 more to help fund his procedure and care. Vun said, “I hope this surgery will take away the pain that has made even simple movements difficult. I look forward to walking normally again, returning to work, and providing for my family without being limited by my back.”

$863raised
$537to go

Kue is a 20-year-old man who lives with his wife and daughter in a refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand. His wife looks after their daughter and also makes and sells snacks twice a week from their home to help earn an income. Kue used to work as a day laborer in neighboring Thai villages but stopped working in July 2025 when he first felt unwell. . On the 12th of January, 2026, Kue was admitted to the hospital in camp due to weakness and pain in his leg. Kue observed that his left leg was smaller than his right leg. He was referred to our medical partner's care center, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital, where he underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of his left leg, which showed that he has osteomyelitis in his left femur, septic arthritis in his left hip, and inflammation in his left knee. He underwent a wound debridement surgery and was scheduled to go home on the 16th of February. However, when getting out of bed that day, he heard a snapping sound when he bore weight on his left leg. An X-ray confirmed that his left femur was fractured. He needs surgery to facilitate proper healing. On February 17th, Kue will undergo fracture repair surgery, and he needs help raising $1,500 to fund his procedure and care. Currently, Kue is in pain, and his leg is immobilized in a leg brace. He requires the help of someone to complete daily tasks. In his free time, he likes to fix machines, and he plans to do that in the future. Kue said, “I have been sick for a long time, and now my leg broke when I was about to go home. But I feel relieved that there is someone who can help me receive treatment.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Kalkidan is a one-year-old girl from Ethiopia. She is a delightful baby girl with a natural curiosity, always eager to explore her surroundings and engage in playful activities with her siblings. As the fourth child in her family, her entrance into the world was marked by a moment of profound distress for her mother; on the day of her birth, Kalkidan's eldest brother was gravely ill and in the ICU. This backdrop of anxiety cast a shadow over her arrival, as her family rallied in hopes of supporting her brother's recovery. Kalkidan lives with her parents and her three siblings, a sister and two brothers, in a rented home. Her mother, a dedicated housewife, manages the household, while her father works as a daily laborer, striving to provide for the family. They often face financial challenges, sometimes prompting her mother to request additional time from the landlord to meet their rent obligations. At one point, their economic struggles led to a separation that lasted for some time as they struggled to feed their children. Their journey to our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM), has sparked excitement, as there is a glimmer of hope for medical intervention for Kalkidan's condition. Kalkidan was born with an anorectal malformation, a condition that leads to a complete or partial intestinal blockage. She needs to undergo a series of procedures to eliminate bowel dysfunction. Kalkidan is scheduled to undergo surgery to correct her condition on December 16th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of Kalkidan's procedure and care. After her recovery, Kalkidan will no longer experience bowel dysfunction or be at risk of developing health complications in the future. Kalkidan's mother expressed her heartfelt gratitude, stating, "I am profoundly thankful for this invaluable service and the divine support that is about to make it possible for my daughter to undergo her surgery and treatment. May God bless each one of you."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Chandyna is 14 years old and the oldest of three from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Her father runs a small shop selling grilled duck and chicken, and her mother helps with the business. Chandyna is currently in sixth grade, with Khmer as her favorite subject, and dreams of becoming a nurse in the future. In her free time, she helps her mother with household chores and looks after her younger sister. She enjoys soup with a lot of vegetables. Chandyna was diagnosed with an abnormal spine when she was 11 years old, after her father took her to a local governmental hospital in Phnom Penh. A scan revealed a condition called scoliosis, where the spine curves abnormally to the side, often resembling a "C" or "S" shape. It can affect the upper (thoracic) or lower (lumbar) spine, or both. Scoliosis can develop at any age, but it is typically diagnosed in children and adolescents between the ages of 10 and 15. Chandyna has been wearing a brace since she was 11. While she does not experience constant pain, she has noticeable differences in shoulder height, gets tired easily during physical activities, and occasionally has back pain. Unfortunately, her parents could not afford the care available at the hospital and referred her to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, seeking treatment to correct her spine. On August 11th, Chandyna will undergo surgery with instrumentation to correct her scoliosis and stabilize her spine. This surgery will improve her posture and allow her to live a healthier life. Her family hopes an operation will help her live more comfortably and avoid future complications, but they need help with the $1,500 cost of the surgery. This will include surgery, anesthesia, medication, and postoperative care. Chandya's father said, "After the operation, I hope that my daughter will have a normal spine like other people and not have any pain. I want her to grow strong and healthy so she can follow her dreams."

$1,500raised
Fully funded