Teresa's Story

Teresa joined Watsi on August 20th, 2016. Three years ago, Teresa joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Teresa's most recent donation supported Mohammed, a 3-year-old boy from Kenya, to fund clubfoot repair surgery and care.

Impact

Teresa has funded healthcare for 51 patients in 10 countries.

Patients funded by Teresa

Linn is a 50-year-old woman from Burma. She is divorced and lives with her mother and son in Karen State - a conflict area near the border of Burma and Thailand. She works as a shop vendor, selling steamed sticky rice with chicken and pork, and her mother is retired. Her 12-year-old son is in the fifth grade in Burma. Linn also cultivates vegetables in her garden and usually cooks meals using them. Linn enjoys watching movies in her free time, but she has not been able to do so for a while now. One year ago, Linn began to experience blurred and double vision. Currently, Linn cannot read, see, or walk well and requires a caregiver to assist her with daily activities. These symptoms have made it increasingly difficult for her to see clearly. Linn was diagnosed with retinal detachment, a condition in which the retina pulls away from the supportive tissue in the eye, resulting in vision loss. If left untreated, she could lose vision completely. Linn is scheduled to undergo surgery to reattach her retina. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), requests $1,500 to cover her procedure and care costs. After her surgery, Linn's vision will hopefully be restored, and she will resume her daily activities comfortably. Linn expressed, "I am very pleased to receive help and I am relieved that I can also stay at BCMF's patients' house in Chiang Mai. I wish for the success of my eye surgery. After recovery, I hope to restart my previous business again."

$932raised
$568to go

Hapyness is a charming 9-month-old girl, born to hardworking farmers in the remote village of Igot, in the Ulanga district of Tanzania. Her family's daily life revolves around the cultivation of maize and millet, which not only sustains their meals, but also provides a modest income for the family’s necessities. Unfortunately, her father, who is advancing in age, cannot work extended hours, so her mother toils diligently on the farm, to ensure they yield bountiful harvests. Hapyness was born with a clubfoot, a condition in which the foot is abnormally twisted, making it difficult for her to crawl and eventuall to walk. At the time of her birth, the nurse in attendance recommended immediate medical attention. However, locating such specialized care in their isolated village proved to be impossible. After months of searching, Hapyness' father crossed paths with a young boy who had had a clubfoot which had been successfully treated, and he was able to provide Hapyness' father with the information he had been seeking. As a result of this meeting, Hapyness' parents brought her to the Plaster House, where her treatment will begin on October 6th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Hapyness' clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to crawl and to walk comfortably as she grows. Hapyness’s mother says: “I am glad there is a chance for my daughter to get treatment. I hope she doesn't have to live with this disability for the rest of her life.”

$935raised
Fully funded

Baraka is a 15-year-old boy who is in fifth grade, and resides with his uncle in Arusha. Seven of Baraka's ten siblings have passed away, as has his mother, after a prolonged bout of ill health. Baraka's father lives in a different region of the country, and has entrusted his care to the uncle, who has six children of his own. When Baraka was a young child, he fell onto a lighted stack of firewood while playing. He sustained severe burns - which were successfully treated - but which have left him with residual scar contractures around his mouth, and on and under his arm. Baraka lived with these contractures for a long time, until he met a neighbor, who told Baraka and his uncle about Plaster House. Baraka's uncle was unable to bring Baraka to Plaster House, so their neighbor, Charles, undertook to do so. Baraka is looking forward to treatment, as the contractures have negatively affected his confidence when he is interacting with other people. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Baraka receive the care that he needs. On August 16th, surgeons will perform burn contracture release surgery, which will enable Baraka to have improved mobility, functionality and appearance. Now, he needs your help to fund this $874 procedure. Baraka says: “I desire an improvement in my facial appearance. Right now, I lack confidence in how I look. I hold the hope that this treatment will bring about a substantial transformation in my appearance.”

$874raised
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