C
Cindy Schwab

Switzerland   •   🦷🪥
Cindy's Story

Cindy joined Watsi on May 16th, 2026. 12 other people also joined Watsi on that day! Cindy's most recent donation traveled 3,700 miles to support Deborah, a mother of two from Kenya, to fund hearing aids so she can hear better.

Impact

Cindy has funded healthcare for 14 patients in 7 countries.

Patients funded by Cindy

Boxter is a farmer from Malawi. He is a husband and father of three from Dzungu village in Dowa District. He grows maize, tomatoes, and other crops to support his family. Three years ago, Boxter started experiencing urinary retention. It is a condition he chose to keep to himself, not sharing it even with those closest to him. Despite the discomfort, he continued working and providing for his family, doing his best to manage the situation quietly. Recently, he came to Nkhoma Hospital and waited in the surgical clinic to be seen. He was diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Doctors explained that he needs a surgery, known as TURP, to relieve his condition and restore normal function. While this gave him a clear solution, it also brought worry. Boxter began making phone calls to family members, hoping they could help him raise the money for surgery. In the end, they were only able to gather a little, which is not enough to cover the full cost. He was advised to return home and wait until more funds could be found. Still in need and uncertain of what to do next, Boxter was referred to the SAFE Program for consideration. This has given him a chance to be heard and a renewed sense of hope. He now looks forward to the possibility of receiving treatment and returning to his normal life without the burden he has carried in silence for so long. Physicians at Nkhoma Hospital determined that Boxter should undergo a prostatectomy. A prostatectomy is a surgery to remove part or all of the prostate. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $530 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place at Nkhoma Hospital on April 29th. Once completed, it will hopefully improve Boxter's quality of life. Boxter said, “I have stayed with this problem for a long time without telling anyone. I was afraid and did not know how I would manage it. Now that I have a chance to be treated, I am hoping for support. I want to be well again and live without this condition.”

$530raised
Fully funded

Prossy is a nine-year-old girl living in Uganda, the fourth-born child in a family of six children. Sadly, she lost her father at an early age, leaving her mother with the sole responsibility for raising all six children. Prossy's mother is a small-scale farmer who works hard to meet the family’s basic needs. For about 18 months, Prossy has been experiencing a swelling on her left ear, which started as a small growth but gradually got larger. About a month ago, some wounds developed around the swelling, causing further discomfort and concern. For the past two weeks, she has missed school due to the pain and discomfort. This is particularly distressing because her end-of-year examinations are approaching, and she risks falling behind in her education. Prossy and her mother traveled to our medical partner's care center, Uganda Martyr's Ibanda Hospital, to receive treatment. On October 15th, she is scheduled for a procedure where surgeons will remove the mass. Now, Prossy's family needs your help to raise $72 to fund this procedure. Her mother says: “I am hopeful that my daughter will undergo surgery and recover from her condition. I sincerely thank the doctors for encouraging me and assuring me that my child will get better after the operation. However, I am unable to afford the medical bills. I therefore humbly request the donor program to support my daughter’s surgery. After she recovers from the operation, I will continue supporting her education while engaging in farming to provide for her needs and the rest of the children."

$72raised
Fully funded

Sebit is an 11-year-old student from South Sudan. His father is a fisherman, and his mother is currently unemployed. Living in a remote region of South Sudan, the family is located far from specialized medical care. In September 2021, Sebit fell from a tree while playing with his friends. He landed chin-first and injured his mouth, biting through his lower lip and bleeding heavily. At first, he did not seem to be in pain, but about a month later, both sides of his cheeks began to swell. From that point on, Sebit could no longer open his mouth well. Simple activities such as talking, laughing, and eating became extremely difficult. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors diagnosed him with a jaw fracture and recommended surgery. However, due to the complexity of the procedure, the surgery could not be performed at local facilities. Sebit was given pain medication and sent home. For the past five years, Sebit has lived in this condition. He speaks in low tones, eats slowly in very small portions, and avoids sleeping on either side of his face because of the discomfort. The swelling in his cheeks comes and goes, often leaving him in pain and distress. Sebit slowly adapted to this painful new reality, uncertain whether his condition was improving or worsening with time. Hope finally arrived when a well-wisher learned about Sebit’s condition and referred the family to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. This meant the family had to travel from South Sudan to Kenya for treatment, and the well-wisher helped cover the cost of their journey. After undergoing scans at our hospital, doctors discovered that Sebit’s jaws had fused and locked together, preventing him from opening his mouth. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On May 14th, Sebit will undergo a mandible reconstruction surgery to restore movement to his jaw and help him eat, speak, and live healthier again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,115 to fund this procedure. Sebit says, “Whenever I try to open my mouth, I feel pain. I have to eat very slowly and only in small portions.”

$1,115raised
Fully funded

William is a 49-year-old father of one from Uganda. He is a devoted husband and father who has been married for 28 years. Neither William nor his wife had the opportunity to pursue formal education. They live in a modest single-room house on a small plot of land, reflecting their humble circumstances. To sustain their family and meet their daily needs, they rely on working on other people’s farms, a physically demanding and often unstable source of income. However, William’s medical condition has made it increasingly difficult for him to continue working. Five years ago, William underwent a hernia repair surgery on the left side of his inguinal region. A year later, he developed an inguinal hernia on his right side, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles, causing a bulge in the groin area. The condition has been causing him pain and discomfort, threatening his ability to provide for his family. Fortunately, on March 5th, William has been scheduled for hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Uganda Martyr's Ibanda Hospital. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $201 to fund William's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. William says, "I am grateful to the hospital team for connecting me to the donor program, because I cannot afford to raise money for the operation. After the surgery, I will go back and work hard to sustain my family."

$201raised
Fully funded

Hamis is a cheerful, outgoing, and confident five-year-old from Uganda. He is the middle child in his family of three, with his older brother in Primary Four and his younger sister just starting nursery school. Hamis loves exploring new things. While he was at the hospital, his curiosity was evident. Upon noticing the computers in the office, he would quietly sneak over and start pressing every button he could find. When asked about school, Hamis responded confidently and enthusiastically, proudly sharing the name of his school, teachers, and best friend. Hamis and his best friend play football, have lunch, and walk to and from school together. Academically, he is doing well and recently ranked fifth in a class of sixteen pupils. At home, Hamis is equally active and helpful. He fetches water, collects firewood, and especially enjoys washing utensils. His parents are both small-scale farmers who work hard to provide for their family. Since Hamis was four years old, he has had a hydrocele, which is a swelling in a sensitive area. Initially, it did not seem to cause any concern, but over time, the swelling continued to increase, appearing intermittently and causing him significant discomfort. As the condition worsened, Hamis complained of pain. Seeking medical help, his mother took him to a nearby hospital, where he was examined and recommended for surgery. Unfortunately, his family could not afford the cost of the procedure and were given pain medication and advised to return home. As time passed, the pain became increasingly severe. During a subsequent visit to a nearby clinic, a nurse learned of our medical partner's surgical support services available at Nyakibale Hospital and referred the family there. At Nyakibale Hospital, the surgeon explained that if the condition is left untreated, the hydrocele could become infected, potentially leading to serious complications that may affect his reproductive health in the future. Hamis needs to undergo surgery to relieve his pain and prevent further complications. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On June 2nd, Hamis will undergo hydrocele repair surgery at AMH's care center. AMH is requesting $146 to fund Hamis's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Hamis's mother said, "It pains us so much seeing our son in pain. Being a determined child, sometimes when he says so, we think he is kidding, but it seems true that he is in pain. The only option we are given for a complete recovery is surgery, but we are unable to raise the money they need. We kindly appeal to you for support."

$146raised
Fully funded

Phyo Min is a 31-year-old man from Burma. He lives with his wife, two sons, and daughter in Mae Sot District, Tak Province, Thailand. Phyo Min works as an agricultural day laborer in the corn fields near his village, while his wife is a homemaker. Their three children are students attending a migrant school in Mae Sot. Originally from Bago Division, Burma, the family moved to Thailand in 2020 to seek better job opportunities. On March 9, 2026, Phyo Min experienced severe upper right abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting. He went to the village clinic and was referred to our medical partner's care center, Mae Sot General Hospital, for a more comprehensive assessment. After an ultrasound, the doctor suspects he has cholangitis with multiple stones in the intrahepatic duct (IHD) and common hepatic duct (CHD). Cholangitis is inflammation and infection of the bile duct system and often requires emergency medical care Doctors need to confirm his diagnosis through an MRI so that they can develop a treatment plan for him. Currently, Phyo Min continues to experience pain in the upper right side of his abdomen and abdominal discomfort while continuing treatment with oral medications. Because of the stress of his unresolved health condition, he also experiences mild depression since he is unable to sleep through the night and work. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Phyo Min undergo an MRI on June 30th. He needs $681 to fund this and help doctors determine the next steps for his care. He plans to return to work as soon as possible, because he is his family’s only source of income. Phyo Min expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you so much to BCMF and the donors for your willingness to help with my treatment costs. Your support means a lot to people who are poor and are facing many hardships like me. We feel immense happiness and endless gratitude for your help, and we wish good health and prosperity for all of you.”

$681raised
Fully funded

Francisco is an 11-year-old boy from Uganda. Born as one of triplets, Francisco has two sisters who live with their mother, while he lives with his grandfather. His mother sells fresh vegetables in the community to support her children, while his grandfather is a subsistence farmer. Despite the family’s determination to care for Francisco, his health condition has become a major concern. His grandfather recently brought him to our medical partner's care center, Rushoroza Hospital, after noticing that his right testicle was still undescended. Following careful medical assessment and examination at the hospital, doctors have recommended corrective surgery to treat his condition, and provide him the opportunity to grow into a healthy and productive young man. Unfortunately, Francisco’s grandfather is financially overwhelmed and unable to meet the required medical expenses for surgery, medications, investigations, hospitalization, and follow-up care. Besides caring for Francisco, he is currently responsible for supporting eleven other dependents within the family. The little income earned from small-scale farming is often not enough to provide for the family’s basic needs, let alone raise funds for specialized medical treatment. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Francisco receive treatment. On May 12th, he will undergo surgery that will not only get him healthier, but also restore hope to his elderly grandfather. Now, Francisco's family needs help to fund this $220 procedure. Francisco's grandfather says, “I am doing everything I can to care for my grandson and the many children depending on me, but I cannot afford the surgery he urgently needs. I humbly ask kind-hearted people to support Francisco, so that he can grow up healthy and free from his condition. May God bless everyone who stands with us.”

$220raised
Fully funded