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Retired Professor of Social Work

United States   •   March 21st   •   retired, formerly Univ of Wisconsin
Susan's Story

Susan joined Watsi on December 26th, 2019. Six years ago, Susan joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Susan's most recent donation traveled 2,600 miles to support José, a six-year-old boy from Colombia, to fund hernia repair surgery.

Impact

Susan has funded healthcare for 77 patients in 13 countries.

Patients funded by Susan

Sonita is an eight-year-old girl from Cambodia. She is in the third grade and lives in Kampong Chhnang Province with her parents and younger sister, who is in kindergarten. Her father works as a construction worker, and her mother works in a garment factory. She enjoys playing games with her friends, her favorite subject is Khmer, and she hopes to become a teacher when she grows up. During her free time, she enjoys playing games with her friends. Sonita developed weakness and stiffness in her left arm after suffering from a brain hemorrhage when she was only one and a half months old. She was hospitalized and required emergency treatment at that time. Since then, the brain injury has affected the nerves controlling her left arm, causing weakness, limited movement, and difficulty using her hand. Although she has received physiotherapy and has improved over time, she still cannot fully move her wrist and fingers, making it difficult to hold objects, write, dress herself, and perform some daily activities. She needs to undergo a tendon and nerve repair procedure to help regain strength and mobility. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is helping Sonita receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo the tendon and nerve repair procedure on July 20th. This procedure will cost $701, and Sonita and her family need your support. Sonita's mother said, “I hope this surgery will help my daughter use her left hand better so she can hold objects, play, and take care of herself more easily. I want her to grow up with greater confidence and independence.”

$701raised
Fully funded

Roland is a 36-year-old father from the Philippines. He has been living with a fistula for about 15 years. Initially, his symptoms were sporadic and self-resolving. However, flare-ups have become frequent, occurring every two months for the past two years. These episodes cause pain, fatigue, and difficulty sitting, forcing Roland to adjust his daily routine. After Roland traveled to our medical partner's care center, World Surgical Foundation Philippines, surgery was recommended to relieve his symptoms. While this has brought Roland hope, the estimated cost remains beyond his financial capacity, leaving him reliant on antibiotics for temporary relief. Despite his condition, Roland continues to support his family by helping run their small clothing business and taking on electrical work on the side. His condition limits his ability to fully participate in work, leisure activities, and caring for his children. His family strongly believes surgery would restore his quality of life, reduce recurring medical expenses, and ease the financial strain. Fortunately, Roland is scheduled to receive surgery on March 20th at the World Surgical Foundation Philippines. Our medical partner, Our Lady of Peace Hospital, is requesting $1,198 to fund this treatment. Access to surgical treatment would allow Roland to regain comfort, resume normal activities, and provide more stability for his household. Roland shared, "I’m looking forward to playing basketball again without pain and being able to sit comfortably while spending time with my children."

$1,198raised
Fully funded

Gaudensia is a 45-year-old mother of one from Uganda. She has weathered the storms of motherhood, loss, and abandonment with grace and grit. She is a small-scale farmer in the scenic hills of a village in Kabale District. For many years, she has been rising very early in the morning to tend to her crops, her mind and heart committed to one thing: taking care of her family. She shared that even after her husband left her for a second wife, she raised her two children on her own until one of them died. She ensured that her remaining child attended school, sacrificing her own comfort to secure the same for her child. But five years ago, something began to change. It started with a dull abdominal pain, nothing sharp or urgent, just a quiet discomfort. She brushed it off and continued working, just as she always had. But the pain persisted. One month ago, the pain increased in intensity. This prompted her to seek medical attention at a local health center, but time and again, she was sent home with little more than pain medication. No diagnosis. No answers. Only frustration and a growing fear that something serious was being overlooked. Her condition worsened. The woman who once worked tirelessly under the sun could now barely tend her fields. Providing for her family became nearly impossible. Desperate and running out of options, Gaudensia shared her condition with a friend, who gave her advice to visit our medical partner's care center, Rushoroza Hospital, for help. With courage and determination, Gaudensia made her way to Rushoroza Hospital. Here, finally, she got signs of hope when the doctors identified her condition after various investigations. A diagnosis of cervical fibroids was made, benign, noncancerous tumors of the cervix. Doctors recommend a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy for treatment, but unfortunately Gaudensia is unable to raise the funds needed for surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $319 to fund Gaudensia's surgery. On November 18th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at Rushoroza Hospital. Once recovered, Gaudensia will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Gaudensia says, “I seek support so that I may get relieved of the abdominal pain that I have endured for a very long time. I hope to feel healthy again and live a better, happier and enjoyable rest of my life. I will resume farming as soon as I heal.”

$319raised
Fully funded