Chris RochesterUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER

Watsi is Awesome!

United States
Chris' Story

Chris joined Watsi on July 24th, 2013. Two years ago, Chris joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Chris' most recent donation traveled 8,300 miles to support Wai, a 29-year-old woman from Burma, to fund fracture repair surgery.

Impact

Chris has funded healthcare for 68 patients in 12 countries.

Patients funded by Chris

Nan Maw is a 24-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her friends in Bangkok in an apartment rented by their employer. She works as a waitress, while her brother and mother still live in their village in Karen State, Burma. When Nan Maw was healthy and working full-time, she would send half of her salary home to support her mother. She dreams of building a concrete house back home for her family. Nan Maw was born with an atrial septal defect (ASD), a condition in which a hole exists between the two upper chambers of the heart. Sometimes ASDs may close on their own during development, but sometimes this condition requires surgery to repair the hole and prevent long-term damage to the heart and lungs. Due to her condition, she can only engage in part-time work as she gets tired too easily. Nan Maw is scheduled to undergo heart surgery on August 31st at our medical partner's care center, Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital, to correct her atrial septal defect and improve her quality of life. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help cover the cost of Nan Maw's procedure and care. Nan Maw said, “I would like to thank your organization, BCMF, and your donors for your help. If you do not help me, I would have had to give up on my treatment because I know that I could not afford it by myself. I am very happy and thankful to all the donors. You have helped me feel that I can dream again. Before I developed these symptoms, I dreamed of working hard, saving money, building a house back home, and opening my own restaurant. Since I first noticed my symptoms, it felt like my dreams were lost. But now, I can dream again.”

$1,000raised
$500to go

Francisco is an eight-year-old boy who lives in Colombia with his family. He is intelligent, charismatic, and extremely friendly. Francisco's energy spreads joy, and his sweetness leaves a special impression on everyone around him. When he grows up, he dreams of becoming an inventor to change the world with his ideas. About one year ago, Francisco developed an umbilical hernia, a bulge that occurs when abdominal tissue pushes through a small opening near the belly button. Although umbilical hernias do not usually cause acute pain, Francisco experiences tenderness and discomfort that limit his daily activities, such as running, jumping, and playing with his friends. If left untreated, the hernia also carries the risk of complications, such as incarceration or strangulation. Fortunately, on September 17th, Francisco will undergo surgery to repair the hernia at our medical partner’s care center, Clinica Noel. Our medical partner, Clinica Noel, is requesting $1,005 to fund Francisco's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Francisco’s mother shared: "I want to express my most sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the people who have decided to sponsor his surgery. Thank you for extending your generous hand without even knowing us personally; that gesture is one of the purest expressions of human kindness. Your support not only makes this surgery possible and addresses a medical need, but it also restores our peace of mind and fills our hearts with hope that Francisco will once again be able to play and dream without limitations. May God bless you abundantly, multiply your generosity in your life, and continue to guide every endeavor you undertake. With infinite gratitude, Francisco’s mom and the entire family"

$1,005raised
Fully funded

Yeabtsega is a calm and cheerful 10-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He loves playing football and practicing taekwondo. He is passionate about sports and enjoys spending time with his older brother and younger sister. He is currently in Grade 5 and lives with his mother, a single parent who works at a government institution. When he was younger, Yeabtsega's mother noticed that one of his testicles would sometimes appear and disappear. However, as he grew older, she noticed that it was no longer visible. Concerned about her son, she took him to a clinic near their home, where a doctor examined him and performed an ultrasound. The doctor informed her that Yeabtsega needed surgery. Hearing that her son needed surgery was heartbreaking for his mother, especially as she was raising him as a single parent. She began searching for a hospital where he could receive the treatment he needed. She eventually took him to a government hospital, where he was placed on a waiting list for surgery. After about a month, Yeabtsega was referred to BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre (BKMCM). His mother shared that it felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted from her shoulders. At BKMCM, the medical team carefully assessed him, and diagnosed him with cryptorchidism, a condition in which one or both of the testicles remains undescended. If left untreated, Yeabtsega has an increased risk of medical complications in the future. Yeabtsega is receiving assistance from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH). Fortunately, he is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on September 4th. AMH is requesting $754 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Yeabtsega’s mother said, “Thank you, BethanyKids and donors, for your support. I truly appreciate the work you are doing for children who may not otherwise have the opportunity to receive the surgery they need. Your support gives hope to families like ours. Thank you for giving my son this opportunity. I wish Yeabtsega good health, success, and a bright future. May he grow up to be a healthy and successful young man.”

$754raised
Fully funded

Chanthy is a 46-year-old wife and mother from Cambodia. Her husband works in construction, and together they have three children; the eldest is employed in Thailand, the second works as a waitress, and the youngest has a disability that prevents them from walking or speaking properly. In her free time, Chanthy enjoys growing vegetables around her home to help support the family. About seven years ago, Chanthy developed a small mass on the left side of her upper jaw. It initially appeared to be a small acne-like lesion but rapidly increased in size, eventually causing pain and difficulty breathing. She underwent surgery with the help of our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), to remove the mass, followed by a reconstructive surgery for her lower eyelid. Though these surgeries were successful, Chancy later developed tightness around her left eye, causing discomfort and vision problems. Fortunately, CSC will help Chanthy undergo a second reconstructive surgery on June 16th. Chanthy’s family has raised some of the funds, but needs help raising $847 to fully fund the surgery. Following surgery, Chanthy is expected to experience reduced tightness around the left eye, improved comfort, enhanced vision, and overall improved quality of life. Chanthy said, “I have been struggling with this condition for many years and have already undergone treatment before, but I still feel discomfort and difficulty with my eye. I hope this surgery will help reduce my tightness, improve my vision, and finally give me lasting relief.”

$847raised
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

Simion is a 15-year-old student from Kenya who is currently in Grade 5. He is the youngest in his family of six children. His parents are small-scale farmers who also keep livestock for their daily livelihood. Simion's village has limited access to healthcare services, so his journey to receive care began unexpectedly when a stranger noticed Simion's walking pattern and kindly informed him and his mother about our medical partner's hospital program, encouraging them to seek help. When Simion and his mother came to the hospital, communication was initially challenging because Simion and his mother speak little Swahili and are more comfortable communicating in Maa, their local dialect. Simion has been diagnosed with clubfoot of the right foot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape, which causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Simion was also born with a condition known as hemiplegic cerebral palsy, which has affected movement on one side of his body. This condition has made walking difficult for him and limited his ability to participate in childhood activities. Fortunately, Simion can undergo treatment with our partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on May 28th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Simion's treatment. After surgery, he will be able to walk easier, play with his friends, and continue his education with greater confidence. Simion's mother said, "I am looking forward to seeing my son walking normally like other children."

$1,286raised
Fully funded