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Gary DaigleUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER

Gary's Story

Gary joined Watsi on February 17th, 2026. Nine months ago, Gary joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Gary's most recent donation supported Legrand, a three-year-old boy from Haiti, to fund heart surgery.

Impact

Gary has funded healthcare for 9 patients in 6 countries.

Patients funded by Gary

Legrand is a preschooler from Haiti. He lives with his mother, who works as a farmer and market vendor, and his grandmother in a small agricultural community in central Haiti. Legrand has a congenital heart condition called patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), in which an opening between two major blood vessels near his heart. This causes blood to flow abnormally, placing extra strain on his heart and contributing to weakness and difficulty gaining weight. Legrand needs to travel to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On October 21, he will undergo a procedure in which doctors will use a catheter to place a small device that closes the opening between the blood vessels, allowing blood to flow more normally. Another organization, the Haitian Hearts Foundation, is contributing $5,000 toward the cost of his treatment. Legrand's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is requesting $1,500 to cover labs, medicines, and check-up and follow-up appointments. It also supports securing travel documents for the family and travel costs for the social workers from our medical partner, who will accompany Legrand's family overseas. From Legrand's mother, "I know that God has blessed us to reach this hospital to take care of my son!"

$961raised
$539to go

Berry is a 26-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her parents, husband, sister, and son in a refugee camp in Tak Province, Thailand. Berry is a homemaker. Her father and husband work in the camp. During her free time, she enjoys spending time with her son, watching short videos on YouTube, and listening to songs on her phone. Berry is currently expecting her second child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver via a caesarean section due to a high-risk pregnancy. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both mother and child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Berry undergo a C-Section on September 10th at our medical partner's care center, Tha Song Yang Hospital. This procedure will cost $1500, and Berry needs your support. Berry said, “I know that I need to go through a C-section, but we cannot afford it. My husband and father’s income is just enough to cover daily expenses. When the time is near for giving birth, I cannot sleep at night thinking about where I can borrow money from. The people I know in the camp are also struggling with their own lives. Knowing that you can support me makes me happy. Thank you so much for helping me.”

$974raised
$526to go

Hem is a 57-year-old rice farmer from Pailin Province in Cambodia. She is married and lives with her 64-year-old husband. They have four children. Her first and second children are rice farmers, her third child works for an organization, and her youngest child is a teacher. In her free time, she enjoys listening to monks praying and keeping up with the news. Hem has a herniated disc at the L4-L5 level of her lower spine, a condition in which a spinal disc presses on nearby nerves. She has experienced intermittent lower back pain for approximately three years, but about one month ago, the pain began radiating down the back of her left leg. She also experiences intermittent numbness in her left leg and weakness when extending her left toe. These symptoms have made walking and carrying out her daily activities as a farmer more difficult. Hem was referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), by a relative. She traveled approximately seven hours from Pailin to seek specialized care. After evaluation, doctors recommended surgery to relieve the pressure on the affected nerves. Hem is scheduled to undergo laminectomy and decompression of the L4-L5 spine on August 17th. She has contributed $100 towards her treatment but needs an additional $1,400 in support to cover the cost of surgery and related care. The surgery aims to relieve pressure on the nerves and help reduce her back and leg symptoms, allowing her to walk more comfortably and return to farming and her normal daily activities. Hem said, “I hope that this surgery will relieve my back and leg pain, improve the numbness and weakness in my left leg, and help me walk more comfortably again. I wish to return to farming, and continue my normal daily activities.”

$864raised
$536to go

Pla is a 49-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband, three daughters, and son in a refugee camp in Thailand. Her husband works as a security guard in their section of the camp, while she works as a hospital helper at the camp hospital. Her son is a homemaker, two of her daughters are students, and her other daughter works for an organisation in the camp. In her free time, Pla enjoys weaving traditional Karen clothing with her daughters. When she was 10 years old, Pla lost vision in her right eye in an accident. In 2024, Pla started experiencing pain in her right eye. Later on, she also developed pain in her left eye. She was diagnosed with a cataract in her left eye and chronic ocular discomfort in her right eye. Doctors recommend enucleation, the removal of the eye, to treat this condition. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to help fund this surgery. The treatment is scheduled to take place on July 16th at our medical partner's care center, Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. Once completed, Pla will hopefully live more comfortably. Pla said, “I would like to get proper treatment because my eye is in pain. I worry that it will affect my other eye. I hope that I will be fine after receiving treatment.”

$958raised
$542to go

Roberto is a resilient 56-year-old man from the Philippines. He is currently unemployed and relies on his brother for food and daily support. He had previously worked as a messenger but had to stop after being advised by the doctor to avoid lifting heavy objects. Two months ago, Roberto was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia, 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 caused him anxiety and has prevented him from working. Doctors have recommended a hernia repair surgery to treat his condition. Fortunately, on May 16th, Roberto will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center, Our Lady of Peace Hospital. A portion of the cost of treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation. Our medical partner is raising the remaining $1,038 to cover the cost of his surgery and care. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Roberto says, "Many thanks to the foundation and to all the people who helped me and became instruments of God in supporting me through this difficult time. May God continue to guide, protect, and bless you, and may your kindness be returned to you many times over."

$537raised
$501to go

Saroem is 22 years old and the youngest of four siblings from Cambodia. Her siblings work as factory workers, and the family lives together as a close-knit household. Saroem was born with a congenital condition called neurofibromatosis, a condition that causes usually noncancerous tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body. In 2017, with the support of Watsi, she underwent surgery to remove the mass on her hand, as it was affecting her ability to write, eat, and complete everyday tasks. For many years now, Saroem has had a mass on the right side of her upper jaw. The condition has persisted throughout her life without causing significant pain, but it has gradually affected her facial appearance and self-confidence. She often feels shy and self-conscious in social and professional settings due to the visible swelling. Saroem is scheduled for surgery on June 15th. Surgeons will perform a right facelift and mass removal to improve facial symmetry, reduce the mass, and help restore her confidence. Her family can contribute $50, but needs help raising $791 to fund her treatment and care. Saroem said, “For many years, I have been self-conscious because of the swelling on my face. I hope this surgery will improve my appearance and allow me to feel more comfortable and confident in my daily life.”

$791raised
Fully funded

Aitana is a young girl from Bolivia. She lives with her mom and her dad, who have a small convenience store. Aitana has a twin sister and an older brother; they live in the northern part of Bolivia. Where they live, there are no cardiologists. So, when her mom noticed that her heart was beating too fast, she took her to a different area where she found out she had a heart condition and needed surgery. Aitana has a cardiac condition called an atrial septal defect. A hole exists between the two upper chambers of her heart: blood leaks through this hole, leaving her weak and short of breath. On April 15th, Aitana will undergo cardiac surgery at our medical partner's care center, Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uría. During surgery, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole so that blood can no longer leak through it. Aitana's family needs help to fund the costs of cardiac care and surgery. Our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, requests $1,500 to cover the cost of cardiac exams and diagnostics, surgical costs, follow-up care, and medications. Aitana's mother shared, "We were looking forward to this day, I trust everything will go well, I pray for that."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

James is a 13-year-old boy from Kenya. When our medical partner met James's mother, worry etched across her face as she struggled to hold back tears while sharing their experience. Born in 2012, James had a wonderful childhood. However, in 2021, something happened that changed James's life completely as they knew it. Towards the end of September, James started experiencing excruciating stomach pain. His condition was so bad, such that James was unable to sleep, and would throw up whenever he ate. His parents took him to a nearby hospital for medical assistance. No diagnosis was made; instead, they were sent back home with a prescription for painkillers and antibiotics. They left the hospital, hopeful that their son would recover. True enough, James got better, and soon enough, they forgot their worries. A few months later, however, the pain was back, and this time, worse than before. James's parents took him to hospital, only to be sent back home with painkillers again, but with no diagnosis. At this point, James was losing weight as well, and throwing up whenever he ate. With the help of the medication given, he got better, and an improvement in his feeding pattern was noted. This was, however, short-lived. Within a few months, the pain recurred. It's been a difficult three years for James, until his family decided to seek care at our medical partner's care center, BethanyKids Kijabe Hospital (BKKH), in September 2025. At the hospital, doctors found James to be malnourished, and he was placed on nutritional care so he could be strong enough to handle treatment. He was in hospital for a month before a laparotomy surgery was scheduled. The successful surgery that followed restored hope back into the lives of his family. Presently, James is scheduled for a follow up colostomy closure surgery to restore bowel function and prevent future complications. After a long journey of James's treatment, his family is unable to raise funds for his upcoming treatment. James's father works informal jobs to sustain the family, while his mother takes care of the family. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,020 to cover the cost of a colostomy closure for James. The surgery is scheduled to take place on March 11th and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live a healthier life. James's mother says, "My son is going through so much pain, seeing him like that breaks my heart. As his mother, I wish I could take the burden of pain off his body. However, I am hopeful that with your help, this condition will be a thing of the past very soon."

$1,020raised
Fully funded

Linus is a 29-year-old man from Kenya. Born in a large family of 12 children, Linus was not able to complete his studies as his parents could not afford school fees for Linus and his siblings. He was working as a casual laborer, but jobs were tough and inconsistent. Through hard work, he was able to purchase a second-hand public service vehicle, which provides him with a modest but honest living. Linus has two children, but they are living with their mother, with whom Linus is no longer in communication. On January 13th, Linus's life changed dramatically. He was assaulted with a machete and sustained multiple severe injuries. He suffered fractures of the left distal radius and ulna, open infected fractures of the left distal tibia and fibula, and cortical disruption of the right tibia. He received first aid treatment and was transferred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital, for further care. Surgeons were able to treat his wounds and fractures on his arm, hand, and ankle. However, Linus still needs contracture release and a skin graft surgery to facilitate healing and regain strength and mobility. He has used up his government medical insurance because of his multiple procedures, and now needs help to raise funds. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Linus receive treatment. On February 16th, surgeons will perform a contracture release surgery to help him use his hand easily again. Now, he needs help to fund this $1,239 procedure. Linus says, "I am in the hospital fighting alone, the people that assaulted me are well known to me, I don't know why they did that to me. I thank God they didn't kill me. Hoping for recovery, please help me."

$1,239raised
Fully funded