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United States   •   March 27th
Ishmeet's Story

Ishmeet joined Watsi on March 29th, 2013. Twelve years ago, Ishmeet joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Ishmeet's most recent donation traveled 8,500 miles to support George, a 10-year-old boy from Kenya, to fund hearing aids.

Impact

Ishmeet has funded healthcare for 81 patients in 12 countries.

Patients funded by Ishmeet

Yesak is a joyful two-year-old boy from Ethiopia. He is known for his bright smile, active nature, and love for playing with his friends. He enjoys playing football and riding his bicycle. As the first child of his parents, he is curious, intelligent, and quick to remember new things. He loves exploring his surroundings, spending time with other children, and learning through play. Yisak lives with his parents in a rented house. His father works in the insurance sector, while his mother works as a messenger. Yesak was born with hypospadias, a condition that causes urinary dysfunction. Yesak's parents first discovered his condition when they took him for circumcision. During the visit, the doctor explained the condition to them. The news left the family worried and frustrated, but the doctor reassured them that the condition was treatable and advised them not to lose hope. The doctor referred Yisak to a higher-level hospital for specialized treatment when he became older. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of future complications. Fortunately, Yesak is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on June 26th, and our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,293 to cover the cost of his procedure and care. Yisak's father said, "Thank you very much. We were warmly welcomed and treated with kindness by the staff. The services provided were professional and exceeded our expectations. We are grateful for the care and support given to Yisak and hopeful for a positive outcome for his condition."

$1,293raised
Fully funded

Rehema is a 16-year-old girl from Tanzania. She is the second-born in a family of six children and lives in a large household where her father has two wives. Rehema’s mother, the second wife, plays a central role in caring for her children, while the family relies mainly on animal keeping for survival. Rehema is currently in class five, determined to continue her education despite the challenges she faces. Rehema was diagnosed with genu valgus. This is a condition that has affected both her legs for five years and has gradually worsened. Several factors could cause this condition, such as growth disorders, vitamin deficiencies, or excessive fluoride found in contaminated drinking water. As a result, the knees can be angled inwards or outwards, making it difficult to walk and may cause long-term joint damage. Walking long distances, such as going to the market, fetching water, or going to school, has become painful and exhausting for her. Her parents worry deeply about her future, especially as the pain continues to limit her mobility. Doctors have planned for a right distal femoral osteotomy (DFO), a procedure that will help correct the deformity, reduce her pain, and allow her to continue her schooling with confidence. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $777 to fund treatment for Rehema. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 9th at our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. Treatment will hopefully restore Rehema's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Rehema says, "I really hope that one day I will be able to help my mother with chores without her being concerned most of the time."

$777raised
Fully funded

John is a 52-year-old small-scale retailer from Kenya. He is a father of two and the family’s main breadwinner. Since his accident, his family has faced significant hardship. His wife has had to take on casual jobs to provide for the household, while also caring for him. John lost his father earlier this year, and on the way back from the burial, he was involved in a grisly road accident, narrowly escaping death. The incident occurred along the Nairobi–Nakuru Highway near Naivasha, when the matatu he was traveling in collided head-on with a bus. John sustained multiple injuries to his head, hands, pelvis, and legs. He was rushed to a district hospital, where he received first aid treatment. However, due to the severity of his injuries and multiple fractures, he sought specialized care at our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital. Upon arrival, scans confirmed the extent of the fractures he sustained. Although he managed to enroll into the national health insurance scheme, it could not cover all the surgeries he requires. Since the accident, John has been confined to a wheelchair and requires assistance to move around. He continues to live in pain and is now reaching out for support so he can undergo an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) procedure, and continue his recovery journey. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On March 5th, John will undergo a fracture repair procedure to treat his fractures, and help him regain his mobility. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. John says, “I am in constant pain. I can’t walk, sleeping is difficult, and I rely on pain medication just to get through the day.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

11-year-old Allan lives in Kenya with his mother and older brother. His mother, who is a single parent, works as a tailor to support her family. Two years ago, Allan was playing with friends at school, when he tripped. By the next day, his leg was swollen and painful, and he was unable to walk. His mother quickly took him to the nearest dispensary, where he received an injection, but the pain didn't go away. The swelling continued to get worse. Allan was then taken to a district hospital, where an X-ray showed damage to the soft tissue in his leg. He was given medication, but the swelling and pain got even worse, and he began having trouble breathing. Allan was then admitted in another hospital for a week, where he was put on oxygen. He still couldn’t walk, and further scans revealed that he had broken bones. Allan was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, where he had a fracture repair surgery in April 2023, to repair the damage. This was followed by another surgery in February 2024 to remove the plates from the first surgery, and to replace them with new ones that would better hold his bones together. Allan was to undergo a bone transport surgery towards the end of 2024, but his wound was severely infected, so he had to undergo several procedures in 2025 to clean and close up his wound, before he could proceed with the bone transport. His wound has been healing well, and he is now set to undergo bone transport surgery. Unfortunately, Allan's national health insurance is now depleted, due to the multiple surgeries. The income that Allan's mother earns barely covers the basic needs for her elder son, who is in high school, and Allan, who has required frequent medical care after his injury. She has been relying on the kindness of others to help with hospital bills, but has not been able to raise enough money for Allan’s upcoming surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is seeking $1,500 to cover the cost of Allan's surgery, which is scheduled to take place on February 4th, at AIC Kijabe Hospital. Allan is looking forward to a time when he will be fully recovered, and can return to school. He said: “My friends go to school, but I stay at home because of my leg injury. I am supposed to be in Grade 7, but for now, I stay at home.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

John is a sociable 59-year-old man from Kenya who is married and has four children. John has always placed his pride and strength in supporting his family's well-being, doing everything he can to ensure his children succeed. He was born and raised in rural Kenya and, at an early age, embraced his spirit of independence and ingenuity. He has thrived working in the jua kali sector, where he works skillfully with metal to repair and sell items to support his family. John is also a farmer and grows potatoes and onions on his land and keeps two dairy cows. His wife, a devoted stay-at-home mother, manages a small garden of vegetables that supplements the family's meals. For many years, John enjoyed good health and has been known in his community for his strength, energy, and reliability. However, 15 years ago, his life began to change when he was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Despite the shock of the diagnosis, John adapted with discipline and managed his condition well for over a decade. It wasn't until early this year that John could no longer keep to the medication and dietary restrictions, and his blood sugar levels went out of control, and his health rapidly deteriorated. John developed a large, painful ulcer on his leg, with irregular margins and a necrotic base, which is a typical complication of uncontrolled diabetes. Recognizing the severity of his condition, John brought himself to the hospital. On arrival, he was critically ill, with dangerously high blood sugar levels and signs of serious infection. He was urgently admitted and began receiving intravenous antibiotics, wound dressings, and intensive glucose control with close monitoring by the medical team. His journey since then has been long and complex, and the surgical team was consulted concerning the big ulcer and the need for a series of debridements. Unfortunately, doctors also diagnosed chronic osteomyelitis, a serious bone infection that necessitated a sequestrectomy to remove the infected bone fragments. Today, John's wound is cleaner, but far from healed. He is currently being prepared for a flap and medial plantar artery surgery. However, the financial burden is beyond what he and his family can afford, and he is requesting support so that he can undergo the surgery with the hope that he will soon get better and be able to be on his feet once again. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping John receive treatment. On July 25th, surgeons at their care center will perform a contracture release surgery. AMH is requesting $1,239 to fund this procedure. John said, "When I get out of the hospital, I will find a non-demanding business to run so that I can still earn my living despite my age and condition."

$1,239raised
Fully funded