Ramona

Treat others the way you want to be treated

Germany   •   November 12th
Ramona's Story

Ramona joined Watsi on March 12th, 2013. 1,768 other people also joined Watsi on that day! Ramona's most recent donation traveled 3,900 miles to support Gift, a fifth-grader from Kenya, to fund corrective surgery for her leg.

Impact

Ramona has funded healthcare for 1385 patients in 20 countries.

Patients funded by Ramona

Gift is nine years old and a fifth grader from Kenya. She is the third born in a family of four. She loves playing, singing, and dreams of becoming a doctor one day. Gift was only two years old when her legs first started curving outward. As the severity of her condition became clearer, her father began a desperate search for answers. He took her from one hospital to another, hoping someone would explain what was happening. But every visit ended the same; doctors could not identify the cause or offer a solution. “At that time, I didn’t know how bad it could become,” her father said. Mbithi said. The hospital trips drained not only the family’s hope but also their finances. After many consultations, he was finally told that surgery was needed. Even though he wanted the best for his daughter, the cost of the treatment was far beyond what he could afford. Gift was diagnosed with genu varus, a misalignment of her knees, affecting the position of her legs and feet. As she grew older, her legs worsened, and every step became painful. Walking to school was a struggle, and sometimes her friends would run ahead, leaving her behind in tears. “It was heartbreaking to see Gift walking like that,” her father shared. Hope finally came when a friend told him about our medical partner's care center, AIC CURE International Hospital. There, Gift underwent surgery to correct her right leg, and the results brought great relief to her family. She is now back at the hospital for another surgery to correct her left leg, bringing her one step closer to walking without pain and living the life she dreams of. Gift is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on December 5th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,224 to cover the cost of Gift's procedure and care. Gift's father shared, “My prayer is that she gets well and has her legs straightened so she can live a normal life. After treatment, I hope she will continue with school and achieve her dreams in the future.”

$1,224raised
Fully funded

Dah is a 71-year-old grandmother. She lives with her two daughters and their husbands, two granddaughters and two grandsons in the refugee camp in Mae Hong Son province, Thailand. Dah is originally from Karen State, Burma, but she relocated to a camp with her family in 1997 due to conflict in their region. Her husband passed away two years ago while in the camp. Now retired, Dah assists her daughters with household chores and cares for her grandchildren, all of whom are students in the camp, except for the youngest, who is just two years old. One daughter works as a day laborer, while the other is eight months pregnant. Dah’s sons-in-law are currently unemployed but help around the house. She also has a daughter in the USA who sends $200 every three months. Additionally, Dah receives 2240 THB (approximately $67.88) monthly from The Border Consortium. Despite this support, her family struggles to make ends meet, often relying on taking rice from the store in advance and repaying when they have the cash. Two years ago, Dah started experiencing abdominal pain and bloating. Upon review, she was diagnosed with uterine fibroids, and needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Dah's surgery. On January 15th, she will undergo gynaecological surgery at Mae Sariang Hospital. Once recovered, Dah will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Dah said: "Initially, I was concerned about the operation, but when I spoke with others in the camp who had undergone similar surgery, I felt reassured. Now, I'm eager to move forward and receive the treatment I need."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Verah is a 23-year-old vibrant young woman from Nairobi County, Kenya, who dreams of becoming a journalist and sharing inspiring stories from her community. As the youngest of six siblings, her family faces significant financial challenges. With her father unable to work due to injuries from an accident and her mother relying on subsistence farming to support the family, Verah's journey has been filled with hurdles. Eight years ago, Verah experienced a tragic accident at school that changed her life forever. While touring the grounds in a newly acquired school bus, a brake failure caused the bus to roll over multiple times. This horrific incident claimed the lives of five students and left many others, including Verah, with serious injuries. Though she survived, Verah endured profound physical losses—her right arm was amputated, she lost all but her thumb on her left hand, and the left side of her scalp was severely damaged. After a challenging month in the hospital and subsequent surgeries to help her heal, Verah faced a new reality. With the unwavering support of her family, she completed her high school education, eventually pursuing a degree in communication and media. However, her journey is far from over. While she has made incredible progress, her scalp still requires specialized care. Today, Verah is in her second year of studies, using her thumb to type on her devices while facing frequent headaches that hinder her attendance and focus in class. Despite these challenges, her dream of becoming a journalist shines brightly in her heart. In August this year, Verah underwent a procedure to help with her healing, but an infection has complicated her situation. She now urgently needs surgery to address the infected tissue and cover her wound. Unfortunately, Verah's national health insurance is currently inactive due to a transition being undertaken by the program, leaving her family to seek alternative support for her medical expenses. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Verah receive treatment. On October 15th, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to help in the healing process of her scalp wound, helping her complete her college education and fulfill her aspirations. Now, Verah's family needs help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Verah says, "Since the accident, I have worn a hat to keep the wound on my head hidden. I hope that this surgery will finally allow me to heal and move freely without drawing attention to myself."

$1,185raised
Fully funded

Mary is a seven-year-old girl from Kenya who will soon celebrate her 8th birthday. She is the oldest of two children. Mary's mother is a single parent who is a farmer. Mary has clubfoot on both feet. Mary's sibling was also born with clubfoot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Mary was also born with a condition called right hemiplegic cerebral palsy - a type of unilateral cerebral palsy that causes paralysis on only one side of the body, this condition affects her ability to walk, stand, and keep her balance. For almost 8 years, she has struggled with the condition without any help. She is currently at the hospital receiving treatment, which includes a series of casts on both legs. These casts are meant to slowly improve the movement in her ankles and knees, reduce stiffness, and help her legs be more flexible and properly aligned. After the casting, she will have foot surgery. Fortunately, Mary's family visited our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on June 25th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Mary's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to play without restrictions and enjoy school with her friends. “I long to see my daughter walk and join school and bring my other child for treatment, too” Mary’s mother told us.

$1,286raised
Fully funded