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Success! Daphné from Haiti raised $1,085 to fund a mastectomy.

Daphné
100%
  • $1,085 raised, $0 to go
$1,085
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Daphné's treatment was fully funded on September 1, 2017.

Photo of Daphné post-operation

April 17, 2017

Daphné underwent a mastectomy.

Daphné had a successful mastectomy. She will no longer feel the intense pain in her breast. She will be able to be more physically active and take care of herself and her family. She will be able to find work, become more independent, and be fully present for her kids.

She says, “This has been a long time coming, but I am grateful for the help I was able to receive. I feel good and energized for what is to come next.”

Daphné had a successful mastectomy. She will no longer feel the intense pain in her breast. She will be able to be more physically active an...

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April 13, 2017

Daphné is a 37-year-old woman from Haiti. She is the mother of two girls and a boy. After reaching the eleventh grade, Daphné left school. In the past, she has worked as a secretary at a seamstress shop and as a waitress, but she is not working at the moment. She enjoys reading and learning new things about all sorts of different topics.

While showering, Daphné felt a lump in her left breast. The lump didn’t hurt, so she didn’t pursue medical advice. Two years ago, the lump started to grow, so Daphné went to the hospital. After three hospital visits and a biopsy, Daphné was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Cancer is stigmatized in Haiti, and Daphné’s peers were not very supportive. However, she has managed her condition well. After diagnosis, Daphné started receiving chemotherapy to decrease the number of cancerous cells.

After eight sessions of chemotherapy, Daphné will get a mastectomy on April 13. She is excited about this next step and is ready to become healthy again. She will become more independent and will be able to pursue her other interests.

Daphné says, “If you only focus on cancer, you will not truly live. Focus on all the positive aspects in your life to continue.”

Watsi is requesting $1,085 to fund Daphné’s mastectomy, hospital stay, and travel.

Daphné is a 37-year-old woman from Haiti. She is the mother of two girls and a boy. After reaching the eleventh grade, Daphné left school. I...

Read more

Daphné's Timeline

  • April 13, 2017
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Daphné was submitted by Gaelle Mondestin at Innovating Health International.

  • April 13, 2017
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Daphné received treatment at St. Luc Family Hospital in Haiti. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.

  • April 14, 2017
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Daphné's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • April 17, 2017
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Daphné's treatment was successful. Read the update.

  • September 1, 2017
    FULLY FUNDED

    Daphné's treatment was fully funded.

Funded by 4 donors

Profile 48x48 20160911 1531522small
Profile 48x48 1935802 10153492837013878 7419130569655534546 n
Profile 48x48 11986962 895951360491311 2690038085367076510 n

Funded by 4 donors

Profile 48x48 20160911 1531522small
Profile 48x48 1935802 10153492837013878 7419130569655534546 n
Profile 48x48 11986962 895951360491311 2690038085367076510 n
Treatment
Mastectomy
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $1,085 for Daphné's treatment
Hospital Fees
$815
Medical Staff
$0
Medication
$95
Supplies
$110
Travel
$10
Labs
$40
Radiology
$15
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients present with lumps in the breast, dimpling of the skin, swelling in the armpit, or discharge from the nipple.

​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

Breast cancer is a fatal disease. In Haiti, a mastectomy is the only option for treatment.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

Because cancer care is a relatively recent option in Haiti, cancer is seen as a death sentence. Haitians are very hesitant to remove a part of their body for fear of social stigma. To minimize this fear, our medical partner offers breast reconstruction. Patients also receive counseling before and after surgery.

  • Process
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Risks and side-effects
  • Accessibility
  • Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

Patients receive chemotherapy for several months either before or after surgery. The surgery lasts two hours and recovery lasts two weeks.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

This treatment saves lives.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Patients might develop infections because many do not have access to clean water. To combat this possibility, patients are given bottles of wound cleanser. A few patients might develop permanent arm swelling. In some cases, cancer can recur.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

In the entire country, there are only three options for cancer care. Through private doctors, a mastectomy can cost several thousand dollars. Many women move from doctor to doctor and exhaust all their savings.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Without treatment, patients will likely pass away.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Benedister

Benedister is a 45-year-old single mother and small-scale farmer from Kenya. She plants maize and millet for her family's consumption and for sale. Benedister has seven children between 11 and 23 years old. When she is done with her farm work, Benedister always looks for casual jobs in order to earn extra wages. She is very hardworking, as she is her family’s sole breadwinner. One day, while walking around her compound, Benedister fell and injured her right lower limb. She was unable to walk, so she was carried by some of her relatives to the hospital. Her pain was so intense that she was given some pain medication, then sent for an x-ray. The x-ray revealed that she had a bimalleolar fracture with a joint dislocation, which means that in addition to a bone being broken, the ligaments on the inside of her ankle were injured as well. She was treated, and then her ankle was immobilized with a bulky jones splint. She is not able to walk on her own and is in a lot of pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On February 7th, Benedister will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. Afterward, she will be able to walk easily again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,145 to fund this procedure. Benedister says, “It’s really sad that I cannot walk without support. My children look up to me for all their needs and here I am now with a broken leg and cannot offer any help to them. Please help me get my bones fixed so that I will be able to work and live normally as before.”

37% funded

37%funded
$433raised
$712to go

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.