Success! Michael from Kenya raised $1,500 to fund a free flap procedure.

Meet Michael

Michael's story

July 12, 2026

Michael is a 30-year-old man from Kenya. Prior to his injury, Michael was a hardworking and independent young man who earned a living through construction jobs. He took pride in providing for himself and looked forward to building a better future through honest work.

Everything changed on the day he fell while working at a construction site. The fall caused a devastating spinal injury, leaving him with complete loss of sensation from the waist region. Michael underwent spinal surgery in an attempt to stabilise the injury, but despite the intervention, he was left permanently paraplegic. Overnight, the active young man who once worked with his hands became completely dependent on others for even the simplest daily activities. Soon after, Michael developed severe pressure sores. Being unable to move independently meant that constant pressure on his hips and back side quickly led to skin breakdown. The wounds appeared shortly after his spinal injury and progressively worsened despite care. He was eventually transferred to a nursing home, but his condition continued to deteriorate.

Michael was referred to our medical partner’s care center, AIC Kapsowar Hospital for evaluation by the reconstructive surgery team. The extent of his injuries was heartbreaking. The tissue destruction on the pressure wounds was so extensive that his right thigh bone was completely dislocated and protruding away from his body. The left side was also severely affected. Michael was admitted for specialised surgical care, and has endured an incredibly long and difficult hospitalisation with multiple complex procedures aimed at controlling infection and saving as much healthy tissue as possible.

Michael is scheduled to undergo another operation for flap reconstruction and definitive wound closure. Michael’s journey has been physically exhausting, emotionally overwhelming, and financially devastating. With his parents both deceased, Michael’s brothers have remained faithfully by his side despite having very limited resources themselves. They have exhausted their savings on transport, daily hospital expenses, medications not covered by the national health insurance, and even the costs associated with finding blood donors during his repeated transfusions. Today, Michael’s greatest wish is simple: to complete the final stage of his treatment, have his wounds fully closed, recover from this long battle, and finally return home with dignity. His brothers have done everything within their means, and are seeking support for his upcoming surgery.

Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Michael with his treatment. On July 13th, he will undergo a free flap procedure at AIC Kapsowar Hospital. Michael continues to hold onto hope that one day he will leave the hospital and begin rebuilding his life. Now, he needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure.

Michael says, “I really hope to be well someday. I hope I will not forever depend on my brothers for a living, I am thinking of doing some poultry farming, because this is not so demanding. Please help me. “

Michael is a 30-year-old man from Kenya. Prior to his injury, Michael was a hardworking and independent young man who earned a living throug...

July 12, 2026
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Michael was submitted by Esther Wamoro, Program Coordinator at African Mission Healthcare
July 13, 2026
TREATMENT SCHEDULED
Michael was scheduled to receive treatment at AIC Kapsowar Hospital in Kenya. 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.
July 14, 2026
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Michael's profile was published to start raising funds.
July 31, 2026
FULLY FUNDED
Michael's treatment was fully funded.
August 5, 2026
TREATMENT UPDATE
Michael's treatment update from African Mission Healthcare is in progress.

100%

$1,500 raised, $0 to go

$1,500

raised

to go

Michael's story

July 12, 2026

Michael is a 30-year-old man from Kenya. Prior to his injury, Michael was a hardworking and independent young man who earned a living throug...

July 12, 2026
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Michael was submitted by Esther Wamoro, Program Coordinator at African Mission Healthcare
July 13, 2026
TREATMENT SCHEDULED
Michael was scheduled to receive treatment at AIC Kapsowar Hospital in Kenya. 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.
July 14, 2026
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Michael's profile was published to start raising funds.
July 31, 2026
FULLY FUNDED
Michael's treatment was fully funded.
August 5, 2026
TREATMENT UPDATE
Michael's treatment update from African Mission Healthcare is in progress.

Treatment

Free Flap

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $1,764 for Michael's treatment

For this patient, Watsi raises $1,500 and other contributions cover any remaining cost

Hospital Fees

$783

Medical Staff

$90

Medication

$203

Supplies

$406

Labs

$45

Other

$237

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Open wounds with exposed bone, muscle, or tendons Severe pain at the injury site Loss of skin and soft‑tissue coverage Difficulty moving the affected limb Bleeding or oozing wounds Risk of infection or signs of existing infection (Trauma is one of the most common indications for free flap surgery.) Visible deformity Difficulty using the affected limb Skin breakdown from malformed tissue Functional limitations (Free flaps may be used for congenital differences in some cases.)

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

Traumatic injuries: Pain, mobility loss, fear of disability, dependence on others, risk of amputation. Infections/chronic wounds: Chronic pain, odour, mobility issues, ongoing infection risk, and emotional strain. Congenital defects: Functional limitations, body image concerns, developmental/social difficulties.

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

Traditional medicine: Many patients first seek herbalists/traditional bone setters, delaying care. Cultural cancer beliefs: Witchcraft and contagion beliefs delay diagnosis and reconstruction. Historical patterns: Colonialism shifted surgical authority; biomedical care is unevenly distributed. Access gaps: Microsurgery is rarely available outside Nairobi; missions and partnerships fill gaps. Economic barriers: Cost of travel and surgery delays care; increases disability risk. Regional disparities: Rural areas lack equipment, expertise, and reconstructive services.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

A free flap surgery is performed to reconstruct a complex tissue defect caused by cancer removal, traumatic injury, infection, congenital deformity, or other conditions resulting in significant loss of skin, muscle, bone, or soft tissue. The diagnosis identifies the condition causing the tissue loss, such as head and neck cancer, traumatic limb injury, or non‑healing infected wounds.

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

Physical Burden Immediately After Surgery Patient's experience: Post‑operative pain Immobility (especially if the donor site is the leg, arm, or abdomen) Long hospital stays with intensive flap monitoring Fatigue and extended healing time The body area supplying tissue (forearm, thigh, fibula, scapula) undergoes: Scarring Potential weakness Limited mobility Need for physiotherapy Using a flap from a remote area is necessary to restore function and aesthetic outcome after severe tissue loss Depending on the treated condition, life after surgery can include: Regaining the ability to speak and swallow (in head & neck cancer cases) Restoration of limb function (in trauma cases) Prevention of amputation Free flaps significantly improve long-term function and appearance. Relief and restored self‑image Patients who have lost facial, oral, or limb structures regain: Confidence Identity Sense of normalcy Hope after cancer or trauma Free flap reconstruction provides excellent long-term cosmetic and functional outcomes. Social Reintegration Successful reconstruction allows patients to: Return to social life without stigma Regain the ability to communicate (speech, facial expression) Eat normally in public Participate in work and family roles again Without reconstruction, defects, especially in the head and neck, severely disrupt communication and social interaction. Ability to Return to Work Reconstruction allows patients to recover: Limb function Speech Eating ability Mobility All are essential to maintaining employment, particularly in manual-labour economies.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Flap Failure (Partial or Total Loss) Vascular Complications Infection of the Flap

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

Free flap surgery is not widely accessible across Kenya. Specialized reconstructive microsurgery usually occurs in: Nairobi (Kenyatta National Hospital, private surgical centers) A few major referral centers Select mission-supported hospitals Capacity is growing, but access is still restricted to high‑resource areas. Training partnerships in Nairobi highlight that microsurgery is mainly concentrated in teaching and referral hospitals. Most rural facilities do not have surgical microscopes, microvascular instruments, or microsurgery‑trained teams, making free flap reconstruction unavailable.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Cultural and traditional health systems remain strong in Kenyan communities. Patients often seek non-biomedical alternatives first, which delays reconstructive care.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Elile is a three-year-old girl from Ethiopia. This bright young girl lives in a home dedicated to helping others, with a physician for a father and a teacher for a mother. Despite their medical and educational expertise, the family faces a tiring cycle of hospital visits that places a heavy logistical burden on parents working as dedicated government staff members. For one year now, Ellie has been experiencing chronic tonsillitis, causing fever and difficulty eating. This drains her energy and makes it difficult for her to obtain the necessary nutrition to thrive. If not treated, it will cause her symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Saglan Wajee General Hospital, is requesting $700 to fund a tonsillectomy for Elile, which is scheduled to take place on April 25th. Surgeons will remove her tonsils, hopefully relieving Elile of her symptoms and helping her live more comfortably. Ellie's parents said, "We hope to leave the constant anxiety of illness behind. We look forward to a time when we can focus on work, while Ellie can simply focus on being a healthy and active child."

Sakhorn is 69 years old and a retired rice farmer from Prey Veng Province, Cambodia. He has one daughter, three sons, and seven grandchildren. Sakhorn lives near his daughter, who is also a rice farmer. He likes to listen to the radio and go to the pagoda. About two years ago, Sakhorn experienced a traumatic incident that led to a condition in his left eye called retinal detachment, where the thin tissues at the back of the eye pull away from their usual position. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Sakhorn learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for three hours to seek treatment. On April 7th, eye surgeons will perform a retinal detachment repair procedure in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Our medical partner is requesting $706 to fund his procedure. Sakhorn said, "I hope after surgery my eye can see better, so I can go out and do housework."

Charity is a 60-year-old woman from Uganda. She grew up in a family of eight children, she is the fifth-born, with four brothers and three sisters. Her siblings all have families of their own and are farmers. After losing their father at a young age, their mother, who was also a farmer, could not afford school fees for all of them but managed to support Charity until she completed seventh grade. Charity and her husband are blessed with five sons. One works as a butcher, one works as a day labor on other people's farms, and the remaining three children are still in school. To make ends meet, Charity grows food crops for home consumption and sells the surplus to generate income for her family. Her husband works as a builder. About a year ago, Charity began to experience troubling symptoms, including a swelling on the front of her neck. Initially, it was painless, but she later began experiencing shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, frequent headaches, and painful swallowing. At first, she relied on painkillers, but they provided no relief. One day, while with a friend who noticed a significant increase in the size of her neck, she was advised that it could be a goiter. She then visited a hospital, but she was unable to raise the money needed for the procedure and returned home. For the past few months, she has been using traditional remedies, but none have provided any relief. While listening to a radio talk show, she learned about a surgical support program at Nyakibale Hospital that assists patients with conditions like hers. She decided to seek care there. She was diagnosed with a goiter. The thyroid is the gland located in front of your neck and produces thyroid hormones. These hormones are responsible for functions such as metabolism, growth and other bodily functions. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Charity receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on July 7th at Karoli Lwanga Hospital. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Charity says, “I don’t see any where to get the money needed for my surgery, but I have hopes that with your support, my surgery will be successful and I will get better.”