Read our powered by our community 🙌 Check out our 🙌
Meet another patient

Watsi logo blueWatsi

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

Wislande
100%
  • $1,085 raised, $0 to go
$1,085
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Wislande's treatment was fully funded on January 8, 2018.

Photo of Wislande post-operation

September 22, 2017

Wislande underwent a mastectomy procedure.

Wislande had a successful surgery. She is looking forward to having her health back and getting back to her feet. She will be able to have less pain and get back into work.

She says, “I have many more years left in me and I’m going to keep fighting for my life. I feel relieved that I was able to get help.”

Wislande had a successful surgery. She is looking forward to having her health back and getting back to her feet. She will be able to have l...

Read more
August 26, 2017

Wislande is a 48-year-old woman from Haiti. Wislande has five children. Her family lives in Port-au-Prince. Wislande used to work as a street merchant before she became ill. Wislande enjoys attending church and participating in the activities with her church.

At our medical partner’s care center, Wislande was diagnosed with breast cancer. She will have to undergo a double mastectomy, since the cancer has now spread to her right breast.

As a result of her illness, Wislande cannot wash her clothes or clean the house. She also cannot work and support herself.

Fortunately, in May 2017, Wislande started chemotherapy. After four sessions of chemotherapy, Wislande will undergo a double mastectomy on August 26. Our medical partner, Innovating Health International, is requesting $1,085 to cover Wislande’s procedure. This will cover the full cost of treatment, including labs, medication, physician and nurse time, radiology, supplies, and travel expenses.

Wislande is a 48-year-old woman from Haiti. Wislande has five children. Her family lives in Port-au-Prince. Wislande used to work as a stree...

Read more

Wislande's Timeline

  • August 26, 2017
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Wislande was submitted by Gaelle Mondestin at Innovating Health International.

  • August 26, 2017
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Wislande 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.

  • September 21, 2017
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Wislande's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • September 22, 2017
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Wislande's treatment was successful. Read the update.

  • January 8, 2018
    FULLY FUNDED

    Wislande's treatment was fully funded.

Funded by 23 donors

Funded by 23 donors

Treatment
Mastectomy
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $1,085 for Wislande'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.

Susana

A cheerful grandmother from Kenya, Susan is blessed with eight children. One of her sons died while he was still young, and the others got married moved away. She is a widow, and lives with her grandson who goes to a nearby primary school. Susana's children, like her, did not go beyond the primary level of their education. She lives in a semi-arid area of the county where they plant millet and sorghum as their main socio-economic activity. The area is affected by insecurity issues and bandits have affected their way of doing things. She took a long time to come to seek medical attention since her home area was not safe at that time. Susana recently fell while carrying firewood and sustained an injury to her left humerus. Susana came into the hospital with her arm splinted in the company of her daughter hoping to find the help she needs to return her normal life. Susana had an X-ray that showed that she had a fracture of the proximal humerus. The splint was removed during the examination, as she had developed a cast sore that got infected. It was thoroughly cleaned and dressed, and she was discharged home with antibiotics. Currently, Susana cannot lift or move her hand due to pain. The fracture is more than a month old and so she needs a complex procedure in order to align her broken bone, allowing her to heal quickly. Her economic status is challenging and she cannot afford to pay for her procedure. She is appealing for help from all well-wishers reading her story. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On February 21st, Susana will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. The treatment will help Susana to do activities by herself. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,145 to fund this procedure. Susana says, "It’s really hard to depend on people in activities such as bathing. I am so disturbed when I see my children leave their houses for my sake. Kindly help me so that I may be able to depend on myself and for them to be able to work and provide for their families.”

36% funded

36%funded
$414raised
$730to go

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.