HefUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER
Hef's Story

Hef joined Watsi on June 5th, 2021. Two years ago, Hef joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Hef's most recent donation supported John, a 6 year old boy from Kenya, to fund hearing treatment.

Impact

Hef has funded healthcare for 30 patients in 8 countries.

Patients funded by Hef

Six year old John is active and jovial. His father passed away two years ago, and now John lives with his mother in an urban area in Kenya. When John entered first grade, his teacher noticed that he had difficulty hearing him in class. He contacted John's mother, and advised her to take John in for an evaluation. However, John's mother struggles to support herself and her son with her work washing clothes, so she was not able to take John to the doctor. A benefactor offered to pay for John to be evaluated, but when it was determined that he would benefit from having hearing aids, the benefactor could not afford to pay for John to have them. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is seeking $1,171 to cover the costs of John's hearing aids and care, which he will receive from AIC Kijabe Hospital. With your help, John will be able to participate fully in school, and in the life around him. John’s mother says: “All I want is for my son (John) to be able to hear well. I have struggled with hearing loss since birth too, and I know how it feels.”

$369raised
$802to go

Wilson is a charming 2-year-old toddler from Kenya. He was born with bilateral clubfoot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. Without treatment, Wilson can experience difficulty walking or wearing shoes. When Wilson was born, the hospital referred Wilson's family to our medical partner's care center. He started casting treatment when he was a month old but did not respond to treatment. On July 10th, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery that will allow Wilson to walk easily as he grows. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $1,286 to fund this surgery. Wilson's father shared, "Any support to help my son walk with his feet is highly appreciated."

$550raised
$736to go

Ra He, a 20-year-old woman living in Thailand, currently resides with her husband in a refugee camp positioned along the Thai-Burma border. Her husband supports their livelihood as a farm day laborer. During her free time, she finds solace in watching movies on her phone. Towards the close of 2021, Ra He began experiencing persistent discomfort in her lower right abdomen, which intensified during the early morning and nighttime hours. Additionally, she faces irregular menstruation patterns and struggles to attain restful sleep due to the persistent pain. She was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst. To address this, surgeons at our medical partner's care center, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), recommended an oophorectomy—a surgical procedure that would remove her ovary. Fortunately, Ra He is scheduled to undergo her oophorectomy on August 28th. BCMF is requesting $913 to help fund the procedure and subsequent care. In her own words, Ra He expressed, "The ceaseless pain inhibits me from engaging in household tasks. I'm also concerned about potential challenges in conceiving due to my condition and the impending surgery. I extend my gratitude to the generous donors for facilitating my treatment. Upon recovering my health, I aspire to establish a small in-house grocery store."

$162raised
$751to go

Bahati is a 14-year-old girl in grade 8. She is expected to sit for her primary school national exams this year. Bahati is the second born in a family of four children. Her father passed away six years ago. Her mother is the family’s only breadwinner and works whenever she can to get jobs washing clothes for people around her community. On July 4th, Bahati was hit by a speeding motorbike as she was coming home from school. She was left unconscious and rushed to a nearby facility by well-wishers. She had an x-ray and a CT scan that revealed a fractured bone in her right leg. The fracture is affecting her studies and mobility. It is difficult for her to walk, and she cannot ambulate without support. Fortunately, our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) can help. On July 25th, Bahati will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help her walk easily again, and she can return to school. AMH is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. Bahati's mother says, “This child is a candidate who should be in school studying. This injury has caused her not to go to school because she cannot walk. We pray that she gets treatment so that she can continue with her studies."

$1,242raised
$258to go

Kiberian is a 3-year-old boy from Kajiado County who needs surgery to help him walk well. He comes from a large pastoralist family with many siblings. His father is a farmer/herder, while his mother takes care of their family and home. Kiberian was born with a deformity in his legs that has greatly affected his mobility. His knees bend inward, while his ankles remain apart. He cannot walk long distances and often falls while walking. Kiberian's father took him to a satellite clinic for treatment and the doctors recommend procedures that will reposition the femur and tibia of each leg into alignment. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is requesting $1,224 to cover the cost of the surgery, scheduled for June 20th. This treatment will be impactful to Kiberian because he will be able to walk well, play with other children, and continue with his education. Kiberian’s father shared, “The joy of a father is to see his children growing well without any challenge or deformity and I would love to see my boy walking well.”

$485raised
$739to go

Sephania is a baby from Simanjiro, Arusha in Tanzania. He lives among the Maasai people. He comes from a large family of six siblings, raised by a single mother. His father died shortly after he was born, and his mother depends on her brothers, who are cattle breeders. They help provide basic needs for the family since his mother does not work and has no means to earn a living. Sephania was born with both his legs twisted inward and downward. His mother was informed that there was treatment for the condition. She could not afford transport money at the time and had to wait for almost 2 years before she was able to collect enough money to travel to a medical center. She arrived at our center with an escort, who helped her translate as she only speaks Maasai. After a brief assessment with our team, we set up a treatment plan for Sephania, starting with a series of castings. Sephania has clubfoot on both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Sephania traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on May 12th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $935 to fund Sephania's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to walk easily. Sephania’s mother says, "It has taken a while to be able to come for treatment. I hope my son will get treatment that will help with his foot’s condition."

$435raised
$500to go

Laurecia is a 19-year-old tailor living in Tanzania. When she was about two years old, her parents noticed her legs bowing outwards. They did not seek treatment, however, due to financial challenges. Laurecia, who is a very determined young woman, was able to complete her Form 4 studies and pursue her passion for tailoring, enrolling in a vocational school where she could hone her skills. Laurecia was diagnosed with bilateral genu valgus, a condition typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, stemming from the consumption of contaminated drinking water. As a result of her condition, Laurecia has a difficult time walking and doing the work of a tailor. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Laurecia. The procedure is scheduled to take place on April 17th, at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre. Treatment will restore Laurecia's mobility, allow her to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Laurecia says: “I have lived with this condition for too long. I’m hopeful for the future now that I am about to start treatment.”

$880raised
Fully funded

Joel is a 23-year-old from Kenya and the third-born in his family. His parents separated, and Joel moved from his hometown after completing high school to pursue work as a bodaboda rider (motorcycle taxi) to earn a living. Finding driving work can be inconsistent, and motorcycle accidents have been increasing lately in Kenya. In March, Joel was driving with two passengers when they were hit in a hit-in-run by an overtaking vehicle. The passengers were not hurt, but Joel landed on his knees, sustained bruises, and fractured his right femur. He is in pain and unable to walk or work as a result of his injuries. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help Joel heal. On April 3rd, Joel will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation, to relieve his pain and allow him to walk and resume work. AMH is requesting $1,049 to fund this procedure. Joel shared: “I am lying here in bed desperate. I kindly plead for support so that I can be back on my feet. My parents are not together and cannot even make it to help me.”

$1,049raised
Fully funded

Meet Nafissa. She is a 25-year old woman who shared that she tends to be very shy and reserved. She lives with her parents and her young child in an area of Burkina Faso where conflict is currently impacting their lives deeply. When she was a child, Nafissa developed a painful growth on the left side of her chin. This swelling in her lower jawbone affected her ability to eat, and was determined to be a benign tumor that needed to be removed. Her parents were able to secure the funds to send Nafissa to a hospital in Togo, where she could be treated at no cost to her family. The growth was removed, and for several years, Nafissa did well. However, the growth recurred, and in the middle of last year, Nafissa returned to Togo, where the second growth was excised. This time, however, the surgeon determined that her whole jawbone would also need to be removed. As the doctor in Togo did not have the necessary training to perform the surgery that Nafissa needed, he referred her to a physician with our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. Miraculously, Nafissa is now scheduled for a major jaw surgery with the leading team at AIC Kijabe Hospital in Kenya. As Nafissa's husband abandoned her because of her condition, and provides no support to Nafissa or their child, Nafissa and her parents are looking to you to help fund the $1,500 procedure, which will finally relieve Nafissa of the pain and symptoms that result from the tumor. Nafissa says: “It pains me that I have to stay at home with no friends. Making it worse, I cannot work to provide for my child.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Dah is a 63-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her daughter, two sons, and a daughter-in-law in a village on the Thai-Burma border. They all make and sell traditional rice wine, and grow and sell vegetables on their small farm. In her free time, Dah enjoys watching television and working on her small farm. On the morning of February 3rd, one of her sons drove her and her other son to their farmland. The road was undulating and full of potholes. Suddenly, their motorbike slid and they all fell off. Both her sons were fine, but Dah broke her left femur. As a result, Dah cannot walk or move her left leg and is in a lot of pain. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, Dah will undergo surgery to reset her fractured bones and ensure proper healing. The procedure is scheduled for February 3rd and will help her walk free of pain. Dah and her family need help raising $1,500 to funder her procedure and care. "I worry that I will not be able to walk like before", she said. "If I cannot walk I don't know how I will be able to work on our farmland."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Boramey is an adorable 2-year-old toddler from Cambodia. She has an older sister, who is seven and in the 1st grade, and an older brother, who is four and not in school yet. Her father works as a driver for a construction company, and her mother sells groceries at a local market. Boramey's favorite activities include playing with the other children in her neighborhood and snacking on bread. When Boramey was born, she experienced an injury called shoulder dystocia, which occurs when one or both of a baby's shoulders become stuck inside the pelvis during childbirth. As a result, the nerves responsible for providing feeling and movement in her shoulder and arm were stretched. Boramey cannot move her left arm and has no shoulder abduction or elbow or wrist flexion. She has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on her left side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand; injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. Our medical partner's care center is the only center in Cambodia where the treatment Boramey needs is available. On January 3rd, she will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is requesting $709 to fund this procedure. Boramey's parents were able to gather $100 to contribute to her care. Boramey's mother said: "I hope the doctors can fix her arm so she can use it like other children and be able to go to school when she is old enough."

$709raised
Fully funded

Su is 10-year-old girl who lives in Thailand. Both of her parents work for a community based organization helping others in their area. In her free time, Su likes to draw pictures and play with her friends. Su was born with clubfeet and a dislocated hip. She received corrective surgery in Chiang Mai with the help of our medical partner BCMF after she was born. During her last visit to the hospital when she was young, the doctor told her mother that they only had to return to the hospital when she outgrew her clubfeet correction shoes. However, her parents could never bring her back. In additional to financial constraints, their legal documents expired, and later when they had legal documents, they could not go to Chiang Mai due to covid-19 travel restrictions. In June 2022, Su started to experience pain in her right foot whenever she walked more than 10 minutes. She also experienced pain in her right hip for the first time when she walked. The doctor at Mae Sot Hospital diagnosed her with a dislocated hip and referred her to the larger hospital Chiang Mai for further treatment. In October an MRI was performed for Su and it was determined that she may need two surgeries: one for hrt hip and another for her clubfeet condition. The first surgery is for a hip replacement and the doctor scheduled her for surgery on November 25th so she can be out of pain as quickly as possible. Her family needs $1500 for her hip replacement surgery. Su's father said, "I am hopeful for my daughter to receive surgery soon. After surgery, I hope that she will be able to walk like other children and she will not be shy when she grows up. Now, when she goes to school, some of her friends tease her that she cannot walk properly like other children."

$1,500raised
Fully funded