Glenna RobertsUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER
Glenna's Story

Glenna joined Watsi on December 6th, 2020. Two years ago, Glenna joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Glenna's most recent donation supported Htwe, a refugee from Thailand, to fund life-changing hernia repair surgery.

Impact

Glenna has funded healthcare for 27 patients in 9 countries.

Patients funded by Glenna

Htwe is a 61-year-old man living with his wife, brother-in-law, sister-in-law and niece, in a refugee camp in Thailand. His wife and his brother-in-law are day laborers, while his sister-in-law is a homemaker. His niece is a student. Htwe is currently unemployed. Since 2021, Htwe has lived with an incarcerated inguinal hernia. This hernia causes him discomfort when he walks and pain. It is because of his condition that Htwe has been unable to work. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Htwe's hernia repair surgery, which is scheduled for October 12th at Mae Sot General Hospital. Once he has recovered, Htwe's symptoms should finally be resolved, allowing him to return to work, and to a more comfortable life. Htwe said: "I want to recover so that I can find work to make money for my family. Now we have a hard time trying to make ends meet, as we do not have a regular income. I am the only one that eats without work. Thank you to all the kind people who are supporting my costs."

$760raised
$740to go

Jane is in grade 1 where she enjoys writing and playing with her friends, exhibiting a lively and active personality. Jane is the firstborn in her family of two siblings. She was brought to our partner hospital by her caring grandmother, as her mother works as a housemaid in Saudi Arabia, and her father is a farmer. Jane is an active girl and always likes helping her grandmother at home with household chores. She was born typical however, at the age of one year, the family noticed a bowing of her legs. This condition they came to know that it's called bilateral genu varum - bowlegs deformity. Currently, she walks in discomfort, always has pain and cannot play with her friends, her grandmother also told us that her self-esteem is low while in school and she always complains about other young girls laughing at her. Jane is scheduled to undergo bilateral leg surgery to correct the bowlegs. The treatment will be impactful to her because she will be relieved of the pain, will be able to stand upright, walk comfortably, play with her friends, continue with her education and her self-esteem will improve and she will be able to interact fully with her peers. In light of her situation, Jane's devoted grandmother passionately asks for support which will not only contribute to Jane's physical well-being but will also play a crucial role in enhancing her emotional and social development. We are raising funds to cover expenses related to the surgery of $1,224. Jane's grandmother told us, “I am appealing to the people of goodwill to help my daughter undergo surgery so that she can walk confidently like other girls. Your help will be highly appreciated. God bless you."

$988raised
$236to go

San is a 52-year-old mother from Burma. San resides with her daughter in an internally displaced people (IDP) camp along the Thai-Burma border. During her free time, San and her daughter cherish quality time together. In 2022, San developed a sensitive medical condition that causes her great discomfort and pain and intense lower back pain. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy. If left untreated, San's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, San is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on September 25. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, she will no longer experience pain nor discomfort. San said, “I felt very sad because I could not afford to pay for my surgery. Now that I learned that BCMF will support my treatment, I feel very happy. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all the donors and BCMF. I'm eager to recover fully and quickly. Once I recover, I will search for work and enjoy a long life with my daughter."

$753raised
$747to go

Leah is a 48-year-old mother of four from Kenya. She buys and sells old newspapers for a living. Her husband works as a casual laborer on construction sites. Leah lives in a two-room monthly rental house with her family. She does not currently have active medical cover. About three months ago, Leah noticed a painful lump on her right breast while taking a bath. She visited a nearby facility for a checkup, and was referred to Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi. However, she had difficulty receiving prompt medical. Three weeks ago, Leah realized the lump was growing and more painful, and sought care again. She visited Kijabe Hospital, where she underwent review by the general surgery team, and several tests, including a mammogram and core biopsy, were requested. Ultimately, Leah was diagnosed with breast cancer. She needs surgery to remove the cancerous mass, but cannot currently afford the amount required for her to undergo the procedure. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), can help. On August 21st, Leah will undergo a mastectomy at AMH's care center. During the procedure, surgeons will remove the impacted breast tissue to rid her body of breast cancer and to prevent the cancer from metastasizing. AMH is requesting $1110 to cover the cost of Leah's procedure. After treatment, Leah will hopefully return to a cancer-free life. Leah said, “I am in so much pain, especially on my right breast. The cancer has greatly affected the whole chest, and I feel so worried. I need to get surgery to stop these cells from spreading. ”

$383raised
$727to go

Kyaw resides in Karen State, Burma, with his parents, aunt, and two brothers. Due to concerns over potential bombings by the military regime following the 2021 coup, Kyaw and his brothers had to stop attending school. His mother takes care of the household as a homemaker, while his aunt enjoys her retirement. Kyaw's father and oldest brother earn a living as day laborers, involved in loading and unloading trucks. In his free time, Kyaw finds solace in listening to songs and playing games, making the most of his free moments. On June 1st, Kyaw began to encounter discomfort and swelling in his lower left leg and difficulty bending his left knee. As the pain escalated, he sought medical attention, and the doctor's diagnosis revealed a tumor in his left leg. Subsequent diagnostic tests confirmed that he has osteosarcoma affecting his left tibia. Medical professionals recommend an amputation of his lower left leg to prevent the cancer from spreading. Now, his family seeks your help funding this $1,500 to ensure his recovery and significantly improve his quality of life. He said, “I would like to say thank you so much to you. This is the worst pain that I have ever felt. I want to be free from this pain and worry.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Aung is a 34 year old office clerk who lives on his own in Yangon, Burma. In November 2019, Aung started to tire easily. At first he thought it was due to working too much, but when he started to feel tired after walking short distances, he became concerned. He told his employer about his symptoms, and they suggested that he might have a heart condition. Aung then went to a heart specialist, where he was diagnosed with atrial septal defect, which is a hole in the upper chambers of his heart. Because he could not afford to pay for treatment, Aung traveled to Mae Tao Clinic in Mae Sot, Thailand, where he was referred to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. Now they are seeking $1,500 for the operation that Aung needs to close the hole in his heart. Surgery is scheduled for May 20th, at Pun Hlaing Hospital. Until he has this procedure, Aung will continue having shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, and chest pain - worsening with time. "In the future, I hope I can find a higher paying job so that I can help support my mother and my younger sisters who live in another city," said Aung as he dreamed about his future when he feels well again.

$740raised
$760to go

Six-year-old Tay lives with her mother, sister, and brother in a village in Shan State in Burma. Tay's mother is a teacher. When Tay was three years old, she was frequently ill with a rapid heartbeat and fingertips that would turn blue. Her mother brought her to a nearby hospital, where the doctor told them that Tay had congenital heart disease and would need to be treated in Yangon. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Tay's mother did not feel it was safe to take Tay to Yangon. When she turned five, Tay's symptoms worsened, and her mother brought her to a hospital in Yangon in August 2022. At the hospital, Tay was diagnosed with an atrial septal defect, and her mother was told that Tay would require surgery- which the family could not afford to pay for. Fortunately, Tay's aunt referred her to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, for help. Now Tay is scheduled to undergo atrial septal defect closure at Pun Hlaing Hospital on May 13th. As Tay is becoming progressively more ill- with episodes of rapid breathing and weight loss due to a lack of appetite- this procedure is critical for her health and well-being. Burma Children Medical Fund is seeking $1,500 to cover the cost of Tay's care. “When I learned that my daughter [Tay] needs surgery, I felt very sad and I cried because I cannot afford to pay for her surgery. But when I learned that the organization [BCMF] will support the cost of my daughter’s surgery, I felt very happy and thankful to all the donors and that organization. I want to see her healthy,” said Tay's mother.

$944raised
$555to go

Zaw, who is 29 years old, lives with his wife and extended family members in Karen State, Burma. He and his wife are currently unemployed, although Zaw hopes to work as a second-hand motorbike seller. Zaw has had an irregular heartbeat since he was 10 years old. Although he visited a local clinic as a child, he was never provided a definitive diagnosis. By January 2022, he began to experience fatigue. His back and neck were stiff, and he lost his appetite. He also had difficulty sleeping, experienced a persistent cough and body aches, and his lips turned blue. After multiple hospital visits, Zaw was told he had a heart condition that required surgery. Unable to afford surgery in Burma, Zaw sought affordable care at Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) in Thailand. With the help of our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, he received a free echocardiogram, which revealed he had mitral valve regurgitation, atrial valve regurgitation, pulmonary valve regurgitation, and patent ductus arteriosus. He is now scheduled for a procedure at Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital in Bangkok on April 18th to repair or replace three of his valves and address any other issues with his heart. Currently, Zaw continues to experience fatigue, thus he is unable to work. He experiences shortness of breath and a racing heartbeat, for which he requires oxygen therapy three times a day. He needs your help to raise the $1,500 to fund his life-changing surgery. Zaw said: “I want to be free from this disease as soon as possible. Thank you all for helping with my treatment cost.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Caleb is a playful and talkative 3-year-old boy from Kenya. He is an only child, and his mother works as a casual laborer at a local hotel. Currently, due to his clubfoot, Caleb cannot stand without assistance. He can roll over, but cannot yet walk or crawl. Caleb has clubfoot in both feet, a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This can cause difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Caleb traveled to visit our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, for treatment. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on March 14th. African Mission Healthcare Foundation is requesting $1,286 to fund Caleb's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to stand, walk and continue playing with other children. “I am appealing to people of goodwill to help my son undergo surgery to gain strength and walk on his feet,” Caleb's mother said.

$1,286raised
Fully funded

Ashin Mala is a 30-year-old monk from Burma. He became a monk a year ago and currently lives in a monastery in Karen State. He receives two meals a day and cash donations from worshippers. In October 2022, he visited the house of a member of the ethnic armed group in the village. At the home, a child was playing with a pistol and accidentally shot the gun, hitting a wall. Unfortunately, a part of the bullet ricocheted off the wall and hit Mala in his left eye. Immediately, Ashin Mala was brought to a hospital, where an X-ray showed that bullet shards were lodged under his left eye. The doctor removed most of the bullet shards and closed the gunshot wound. Though time has since passed, he still feels pain in his left eye and has lost vision in that eye. He has also developed itchiness and a burning sensation in that eye. Eventually, he was brought to Mae Sot Hospital in Thailand, where, with the help of Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF) and Watsi donors, he underwent a CT scan. The results showed multiple foreign bodies in his left eye, most likely shards left from the bullet, and indicated that his left eyeball was most likely ruptured. He was then referred to Chiang Mai Hospital (CMH), where an ophthalmologist told him they would have to remove his left eyeball. He was then admitted for surgery at CMH on February 22nd. Mala needs help raising $1500 to fund this procedure that will relieve him of his pain. Ashin Mala said, "I believe my pain will disappear after the operation. I want to get rid of the pain. Afterward, I will work hard to attend Dhamma University. I want to become a preacher. I will preach about Dharma [the teachings of Buddha] around my country.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Gareth, who is four years old, lives with his parents and three siblings in central Bolivia. His parents are shopkeepers and have so much love for their family. Gareth was born with ventricular septal defect, a heart condition that creates a hole between the two lower chambers of the heart. Blood, which should circulate through his lungs to obtain oxygen, simply leaks out through the hole, leaving Gareth weak and short of breath. In addition to his heart condition, Gareth was born with Down syndrome. Doctors at our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, are scheduled to operate on Gareth on January 19th, at Hospital del Niño Dr. Ovidio Aliaga Uria. During the procedure, surgeons will sew a patch over the hole in Gareth's heart, so that his blood will flow normally. Gareth's family needs your help to fund the $1,500 to cover the costs of his care. Gareth's mother said: "Our family is very grateful to everyone who is making it possible for Gareth to have this surgery."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Sue is a 25-year-old woman living with her husband, mother and child in a camp for internally displaced people and refugees in Thailand. Both Sue and her husband are unemployed, and the family depends upon the rations that they receive from the organizations that support the camp. Five months ago Sue noticed that her abdomen was swelling. At first she thought that she might be pregnant, but other symptoms started to emerge. She was able to receive an ultrasound at the hospital, which showed that there is a large tumor growing on her ovary. As the tumor may prove to be cancerous, the doctors told Sue that she would need to have both of her ovaries and her uterus surgically removed. Sue sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, and she is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on December 23rd at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital. Her family is seeking $1,500 to cover the cost of her procedure and care. Sue said: "I wish my condition will get better so that I can spend more time with my daughter and mother, and my husband in the future." Her husband also shared: "I feel pity on my wife when I see she is in pain and cannot sleep. I am stressed about her condition, but now I feel released of worry when I heard that she is going to receive surgery soon. Thank you to Burma Children Medical Fund and all the donors for helping my wife."

$1,500raised
Fully funded