Chris' Story

Chris joined Watsi on April 23rd, 2015. Eight years ago, Chris joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Chris' most recent donation traveled 8,800 miles to support Puttra, a 17-year-old student from Cambodia, to fund nasal surgery.

Impact

Chris has funded healthcare for 113 patients in 15 countries.

Patients funded by Chris

John is a devoted farmer and a loving father of three boys. He finds solace and fulfillment in tending to his farm, caring for his sheep and cows. Unfortunately, last year, he suffered a leg injury that affected his mobility, and he now relies on a walker to move around. Thankfully, his wife has been a great support, assisting him with daily tasks since the accident. When our medical partner first encountered John, he had come to the emergency department with a four-day-old fracture. The injury occurred when he bravely confronted a wild animal that had threatened his sheep during the night. However, he slipped on muddy ground during the encounter, resulting in a severe injury to his right leg. Upon closer examination, doctors discovered that John had experienced a previous fracture in the same leg about a year ago, which had never received proper treatment. Despite getting a cast in a nearby health facility, John and his family couldn't afford the transportation to Kapsowar Hospital for treatment by an orthopedic surgeon. Consequently, he endured pain and had limited use of his limb. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH) has skilled surgeons who can offer assistance. On August 2nd, John is scheduled to undergo a fracture repair procedure, known as an open reduction and internal fixation. This intervention will alleviate his pain, allow for proper healing, and restore his ability to work and provide for his family. To support John's journey to recovery, AMH is seeking $1145 to fund the procedure. Your generous contribution will make a significant impact, giving John the opportunity to heal, regain mobility, and continue his vital role as a provider for his family. John says, "I have had problems with my body, and my financial status is very poor. I wish I was well and with energy so that I can do my daily chores. Please help me undergo this surgery so that I may be strong and be able to restore my mobility.”

$337raised
$808to go

Moringe is a 13-year-old boy from a Maasai family in Tanzania. Moringe is the seventh child of his mother and comes from a large family. His father, a livestock keeper, works hard to support his children and family. The Maasai community in Kiteto primarily relies on livestock farming, and Moringe’s father is a respected cattle breeder. Unfortunately, Moringe is currently facing a debilitating physical condition that severely affects his mobility and hampers his ability to walk long distances. In 2022, Moringe began to experience pain in his feet. Shortly after, his knees began to bow inward, leading to the development of a condition commonly known as knee knocking or Genu Valgus. This condition often stems from an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often occurs because of contaminated drinking water. Morinfe's condition affects his daily activities and restricts his participation in important community events and educational opportunities. Due to limited financial resources and the high cost of medical care, Moringe's family hasn't been able to get Moringe the support he needs. Thankfully, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, can help. African Mission Healthcare is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Moringe. The procedure is scheduled for June 6th, and treatment will hopefully restore Moringe's mobility, allow him to participate in the activities he's missed out on, and decrease his risk of future complications. Moringe says, "I hope this chance I got will help change my life for the better. I hope when I go home, I will be able to do most of my activities without feeling any pain in my leg."

$82raised
$798to go

Sai Laung, who is 18 years old, lives with her parents and her younger sister in Shan State in Burma. Sai Laung used to be an agriculture day laborer, but she stopped working in July 2022 due to her illness. In her free time, Sai Laung likes to read Buddhist books and study English online. During the first week of July 2022, Sai Laung began to feel very tired and she developed a fever. At first, she thought it was because she was working a lot, but when she had difficulty breathing a few days later, her mother brought her to the hospital. She was told she might have a congenital heart condition, and the doctor recommended that she have an echocardiogram to confirm the diagnosis. Sai Laung had an echocardiogram at another hospital, confirming that she has a ventricular septal defect, or a hole in her heart. The doctor advised her to go to the Pun Hlaing Hospital in Yangon to see a cardiologist, which Sai Laung did towards the end of November 2022. During that visit, the doctor also diagnosed her with aortic valve regurgitation, and told her that she needs surgery. Currently, Sai Laung has difficulty breathing and is only able to walk short distances before experiencing fatigue. Performing ordinary household chores like cooking or cleaning is exhausting for her. Her lips turn blue, and she has sharp chest pain, fever, and difficulty sleeping. Fortunately, our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, has stepped in to assist Sai Laung access the care that she needs. On March 7th, she will undergo surgery to repair her heart at Pun Hlaing Hospital. Now Sai Laung and her family need your help to raise the $1,500 to fund this life-saving procedure. “I have felt so sad since I was diagnosed with this [heart disease]. I need surgery and we have no money. I look at my parents and I pity them because they work so hard to help me get treatment. I want to recover quickly and go back to work so I can help my parents with the extra income. When I learned that there are donors who will help pay for my treatment cost, I felt so happy," said Sai Luang.

$1,500raised
Fully funded