Dimitri DadiomovUNIVERSAL FUND MEMBER
Dimitri's Story

Dimitri joined Watsi on March 12th, 2013. Seven years ago, Dimitri joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Dimitri's most recent donation traveled 8,600 miles to support Ra, a refugee from Thailand, to fund a hysterectomy to treat her painful endometriosis.

Impact

Dimitri has funded healthcare for 90 patients in 11 countries.

Patients funded by Dimitri

Ra is a 50-year-old mother of two. Ra lives in a refugee camp near the Thai-Burma border with her family, where they are provided with accommodation and a monthly food allowance. During her free time, Ra shared that she enjoys praying. Since July 2023, Ra has been experiencing discomfort in her lower abdomen, accompanied by pain and heavy menstruation. During a routine medical check-up in the camp, a mass was detected by the doctor. She has been diagnosed with severe endometriosis, an often-painful disorder in which tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus grows outside the uterus. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, it is expected that Ra's symptoms would continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Ra is scheduled to undergo a hysterectomy on September 7. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, it is hoped that Ra will no longer experience pain, discomfort, and the other symptoms that have impacted her life. Ra said, "I feel uncomfortable and worried. It feels like something is moving in my belly. I hope this will go away after the surgery. Thank you BCMF and donors. May God bless you."

$595raised
$905to go

Khin is a 28-year-old woman from Thailand. She lives with her parents and three elder sisters. Her family runs a small grocery store. Her elder brother works in a factory across the border in Thailand. In April 2020, Khin started to feel dizziness, headaches, and nausea. She also developed blurred vision, and her eyes became sensitive to light. Through Watsi, Khin received a CT and MRI and was diagnosed with pituitary macroadenoma. Khin underwent surgery in June. Following surgery, she no longer experiences headaches or nausea. While her vision is still blurred, it has become more clear. Now, Khin needs to undergo an MRI so the doctors can check the post-operative condition in her brain. An MRI imaging procedure uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce images of bodily organs. This scan will help Khin's doctors diagnose her condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), is requesting $814 to cover the cost of Khin's MRI and care, which is scheduled for August 7th. Khin said, "I have hope again after my operation. Now, my vision becomes clearer, and I believe I will become completely healthy in the near future. I would like to thank you [BCMF and the donors] for helping me get surgery and effective healthcare."

$25raised
$789to go

Victoria is a 3-month-old baby from Bolivia. She lives with her mother in a neighborhood in La Paz. Her mother makes and sells handcrafted hats for a living. Victoria was born with a cardiac condition called Total anomalous pulmonary vein return. With this condition, the major blood vessels connect to Victoria's heart at abnormal locations, making it difficult for blood to flow through her lungs and leaving her weak and short of breath. Fortunately, our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, can help Victoria receive the treatment she needs. On July 12th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which the doctors will disconnect the blood vessels and reattach them at the anatomically correct locations. Our medical partner is requesting $1,500 to fund VIctoria's surgery costs. Victoria's mother said, "I am very hopeful that my daughter will be able to breathe normally and gain weight after this surgery!"

$719raised
$781to go

Regina is a 42-year-old mother of four from Burma. She is a hardworking homemaker. During her free time, she enjoys walking around the neighborhood. Regina has been diagnosed with a gallbladder condition, resulting back and abdominal pain, yellowing of her skin, and other worrisome symptoms. The medications the doctors have provided her have not worked. If left untreated, Regina's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. She has therefore been advised to undergo a cholecystectomy, the surgical removal of the gallbladder. After seeking treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), Regina is scheduled to undergo her cholecystectomy on May 22nd. BCMF is requesting $1,487 to cover the total cost of Regina's procedure and care. Regina said “I am glad to receive help from BCMF for my operation. I am also very thankful to you for helping patients who can't afford surgery. I hope my operation goes well.”

$686raised
$801to go

Meet Eva, a beautiful two-week-old newborn from Tanzania! Her mother had a smooth delivery and is overjoyed with her new baby. Eva also has a sibling, and her family lives in a small, remote village. Eva’s family depends on small-scale agriculture for food and income. Unfortunately, agriculture has not been enough, and they are trying to find different sources of income, but with no success so far. Eva was born with clubfoot of both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape, which causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Eva’s mother shared concerns about the challenges Eva will face growing up. Eva’s family traveled to visit our medical partner’s care center; on May 5th, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $935 to fund Eva’s clubfoot repair. After treatment and with proper therapy, Eva can learn to walk as she grows. Eva’s mother says, “I am relieved to hear that my daughter has a chance to get treatment that will help with her condition. I hope she grows to face no stigma in her life.”

$295raised
$640to go

Jayden is a preschooler from Haiti. Jayden lives with his parents, who are both schoolteachers, and older brother in a small city in the mountains of central Haiti. He likes to draw and is learning to read. Jayden has a cardiac condition called atrial septal defect and ventricular septal defect. Two holes exist in his heart, one between the two upper chambers and another between the two lower chambers. Blood leaks through these holes, straining his heart and making it difficult for him to obtain oxygen. Because the surgery he needs is not available in Haiti, Jayden will fly to Dominican Republic to receive treatment. On April 28th, he will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will use patches to close the holes in his heart so that blood can flow normally. Our medical partner Haiti Cardiac Alliance is also contributing $9,000 to pay for surgery, but Jayden and his family still need help covering the costs of surgery prep and travel. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and checkup and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social workers from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Jayden overseas. Jayden's mother shared, "Our family has been very frightened for our son's health so we were so happy to get the news that he could have this surgery!"

$839raised
$661to go

Kon is a 51-year-old rice farmer. He is married and lives with his wife who is a garment worker in a local factory. Since he can no longer work in the rice fields due to limited vision, he enjoys listening to the news on the radio at home. He feels ashamed that he cannot work on the farm to supplement their income. One year ago, Kon developed a cataract in his right eye, causing him light sensitivity and blurry vision. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on his own. When Kon learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for two and a half hours seeking treatment. On October 24th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery which will break up the cataract with ultrasound, irrigate the eye, and remove the cataract through suction. Then they will implant a new lens in his right eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Kon shared: "I hope that after surgery I can see better and be able to recognize faces. I want to be able to plant rice well again."

$253raised
Fully funded

Ye Min is is a 2-month-old baby from Thailand. His father works at a hotel and his mother is a homemaker. After being delivered, doctors assessed that Ye Min began to experience poor vision in both eyes. These symptoms have made it increasingly difficult for him to see clearly. Ye Min has been diagnosed with retinal detachment, a condition in which the retina pulls away from the supportive tissue in the eye, resulting in vision loss. If left untreated, he could lose vision completely. Ye Min is scheduled to undergo surgery to reattach his retina on January 26th. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. After his surgery, Ye Min's vision will hopefully be restored, and he will resume his daily activities comfortably. Ye Min’s mother said, “I am worried about my son’s condition because he is too young to receive the surgery. I cannot wait to stay with him and take care of him well. I want my son to get better soon. I was very happy when I hear that this organization will help pay for my son’s treatment. I am really thankful to all of the donors who will help my son receive surgery.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Meet Dennis, a 12 year old boy living in Kenya with his parents and two younger siblings. When Dennis isn't in school - where math is his favorite subject - he enjoys playing with friends and reading books. Dennis' father works as a casual laborer, while his mother is a housewife. Dennis was healthy at birth, but at the age of two, his left foot started to bend inwards. His parents brought him to numerous hospitals, but his condition remained unresolved. This is very frustrating for Dennis, who has to walk on tiptoes, and is in pain when he walks. Doctors at our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, diagnosed Dennis with a clubfoot. Now he is scheduled to undergo clubfoot repair surgery at AIC Cure International Hospital on January 16th. This procedure which will allow Dennis to wear shoes and to walk with ease. African Mission Healthcare Foundation is requesting $1,286 to fund Dennis' life changing procedure. “Our joy will be to see Dennis walking and playing like other children,” Dennis’s mother told us.

$1,286raised
Fully funded

Myo is a 14-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his parents in a village in Karen State. His mother is a homemaker who is currently eight months pregnant. His father is a subsistence farmer, but he also works as a day laborer to earn money. Myo is in grade six and he enjoys playing football in his free time. Two years ago, Myo developed a pain in his arm which he noticed while playing football with his friends. Right away he was in a lot of pain, but his arm did not look broken. At first, the pain lessened, but gradually the pain worsened and his upper left forearm became swollen. Myo could also feel a mass under the swollen area of his left forearm. Myo and his father went to Chiang Mai Hospital, where he received a MRI and other tests, as well as a biopsy which indicates that the tumor in his forearm may be cancerous. Now he needs surgery to remove the tumor, and he will likely need a chemo after surgery. The enlarged mass in Myo's left forearm has not increased in size, and only causes him pain when he lifts something heavy or when he does any physical activity with that arm such as washing his clothes or cleaning. Although he can take a shower by himself, using only his right arm makes it challenging. When he plays with his friends, he needs to protect his left forearm to prevent getting hurt. Myo's family sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. He is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on December 8th, and his family needs help funding the $1,500 cost to cover his procedure and care. He said, “I feel sorry for my mother and I pity her that she has to stay alone with the new baby. I also feel sad that I cannot go to school this year. I want to recover quickly and go back to see my brother and mother.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Dieunese is a mother of two from Haiti. She lives in the outskirts of Port-au-Prince where she cares for her two young children along with her husband who is a taxi driver. Dieunese has a cardiac condition called rheumatic mitral stenosis which makes it extremely difficult for her heart to pump blood through her body, leaving her weak and short of breath. Dieunese requires surgery, but it is not available in her country. To access care, she will fly to the United States to receive treatment. On November 17th, she will undergo cardiac surgery, during which surgeons will attempt to repair her heart valve; if they are unable to, they will remove it and implant an artificial replacement. Another organization, the Baylor Scott & White Heart Hospital, is contributing $20,000 to pay for this surgery. Dieunese's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep and travel. The $1,500 bill covers labs, medicines, and check-up and followup appointments. It also supports passport obtainment and the social worker from our medical partner, Haiti Cardiac Alliance, who will accompany Dieunese overseas. Dieunese says, "I am hopeful that having this surgery will allow me to be alive and healthy for my children!"

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Mark is a primary school student in a special need school in Nairobi. Mark wears a broad smile and is feeling proud to take his photo and share his story. Mark is the firstborn in a family of two children. Mark's parents are both hawkers at a local market in Githurai. His father sells second-hand shoes famously known as Mitumba and his mother sells t-shirts at the same market. This work results in inconsistent income for their family. Mark has a fracture and dislocation of the shoulder joint and the upper part of the bone of the arm (humerus). As a result of his disability, Mark is unable to communicate the cause of the injury, but his mother suspects he fell a couple weeks ago and injured himself. Mark is unable to use his arm and hand as a result of the fracture. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner can help. On October 5th, Mark will undergo a fracture repair procedure, called an open reduction and internal fixation. This procedure will help him heal well and he will be able to use his arm and hand again. Now, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Mark's family raise $1,500 to fund this procedure. Mark's mother shared, “Mark is struggling to use his hand. He is in constant pain and it is written all over his face. Normally, he is a jovial kid but the pain is making him frown constantly.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded