Michal's Story

Michal joined Watsi on January 4th, 2021. Three years ago, Michal joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Michal's most recent donation supported Gregon, a bright 5-year-old boy from Kenya, to fund hearing treatment so he can continue with school.

Impact

Michal has funded healthcare for 39 patients in 10 countries.

Patients funded by Michal

Nafie is a 22-month-old toddler from Ethiopia. He loves water play and often touches things to see what is before him. He is the only child of his parents. His dad and mom are day laborers who graduated from high school. Nafie's mom noticed he was experiencing discomfort when using the restroom. She sought medical treatment and doctors determined that he was born with hypospadias, a congenital abnormality that causes urinary dysfunction. Without treatment, he will continue to experience uncomfortable symptoms and will be at risk of cancer and infertility in the future. Due to Nafie's condition, his parents are stressed and concerned about his future. They are appealing for financial assistance to help their son undergo a hypospadias repair surgery that will correct the abnormality and enable Nafie to live a full and quality life filled with dignity. After the procedure, Nafie will be able to pass urine as his peers do. Fortunately, Nafie is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on September 22nd. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is requesting $1,293 to cover the total cost of his procedure and care. Nafie's dad said, “It was really hard to believe that there is this kind of condition or there are children that went through this kind of situation. We were so scared and worried when we learned about his condition. We couldn’t think that it was correctable by treatment. We were relieved and felt happy when the doctor told us that the condition was correctable by surgery.” Nafie's mom also shared, “After the surgery, we hope he will be normal and just as other children.”

$1,293raised
Fully funded

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

Meet Clerize: a beautiful and bright 4-year-old. She is the 1st born in a family of two and her family hails from a small village in rural Kenya. We met her at our Nyandarua medical camp outreach accompanied by her grandmother. Clerize's grandmother is a farmer while her father, who is separated with his wife, works as a boda boda (motorcycle taxi) driver. Clerize was born healthy however at the age of three, her grandmother noticed an unusual walking style. She stared tiptoeing and would fall every time she tried to walk. For lack of information and because of the distance, they didn’t take her to the hospital. Later their family heard about CURE hospital medical camp in Nyandarua and brought her to be seen by the doctors. The medical team diagnosed Clerize with clubfoot. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Fortunately, Clerize's family has now traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on February 26th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $1,286 to fund Clerize's clubfoot repair. After treatment, she will be able to walk more easily and is looking forward to attending school. “I am pleading for help to help my granddaughter undergo surgery so that she can resume with her normal life and walking,” Clerize's grandmother told us.

$1,286raised
Fully funded

Saoly is a 33-year-old former garment factory worker from Cambodia. He is from the Kampong Speu province, and married with two children. His wife makes and sells traditional Khmer cakes at the local market. His children are four and seven years of age. Since an accident, he has been home and likes to listen to the news, watch TV, and play with his children. In March 2020, he was in a motorcycle collision with a truck and fell on his left shoulder on the pavement. This caused paralysis of his left shoulder and arm. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his 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. In August 2020, he had a surgical nerve graft, which allowed him to successfully bend his elbow, but he still cannot move his shoulder or his fingers. He cannot work, feels phantom pain in his arm, and is very depressed he cannot support his family and his wife has to work hard. Saoly traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. This is the only center in the whole country where this treatment is available. On December 1st, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he hopes that he will be able to move his shoulder, use his hand, and work again to support his family. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $709 to fund this procedure. Saoly said: "I hope this surgery will help me to use my arm again. I would like to work in a factory again to support my family."

$709raised
Fully funded