Cheryl's Story

Cheryl joined Watsi on March 12th, 2013. Seven years ago, Cheryl joined our Universal Fund, supporting life-changing treatments for a new Watsi patient every month. Cheryl's most recent donation supported Grace, a 25-year-old nurse from Malawi, to fund thyroid removal surgery.

Impact

Cheryl has funded healthcare for 91 patients in 15 countries.

Patients funded by Cheryl

Davies is a 14-year-old student in the 9th grade. He is the firstborn in a family of 3 children. His parents separated a few years ago, and both he and his siblings were left in the custody of his mother who is working hard to raise them well. His mother sells utensils in a local market to provide for the family. During the school holidays in March this year, Davies stepped on a broken glass that left him with a deep cut on his foot. His mother took him to a health center where the bleeding was managed and the wound was stitched. However, after a few days back in school, his leg started to swell. He was diagnosed with a blood infection and given medication. The recovery was smooth and the swelling stopped, leaving a small blister on the leg. Davies started to walk again and went back to school. However, after a few weeks, the blister got worse. He has undergone an emergency debridement surgery, he urgently requires a flap cover surgery to heal. The condition has made it difficult for him to walk and attend school. Fortunately, our medical partner African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is helping Davies receive treatment. On September 8th, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to help him walk easily again and resume his studies. Davies's family needs help raising $1,185 to fund the procedure and treatment. Davies’ mother says, “This treatment has really destabilized me and I can't provide for them as I used to. Davies loves school and he really wants to go back.”

$450raised
$735to go

Wine is a three-year-old boy who lives with his parents and siblings in Karen State - an area of Burma that is in a state of crisis and conflict. Wine’s father is a construction day laborer and his mother stays at home with Wine and his siblings. Wine's older brother lives in Bangkok and his sister lives in Shan State and is able to send Wine's household money every month. His other four siblings are students. Wine was born in 2019 with a condition called hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is caused by a brain malformation or birth defect that causes excessive cerebrospinal fluid to accumulate in brain cavities. Cerebrospinal fluid is a clear, colorless liquid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, protecting them from injury. It carries nutrients to the brain and spinal cord and takes away waste. In a healthy person, the amount of this fluid produced by the brain is absorbed by the body. In hydrocephalus, the fluid fails to drain and accumulates, leading to pressure on the brain. Wine's symptoms include a lump on the bridge of his nose. His eyes frequently water, and he cries a lot when he is in severe pain. Additionally, his head is gradually increasing in size as the fluid continues to build. The condition is most often treated by inserting a shunt. The shunt diverts excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain to another part of the body where the fluid can be reabsorbed. Wine visited a doctor when he was born to address the issue. While he was in the process of receiving treatment across the border at a hospital in Thailand, the Thai-Burma border shut down due to the outbreak of COVID-19. With the closure of the Thai-Burma border, Wine and his family could not go back to his follow-up care. Fortunately, after the Thai-Burma border reopened, Wine was able to meet with our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF). Wine received a CT scan at Mae Sot General Hospital and the doctor was able to diagnose the issue and scheduled Wine to undergo surgery immediately on June 2nd. BCMF is now requesting $1,500 to help fund this procedure. Wine's mother said, "I want him to be able to walk, sit, and be healthy like other children his age. My husband and two of my children work, so I can take good care of Wine. I cry a lot whenever I see Wine suffering from pain, but now I feel like I no longer have to shed a tear for him because of that. I don’t want to be rich, nor do I want him to be rich. I only want Wine to be healthy and happy."

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Marion is a 6-year-old student from the highlands of Elgeyo Marakwet county in Kenya. She is the second born in a family of three girls and currently attending preschool near her family home. Her parents are small-scale potato farmers. One day Marion's mother went to the river to fetch water. While she was gone, her children were sitting near an open fireplace at home making breakfast. Unfortunately, Marion's dress caught fire on the open flame, and as a result, she sustained severe burns on her back, abdomen and thighs. It has been difficult for her to walk, and the wounds are causing extreme discomfort. She especially needs a third surgery to treat the severity of her burns contractures. Despite Marion's parents having medical insurance, due to previous surgeries that she has had to treat the injuries, the insurance (a monthly subscription) has run its course and is no longer an option. Her parents do not have the funds to pay for Marion's surgery and need support. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is helping Marion receive treatment. On January 25th, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery that will allow her to walk with greater ease and resume her normal life at home and school. Now, she and her family are requesting $1,478 to help fund this procedure. Marion's mother says, “I am really looking forward to seeing my daughter live and walk in a normal way. I worked hard to pay for insurance coverage, but unfortunately, it cannot fund the upcoming procedure. I am disappointed, but I will not lose hope. Kindly help her.”

$1,478raised
Fully funded