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Success! Gabriel from Tanzania raised $880 to fund leg surgery so he can go to school.

Gabriel
100%
  • $880 raised, $0 to go
$880
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Gabriel's treatment was fully funded on June 16, 2022.

Photo of Gabriel post-operation

July 6, 2022

Gabriel underwent leg surgery and is excited to go to school now.

Gabriel has had right leg corrected successfully! Through this surgery, Gabriel has been healed from all the difficulty and pain he was going through. He is now learning to walk more easily and carry out his daily life activities without any challenges due to his disability.

Gabriel had a big smile when he shared: “Now that my leg has been corrected, I will make sure once I get back home ask my father to send me to school!”

Gabriel has had right leg corrected successfully! Through this surgery, Gabriel has been healed from all the difficulty and pain he was goin...

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May 9, 2022

Gabriel is a friendly and social 12-year-old boy, living in a remote Maasai community in Tanzania.

Unlike his five siblings, Gabriel does not attend school because of a condition on his right leg. He is unable to walk the long distance required to get to school, and instead, he stays home. He used to help his parents tend to their livestock, but this has gotten more difficult. Gabriel was diagnosed with right genu valgus, a condition which often results from contaminated drinking water. His right leg bows inward, so that both of his knees touch. Because of pain and difficulty walking, Gabriel can no longer herd cattle or fetch water, or assist his parents in other ways. Gabriel needs surgery to correct his leg, so that he will be able to walk more easily and return to school.

Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Gabriel. The procedure is scheduled to take place on May 10th. Treatment will hopefully restore Gabriel’s mobility, allowing him to participate in a variety of activities, and greatly decreasing his risk of future complications.

Gabriel says: “I have wanted to join school, but I can’t walk every day to and from school with my leg.”

Gabriel is a friendly and social 12-year-old boy, living in a remote Maasai community in Tanzania. Unlike his five siblings, Gabriel does...

Read more

Gabriel's Timeline

  • May 9, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Gabriel was submitted by Edward Mugane, Impact Assessment Coordinator at African Mission Healthcare.

  • May 10, 2022
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Gabriel received treatment at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC) in Tanzania. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.

  • May 11, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Gabriel's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • June 16, 2022
    FULLY FUNDED

    Gabriel's treatment was fully funded.

  • July 6, 2022
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Gabriel's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 12 donors

Funded by 12 donors

Treatment
Fluorosis - Genu Valgus / Varus
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $880 for Gabriel's treatment
Hospital Fees
$831
Medical Staff
$15
Medication
$11
Supplies
$0
Labs
$23
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients with genu valgum (or "knock-knees") have knees that bend inward and cause an abnormal walking gait. Patients with genu varum (or bowleggedness) have knees that bend outward and cause knee or hip pain and reduced range of motion in the hips.

​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

The patient's mobility is hindered, which can prevent the patient from making a living through physical labor. The patient may also develop arthritis later in life.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

In the United States, supplemental fluoride is added to the water to improve dental health. However, in areas of northern Tanzania, there is too much naturally-occurring fluoride in the water, which causes bone curvature.

  • Process
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Risks and side-effects
  • Accessibility
  • Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

After surgery, the patient will stay in the hospital for 4-5 days. During this time, the surgical wound will be monitored for swelling and infection. The patient will complete physiotherapy to help him or her walk or move the limbs. A series of X-rays will be performed over several months to monitor the healing process.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

The bones and joints will be aligned, and long-term disability will be prevented.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

This procedure is not risky, but it is time-consuming. The rehabilitation process can take several months.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

Care is not easily accessible. Most patients live in remote, rural areas and are identified through mobile outreach. The pediatric surgical program at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre was started to meet the large burden of pediatric disability in the region.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

There are no alternatives. Although some cases can heal on their own, the patients submitted to Watsi require dedicated treatment.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Ashin Mala

Ashin Mala is a 30-year-old monk who lives in a monastery in Karen State, Burma. He became a monk a year ago. As a monk, Ashin usually doesn’t have the right to save money and keep cash. But sometimes, worshippers donate some money, and he keeps it to use just in case. The monastery usually provides him two meals a day donated by the Buddhist followers. In October, one day, he visited a house of a member of ethnic armed group in the village. A kid was playing with a pistol and accidentally shot the gun in the wall. Unfortunately, the bullet ricocheted and hit his left eye. The villagers sent Ashin Mala to Myawaddy General Hospital immediately. At the hospital, an X-ray was done and showed that a piece of the bullet had entered below his right eyeball. The doctors stitched the gunshot wound and gave some medications. There was no ophthalmologist at hospital. Ashin visited the hospital regularly and got wound dressing as well as medication to relieve pain. But the pain didn’t go away. He has lost sight in his left eye. Pain and itchiness, and sometimes a burning sensation, is present in the right eye and surrounding area. Hot tears are coming out from both eyes during blinking occasionally whenever he reads book for a long time. Due to the lack of ophthalmologist, he was provided only with medications and eyedrops. Now doctors want Ashin Mala to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose his condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Ashin Mala's CT scan and care, scheduled for December 9th. Ashin Mala said, "I don’t want to blame anyone. It is my destiny. I am not sure my condition can be treated or not. But I am so happy to be treated here because I think I can have better health care here than in Burma. I don’t expect complete recovery, but it will be great if I can see with both eyes. In the future, I want to learn more about Dhamma and hope to attend Buddha University in the future."

33% funded

33%funded
$140raised
$274to go

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Ashin Mala

Ashin Mala is a 30-year-old monk who lives in a monastery in Karen State, Burma. He became a monk a year ago. As a monk, Ashin usually doesn’t have the right to save money and keep cash. But sometimes, worshippers donate some money, and he keeps it to use just in case. The monastery usually provides him two meals a day donated by the Buddhist followers. In October, one day, he visited a house of a member of ethnic armed group in the village. A kid was playing with a pistol and accidentally shot the gun in the wall. Unfortunately, the bullet ricocheted and hit his left eye. The villagers sent Ashin Mala to Myawaddy General Hospital immediately. At the hospital, an X-ray was done and showed that a piece of the bullet had entered below his right eyeball. The doctors stitched the gunshot wound and gave some medications. There was no ophthalmologist at hospital. Ashin visited the hospital regularly and got wound dressing as well as medication to relieve pain. But the pain didn’t go away. He has lost sight in his left eye. Pain and itchiness, and sometimes a burning sensation, is present in the right eye and surrounding area. Hot tears are coming out from both eyes during blinking occasionally whenever he reads book for a long time. Due to the lack of ophthalmologist, he was provided only with medications and eyedrops. Now doctors want Ashin Mala to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose his condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Ashin Mala's CT scan and care, scheduled for December 9th. Ashin Mala said, "I don’t want to blame anyone. It is my destiny. I am not sure my condition can be treated or not. But I am so happy to be treated here because I think I can have better health care here than in Burma. I don’t expect complete recovery, but it will be great if I can see with both eyes. In the future, I want to learn more about Dhamma and hope to attend Buddha University in the future."

33% funded

33%funded
$140raised
$274to go