Francine Olney
Francine's Story
Francine joined Watsi on December 26th, 2018. Seven months ago, Francine became the 4507th member to automatically support a new Watsi patient every month. Since then, 751 more people have become monthly donors! Francine's most recent donation supported Begaelle, a girl from Haiti, to fund prep for cardiac surgery.
Francine has funded healthcare for 7 patients in 6 countries.
All patients funded by Francine
Begaelle is a baby from Haiti. Begaelle lives in Port-au-Prince with her parents and grandparents; she is her parents' first child. She was born with two holes in her heart: a ventricular septal defect, between the two lower chambers, and an atrial septal defect, between the two upper chambers. As a result, blood cannot circulate properly through her body, leaving her sick and short of breath. Begaelle will fly to India to receive treatment. On August 22, she will undergo cardiac surgery. Another organization, Rotary International, is contributing $8,000 to pay for surgery. Begaelle's family also needs help to fund the costs of surgery prep. 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 Begaelle's family overseas.
Kyaw is a 11-year-old from Thailand. He lives with his family in Mae Tao Village, Mae Sot District, Tak Province. He is a fourth grade student. Since March 2019, Kyaw has had umbilical hernia. At the moment, Kyaw feels abdomen pain. Fortunately, on May 22, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund Kyaw's hernia repair surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on May 22 and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. Kyaw says, "I like to play football when I am free, and it is my favorite sport. When I grow up, I would like to be a paramedic."
Vichheka is a 23-year-old teacher from Cambodia. She has one daughter, and enjoys reading books in her free time. When she was a small child, Vichheka had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Vichheka experiences discharge, headaches, hearing loss, and itchiness. It is difficult for her to focus and listen to her students when she is at school. Vichheka traveled to our medical partner's care center to receive treatment. On April 26, she will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in her right ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $842 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care. She says, "I hope that after my surgery, the ear infection will stop and I will no longer have any ear discharge."
John is a man from Kenya. He is a father of two children who are in primary school. A little over a year ago, John sustained a spinal injury when he fell from a tree. He has not been able to afford the necessary care to treat his injury. Now, he has been diagnosed with cervical mylopathy, a degenerative disorder that causes gait imbalance and clumsiness due to a compressed spinal cord. Fortunately, John is now scheduled fo spinal surgery on March 15 to treat this condition. He needs help raising $1,500 to fund this procedure. John says, "My prayer is to be able to walk again and in upright gait. I am really suffering due to this condition."
Hashim is a farmer with a large family from Malawi. He lives with his wife and six kids, and together they have seven grandchildren. He spends his days farming, and enjoys reading the Bible in his free time. Since May 2018, Hashim has been experiencing pain and failure to urinate. These symptoms are caused by an enlarged prostate, a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia. He needs to undergo a prostate resection surgery, a procedure in which surgeons will remove part of the enlarged gland. Our medical partner, World Altering Medicine, is requesting $733 to fund Hashim's surgery. On February 14, he will undergo prostate surgery at Nkhoma Hospital, our medical partner's care center. The requested money pays for supplies, medications, and two weeks of hospital stay.
Ma Kyin is a 35-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and two daughters in May Pala village, Kyain Seikgyi township, Karen State. She and her husband provide for the family by farming rice fields near their home. For about three years, Ma Kyin has been experiencing discomfort and pain in her abdomen. She has been diagnosed with a uterine mass. She has been advised to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgical removal of her uterus and cervix. If left untreated, Ma Kyin's symptoms will continue to worsen and put her at risk for further health complications in the future. Fortunately, Ma Kyin is scheduled to undergo her hysterectomy on January 29. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to cover the total cost of her procedure and care. Once recovered, she will be no longer be in pain and she will be able to help her husband with farming again. Ma Kyin said, "I was nervous about surgery at first, but I know that I must get the surgery for my children so I can continue working to provide for my daughters. I want them to attend school and complete their education."
San Win is a 14-year-old from Burma. He lives with his parents and a seven-year-old sister. His parents work as daily agricultural laborers growing rice and corn. Since 2004, San Win has had an inguinal hernia. Fortunately, on January 8, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at Mae Sot General Hospital, our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund San Win's hernia repair surgery. The procedure is scheduled to take place on January 8 and, once completed, will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably. San Win says, "The pain annoys me and I feel distressed. Nonetheless, I always have the ambition of becoming a technician."