Jaesub Hong
Jaesub's Story

Jaesub joined Watsi on December 26th, 2015. 40 other people also joined Watsi on that day! Jaesub's most recent donation supported Khin Shwe, a 38-year-old woman from Thailand, to remove a right ovarian mass.

Impact

Jaesub has funded healthcare for 2 patients in 2 countries.

Patients funded by Jaesub

“I only want to say thank you, I am so grateful that you will help me again,” says Khin Shwe, a 38-year-old mother from Thailand. Khin Shwe was a previous patient with our medical partner, Burma Border Projects (BBP), and Watsi donors funded a total abdominal hysterectomy to remove Khin Shwe’s uterus after doctors diagnosed her with a uterine myoma. Unfortunately, since that operation, she developed an ovarian mass—necessitating removal of her left ovary through an oophorectomy procedure. “In July, after her first operation, Khin Shwe could still feel the mass in the right side of her abdomen. Now, the mass is 19 cm by 23 cm—it is so large it can be seen through her abdomen and is causing her a lot of physical discomfort,” explains BBP. Along with being painful, the mass is causing Khin Shwe to lose weight quickly. “I want to eat a lot, but I cannot, my abdomen becomes even bigger when I do—it is so uncomfortable for me, I feel stuffed all the time and I cannot sleep well at night,” she describes. Since Khin Shwe returned from BBP’s clinic in Burma, she has been staying with her daughter, who works at a factory, and her husband—a security guard at a local factory. BBP continues, “It is painful for her when she sits down and stands up, she only walks a little and slowly. At home, she can cook rice and clean a little, but she cannot carry anything. She just prepares the curry for when her husband and daughter return from work.” For $1,500, Khin Shwe will undergo a second oophorectomy. This time, doctors will remove her right ovary and the painful, growing tumor. Funding will also cover a seven-day hospital stay, transportation to BBP’s hospital clinic and food throughout her recovery. BBP adds, “After surgery, Khin Shwe will be able to go back to see her father in Burma,” who recently suffered a stroke. “She will be able to help her mother take care of him.” “When I arrived at the clinic, the midwife encouraged me and told me that the organization that helped me before will be able to help me again. I am so thankful that I will get a new life,” shares Khin Shwe. “When I am healthy I will go back to see my father—I know that it will be the last time. I pray for my father—I was so confused I had to think about my father’s condition and my condition so I couldn’t do anything. I couldn’t get treatment because I had to take care of my father.” Let’s help end to Khin Shwe’s medical issues so she can care for her children and her father.

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Lai is a 60-year-old wife, mother, and grandmother from Cambodia who tends to the vegetable garden around her home and goes to the pagoda to hear the monks pray. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), tells us, “Lai has been diagnosed with glaucoma. She has [also] developed a cataract in her right eye, and she can not see clearly.” Glaucoma and cataracts are both serious eye conditions that can lead to vision loss. Both conditions are also more common with age, so many people who have one disease may develop the other. Glaucoma is caused by inadequate fluid drainage from the eye, causing pressure to build inside the eye. The increased pressure damages the eye’s main nerve — the optic nerve — and results in vision loss and eventual blindness. A cataract occurs when there is a buildup of proteins in the lens. This causes the lens to become cloudy, disrupting the passage of light through the lens and impairing vision. “Lai experiences blurred vision, pain, burning, and tearing,” CSC continues. “She cannot do work very well or go anywhere outside by herself.” For $300, Lai will undergo two surgical procedures to restore her vision. One procedure will remove the cloudy lens from her right eye and replace it with an artificial one. In a second procedure—known as trabeculectomy—doctors will remove tissue from the eye to create an opening to allow fluid drainage. Funding also includes pre- and post-operative consultations, a two-day hospital stay, and eye drops and ointments. After surgery, “Lai will be able to see clearly again, and the pressure in her eye will be decreased,” says CSC. Let’s help make that happen!

$300raised
Fully funded