Grace Teoh
Grace's Story

Grace joined Watsi on March 10th, 2015. 17 other people also joined Watsi on that day! Grace's most recent donation supported Eh Sha, an 8-year-old student and refugee from Thailand, to fund surgery to alleviate her chronic tonsilitis.

Impact

Grace has funded healthcare for 49 patients in 9 countries.

Patients funded by Grace

San is a 41-year-old woman who lives with her husband, daughter, and son in Burma. Her children are students, but the schools are closed due to a COVID-19 outbreak and teachers' strike against the military coup earlier this year. San and her husband rent land and grow sesame and sunflowers. They shared that their income last year from selling their harvest was about 1,500,000 kyat (approx. $1,500 USD) for the year, which is only enough to cover their daily expenses and basic health care. Unfortunately, the rainy season was late this year, and they could not grow any sesame as a result. San's family is worried about the impact this will have on their income and their family. Starting in May, San felt tired and developed a fever, so she visited the local clinic and received medication for her symptoms. While her fever reduced, she still felt tired, and her heartbeat increased. Three days later, her son developed a fever and also went to the local clinic. While there, San was able to share more about her condition with the clinicians. The doctor listened to her heart, gave her an injection and medication, and told her to come back if she continued to feel unwell. That night, San experienced heart palpitations and could not sit or lie down for long periods. On May 29th, she visited the Magway General Hospital, where she received oxygen, an injection, a blood test, and an electrocardiogram (ECG). Doctors also recommended an echocardiogram and a chest x-ray, which she received in follow-up care on May 31st. After reviewing the results of her tests, the doctors shared that San's heart valve does not work well and suggested meeting with a cardiologist for further testing. While the military coup made it challenging to find a cardiologist, San visited her brother's town for treatment. After further testing, a cardiologist diagnosed San with mitral valve stenosis and told her that she needed surgery to replace a damaged heart valve. Currently, San feels tired and suffers from heart palpitations when she walks short distances and cannot lie down for long periods. Fortunately, San was referred to our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund (BCMF), to help afford her surgery. On October 3rd, San will receive treatment, and BCMF is requesting $1,500 to help directly fund her procedure. San said, “I would like to get better soon because my family had to try hard to borrow enough money for my treatment. This year, we will not be able to earn a profit from our farm. This year is very difficult for everyone. I would like my daughter and son to finish their studies. I would like to work hard for my family’s future. After I recover from my operation, I want to open a shop in my village to earn more money. I will try to send my daughter and son to school until they graduate. Thank you so much for supporting the cost of my surgery.”

$1,500raised
Fully funded

Mercy is a 28-year-old subsistence farmer from Malawi. She lives in a grass-thatched house with her husband and their three children. Her oldest child is nine years old and attends school, while her youngest is five years old. She and her husband also take care of her 93-year-old grandmother who depends on them. Mercy and her husband farm together and their farm produces enough food to feed the family, but not enough to sell a surplus. To supplement their income, she and her husband also work on other people's farms. In 2018, Mercy noticed a small lump on the left side of her neck. Over the years, the lump has grown and is hard and painful. After having several appointments rescheduled, Mercy finally got a scan and was referred to a lab for thyroid tests and to a surgeon. The lab tests and transportation costs have greatly impacted her family’s income, and it has taken her three years to have all of the required testing. She was finally diagnosed with an enlarged thyroid and surgery was recommended to heal her condition. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH) is helping Mercy to receive treatment. On September 2nd, she will undergo a thyroidectomy at AMH's care center. Now, she needs help raising $1,015 to fund her procedure and care. Mercy shared, "this condition is not only affecting me, but mainly my helpless 93 years old grandmother and also my family. I can no longer draw water for my grandmother and my children are too young to help. My husband is now getting exhausted combining farm work and household chores. Please assist me with this surgery so I can start helping my family again."

$1,015raised
Fully funded

Karungi is a local primary school teacher and a mother of three daughters, with her eldest daughter being a university student. Karungi's husband operates a bodaboda business (bike and motorcycle taxis), but with the current lockdown in Uganda, the business has been negative impacted. Therefore, their family has limited income to support their children's education, daily upkeep, and hospital costs. For about 20 years, Karungi has been experiencing lower abdominal pains, backaches, bleeding, and weight loss. She had been to different hospitals and were treated for a urinary tract infection. She tried managing the pain with medication but as the discomfort failed to subside, Karungi sought treatment at our medical partner's care center, Nyakibale Hospital. She was diagnosed with multiple uterine myomas. Karungi had a scan done and surgery was recommended to prevent her condition from becoming malignant. Karungi needs to undergo is a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation (AMH), is requesting $219 to fund Karungi's surgery. On July 13th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Karungi will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Karungi shares her worries, “Since we are on lockdown, we are not earning thus getting money for treatment is hard. I hope to be supported, treated and resume my usual duties with little pain and less worry."

$219raised
Fully funded