Lester is a 62-year-old woman from Malawi, living in Ntcheu. A widow since 2006, she has dedicated her life to caring for her five children, four of whom are married with their own children, while one child continues to live with her. Lester finds joy in chatting with her grandchildren and savoring nsima served with beans.
For the past ten years, Lester has been struggling with troubling symptoms, which began with a swelling in her neck, that led her to seek traditional medicine. Unfortunately, she saw no improvement and chose to stay at home. As the swelling continued to grow, she endured neck heaviness, difficulty walking long distances, frequent coughing, and increasing weakness. These challenges have greatly impacted her daily life and farming, reducing her income.
Early October, Lester visited the hospital for the first time. There, she learned that she has a goiter, a condition affecting her thyroid gland, which is crucial for many bodily functions. Now, she urgently needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from worsening and to regain her strength
Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Lester receive treatment. On October 16th, she is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy at Partners in Hope Medical Center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $1,015, and she and her family need help raising the treatment funds.
Lester says, “Please help me regain my normal appearance after surgery. I hope for a healthier life free from these symptoms and the questions from my children. I long to recover and return to my life as a caring mother and grandmother to my 13 grandchildren.”