Jemrose is a happy and hardworking young woman from the Philippines. Her mother left when Jemrose was eight years old, leaving her and her siblings to the care of her father, who works as a land laborer. She was not able to finish high school, because her father could not sustain sending them all to school.
Jemrose has thyroiditis, or inflammation of the thyroid gland. The condition is characterized by a painful goiter [abnormal enlargement of the thyroid]. At the age of 14, she started working as a housemaid. At the age of 16, she started to get sick easily, and her neck started to swell. She was able to send herself to a doctor with the help of her sister, but could not sustain the daily medications. She cannot afford treatment because her family’s income can barely sustain their daily needs.
Having a goiter at a young age, without a mother to take care of their family, has been difficult for Jemrose. Whenever she is under stress or has a long day of work, her throat and chest get tight and uncomfortable so that she can’t work well. She also easily gets nervous with little stimuli. Her condition has forced her to stop working. Before qualifying for surgery, she felt hopeless that she would not be able to get the treatment she needs.
With $365, Jemrose can undergo a procedure to treat her thyroiditis. “The lump in her neck will be removed, and she will no longer experience pain and discomfort. Through the treatment, her condition will be prevented from progressing and becoming worse. She is now excited that after the surgery, she will be able to look for a stable job and have a chance to finish school.
Jemrose shares, “Thank you so much for this help, because we really can’t afford this treatment. I was eight years old when my mother left us and my father has worked so hard for us. I want to help him. I hope that after treatment, I can find a stable job to sustain our family’s needs.”
