Read our powered by our community 🙌 Check out our 🙌
Meet another patient

Watsi logo blueWatsi

Success! Janenah from Uganda raised $252 to fund life-changing thyroid surgery.

Janenah
100%
  • $252 raised, $0 to go
$252
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Janenah's treatment was fully funded on November 23, 2022.

Photo of Janenah post-operation

December 1, 2022

Janenah underwent life-changing thyroid surgery.

Janenah had a successful surgery at Nyakibale Hospital. The goitre that had been troubling her was treated and she is relieved to have no persisting symptoms. She is very happy about the support offered!

Janenah says: “I am now in good health and with hopes of getting even much better. May God bless you my donors for the support you’ve given to make my surgery possible.”

Janenah had a successful surgery at Nyakibale Hospital. The goitre that had been troubling her was treated and she is relieved to have no pe...

Read more
June 6, 2022

Janenah is a farmer and loving mother to eleven children, all of whom are grown and independent. Janenah practices small scale farming to sustain herself, growing crops like millet, cassava, bananas, and maize. She sells any small surplus she has to earn some income.

For over thirty years, Janenah has lived with a swelling in her neck. Recently, she has begun to experience some troubling symptoms, including shortness of breath, and difficulty in speaking and in breathing. She was diagnosed with an obstructing goiter, and she was told that she needs surgery to prevent her situation from worsening.

Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Janenah receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on June 7th at Karoli Lwanga Hospital in Nyakibale, where surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. African Mission Healthcare is requesting $252 to fund this procedure.

Janenah says: “As a widow, I can never afford surgery costs. That’s why I have had this condition for so long. I kindly request that you support me so that I can live better with restored health.”

Janenah is a farmer and loving mother to eleven children, all of whom are grown and independent. Janenah practices small scale farming to su...

Read more

Janenah's Timeline

  • June 6, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Janenah was submitted by Edward Mugane, Impact Assessment Coordinator at African Mission Healthcare.

  • June 8, 2022
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Janenah received treatment at Karoli Lwanga Hospital, Nyakibale in Uganda. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.

  • June 9, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Janenah's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • November 23, 2022
    FULLY FUNDED

    Janenah's treatment was fully funded.

  • December 1, 2022
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Janenah's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 2 donors

Profile 48x48 12516013 964426533625654 1882770687 n

Funded by 2 donors

Profile 48x48 12516013 964426533625654 1882770687 n
Treatment
Thyroidectomy
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $252 for Janenah's treatment
Hospital Fees
$163
Medical Staff
$0
Medication
$22
Supplies
$49
Labs
$6
Other
$12
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients in need of a thyroidectomy often present with a small thyroid growth (nodule or cyst), a thyroid gland that is so overactive it is dangerous (thyrotoxicosis), cancer of the thyroid, noncancerous (benign) tumors of the thyroid that are causing symptoms, or thyroid swelling (nontoxic goiter) that makes it hard to breathe or swallow. Patients in need of thyroid surgery often present with nervousness, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, hand tremor, excessive sweating, weight loss, and sleep problems, among other symptoms.

​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

The thyroid gland is an organ located in the front of your neck that releases hormones that control your metabolism (the way your body uses energy), breathing, heart rate, nervous system, weight, body temperature, and many other functions in the body. When the thyroid gland is overactive (hyperthyroidism) the body’s processes speed up and you may experience nervousness, anxiety, rapid heartbeat, hand tremor, excessive sweating, weight loss, and sleep problems, among other symptoms.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

Thyroid disorders are relatively common in the African continent. Iodine deficiency, although still the commonly documented cause of thyroid disorders in Africa, is not as rampant as it used to be. There is a compelling need to set up thyroid disorder registries in order to determine not only the scope of the burden of these disorders, but also to document changing trends, if any, especially given the background of widespread iodization programs. Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer, and its incidence has continuously increased in the last three decades all over the world. This trend is present on every continent except Africa, where detection is possibly insufficient.

  • Process
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Risks and side-effects
  • Accessibility
  • Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

Thyroid surgery takes approximately 3-8 hours depending on the patient. Patients will stay in the hospital for a maximum of 6-8 weeks or as needed for recovery. A patient will usually have one follow-up appointment in six weeks.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

In cases involving thyroid cancer, the surgery is the patient’s best chance of preventing the spread of cancer and saving the patient’s life. For hyperthyroidism, the treatment helps stabilize the hormones that regulate metabolism and effectively treat some of the symptoms that the patient presents with such as rapid heartbeat, anxiety etc.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Thyroid surgery is often 90% curative if diagnosis happens early. For benign tumors and hyperthyroidism, the surgery is more than 90% curative. The surgery comes with few risks.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

There are few quality care centers in the region. Hospitals lack adequate resources and expertise to treat this condition.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

In Kenya, surgery is the only treatment offered for thyroid cancer and hyperthyroidism. This is because radiotherapy and medication alternatives are not easily accessible in the county. Also, the cost of treating with radiotherapy and medication is higher than that of surgery.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.