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Success! Angelika from the Philippines raised $890 to fund a thyroidectomy surgery to treat her thyroid carcinoma.

Angelika
100%
  • $890 raised, $0 to go
$890
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Angelika's treatment was fully funded on January 3, 2023.

Photo of Angelika post-operation

January 15, 2023

Angelika underwent surgery to treat her thyroid.

Angelika’s surgery was a success! She’s very happy to be one of the beneficiaries of WATSI. The treatment improves her health condition and physical strength.

Angelika also expressed her overwhelming excitement to have a job, and help support her family financially. She is committed to looking for a stable and high-paying job to ensure that her siblings will continue studying.

According to her, “It is undeniable that we had no means to afford my surgery as it was very costly for my family. It’s also a blessing for me to be treated this month because I don’t need to worry about finding a job next year. To WATSI and World Surgical Foundation Philippines, thank you! I hope you will be able to reach more families in need like us. “

Angelika's surgery was a success! She's very happy to be one of the beneficiaries of WATSI. The treatment improves her health condition and...

Read more
December 15, 2022

Angelika is a caring daughter from the Philippines. The eldest of 5 children, she stopped studying due to inadequate finances, and also to support her younger siblings. Her mother works as a part-time laundress, while her father is still recovering from tuberculosis. Despite her eagerness to support her family, she failed to land a job because of her medical condition.

In 2021, Angelika began to experience troubling symptoms, including sudden weight loss, bulging eyes, and amenorrhea. Worried about her condition, she decided to be checked by a doctor. She was advised to undergo series of tests. She was diagnosed with Papillary thyroid carcinoma, which appears as an irregular solid or cystic mass or nodule. It is the most frequent thyroid neoplasm and carries the best overall prognosis. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse.

Fortunately, our medical partner, World Surgical Foundation Philippines (WSFP), is helping Angelika receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on December 17th at Our Lady of Peace Hospital. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. A portion of the cost of her treatment is being supported by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, and WSFP is raising the remaining $890 to cover the cost of Angelika’s procedure and care.

Angelika shared, “Once treated, I’d be able to apply for jobs and will be able to support my family again. Thank you for this opportunity, WATSI, and World Surgical Foundation Philippines. May the Lord bless you.”

Angelika is a caring daughter from the Philippines. The eldest of 5 children, she stopped studying due to inadequate finances, and also to s...

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Angelika's Timeline

  • December 15, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Angelika was submitted by Abegail Joy Cervania, Marketing and Communications Officer at World Surgical Foundation Philippines.

  • December 17, 2022
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Angelika received treatment at Our Lady of Peace Hospital in Philippines. 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.

  • December 21, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Angelika's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • January 3, 2023
    FULLY FUNDED

    Angelika's treatment was fully funded.

  • January 15, 2023
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Angelika's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 12 donors

Funded by 12 donors

Treatment
Thyroidectomy
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $890 for Angelika's treatment
Hospital Fees
$91
Medical Staff
$214
Medication
$28
Supplies
$338
Labs
$97
Radiology
$11
Other
$111
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

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

People with a goiter often have an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland which can lead to the appearance of a mass or swelling in the neck. The signs and symptoms of goiter can vary and may include tiredness, a decrease or increase in weight, low or increased appetite, depression, dryness of skin and hair, sleepiness, diarrhea or constipation and menstrual irregularities (for women).

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

Living with a goiter limits the patient's physical activities, due to soreness or tiredness, frequent coughing, hoarseness, and difficulty breathing. If untreated, this could lead to the detrimental reduction of overall capacity and even death among susceptible patients.

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

Especially when left untreated, people with a goiter can tend to be socially excluded from their communities, due to the stigma against people with physical deformities. These may be in the form of lack of employment opportunities, loss of connection with peers, even family, discrimination based on false beliefs on physical deformities (e.g. generational curses because of slights against higher beings).

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

What does the treatment process look like?

The surgical team at the care center facility will safely remove the mass in the patient's neck.

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

If there are no complications after the procedure, the patient will be prescribed thyroid hormone replacement medication to avoid hypothyroidism. Patient are expected to make a full recovery and live a healthy and better future.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Potential side effects of the surgery include bleeding, infection, hypoparathyroidism, or permanent hoarse or weak voice due to nerve damage.

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

The care facility is equipped and accessible to handle this procedure for patients within or who are able to travel to the National Capital Region.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Patients experiencing a goiter often look for medications such as aspirin or corticosteroid infused capsules that will help stabilize the growth or swelling.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Prossy

Prossy is a hospital cleaner and a mother of three children, all of whom are currently studying. After completing high school, she joined a nursing school to pursue a certificate in midwifery. Unfortunately, her father, who was paying her school fees, passed away while she was in her second year. Due to financial constraints, she had to drop out of nursing school. However, her passion for caring for the sick never faded, and she decided to become a cleaner, a job she has held for over 25 years at a local health center. Prossy's husband is a farmer, and they live in a two-roomed house. Their income is not sufficient to cover the cost of her surgery, and she is, therefore, appealing for support. For the last five years, Prossy began to experience troubling symptoms, including shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, palpitation, and pain while swallowing. Concerned about her health, Prossy sought medical attention and went to a local health center. She needed specialized care and was referred to Nyakibale hospital where surgery was recommended. She was diagnosed with a bilateral goiter and needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Prossy receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on March 7th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Prossy says: “I hope to get healed and have normal health like any other person once I am given your support to undergo surgery.”

7% funded

7%funded
$20raised
$232to go
Khin

Khin is a 28-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her parents and three older sisters. Her family runs a small grocery store, and her older brother works in a factory to help provide for their family. However, Khin shared that their combined income is not enough to pay for expenses and basic health care. In April 2020, Khin started to experience dizziness, headache, and nausea. Her vision also became blurred and sensitive to light. At first, she thought she just needed eyeglass and visited an ophthalmologist. During that visit, her ophthalmologist tested her eyes and shared that her symptoms may be due to a brain tumor. Currently, Khin is still experiencing the same symptoms but they have been gradually worsening over time. She feels weak and has pain in her neck. Khin visited our medical partner's hospital for further review. The doctors want her to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose her condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $414 to cover the cost of Khin's CT scan and care, which is scheduled for November 30th. Khin said: "I become angry very easily because of my blurred vision. Before that, I was so patient. I am so worried about becoming blind completely, I don't want to live this way. I don’t want my family to be in trouble because of me. I feel a bit relieved to hear that there will be a donor to help pay for my treatment cost."

48% funded

48%funded
$200raised
$214to go

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Prossy

Prossy is a hospital cleaner and a mother of three children, all of whom are currently studying. After completing high school, she joined a nursing school to pursue a certificate in midwifery. Unfortunately, her father, who was paying her school fees, passed away while she was in her second year. Due to financial constraints, she had to drop out of nursing school. However, her passion for caring for the sick never faded, and she decided to become a cleaner, a job she has held for over 25 years at a local health center. Prossy's husband is a farmer, and they live in a two-roomed house. Their income is not sufficient to cover the cost of her surgery, and she is, therefore, appealing for support. For the last five years, Prossy began to experience troubling symptoms, including shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, palpitation, and pain while swallowing. Concerned about her health, Prossy sought medical attention and went to a local health center. She needed specialized care and was referred to Nyakibale hospital where surgery was recommended. She was diagnosed with a bilateral goiter and needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Prossy receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on March 7th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Prossy says: “I hope to get healed and have normal health like any other person once I am given your support to undergo surgery.”

7% funded

7%funded
$20raised
$232to go