“I hope that I can undergo a smooth surgery so that my body will not feel sore often. I can be more confident in facing my life after the surgery.”

When she started to have scoliosis, the main impact on Audrey Yeo Feng Chee was that the spinal problem affected her body shape and appearance. However, when the scoliosis worsened year after year, not only reducing her self-confidence but threatening her health. After seeking medical treatment, she decided to take the advice from the doctor to undergo spine corrective surgery. However, she had just started working and needed to support her family, so she could not afford the surgical fees. Hence, she turned to One Hope Charity for help.

【She stays and works alone in Kuala Lumpur, and she is deeply troubled by scoliosis, which affects her work and daily life】

Audrey from Kuantan, Pahang, discovered that she had uneven shoulders and a protruding backbone when she was 13. However, the condition was not apparent, so she did not take it seriously then. It was not until the following year that her parents noticed the change in her physical condition and decided to take her to the hospital for examination. The doctor confirmed she had scoliosis of over 30 degrees. Considering that she was still developing, the doctor recommended her parents let her wear a back brace first.

After growing up as an adult, she went to the hospital for follow-up treatment. She learned that she did not need to wear the back brace anymore. However, no one mentioned to her that she might need surgery in the future. Therefore, her scoliosis gradually worsened. The now 24-year-old woman feels tired quickly after walking for a while and sore after standing and sitting for a long time. She needs to lie down to relieve her physical discomfort temporarily.

She recently graduated from university and found a job at an accounting consulting firm in Kuala Lumpur. She said that when commuting in public transport or when she needs to go out on fieldwork, she carries a tablet computer, which makes her body feel more strenuous. She will sometimes feel pain in the ribs.

As the scoliosis worsened, Audrey decided to go to another hospital for consultation. The doctor found that her right ribcage was severely bulging. After an in-depth examination, the doctor confirmed that the curve in her thoracolumbar had reached 46 degrees. As it was a primary scoliosis problem, she needed to undergo surgery to prevent her condition from worsening.

【She became her family’s primary source of income after she started working. No one around her could help her, so she could only turn to kind-hearted people to assist her】

Audrey’s parents are deaf people. They live in their hometown in Kuantan. They receive subsidies for disabled persons. Her mother occasionally takes on tailoring jobs to ease the family’s burden. Her elder brother passed away earlier, so the financial burden of the family fell on her alone.

As a newly hired auditor, Audrey earns about RM3,400 monthly. She works in Kuala Lumpur and temporarily lives with her relative. In addition to paying her transportation and living expenses, Audrey needs to repay her study loan and her parents’ rental, medical, and other expenditures. The spinal correction surgery is substantial; she is still short of RM48,000. Hence, she approached One Hope Charity for assistance.

Considering Audrey’s health and her need to have the surgery, One Hope Charity sent staff to conduct a home visit. After verifying the case, One Hope Charity decided to assist her in raising the surgical expenses she needed.

Audrey and her family agreed to fully authorise One Hope Charity to take charge of the fundraising and collect donations from the well-wishers on their behalf. If you have questions, call One Hope Charity’s hotline at 04-539 9212, 016-419 2192, 019-232 2192, or 018-911 4192.