Help Skyler's Girlfriend Ying Get Urgent Surgery

Please Help Our Son Skyler’s Girlfriend Get Urgent Surgery

Dear friends, family, and kind-hearted strangers,

We are reaching out to ask for your support in helping a very special person in our lives. Our son’s girlfriend, “Ying,” a hardworking young woman living in Thailand, urgently needs cervical endoscopic discectomy surgery. She’s been a beloved part of our family for the past two years, and we’ve seen firsthand how strong, driven, and kind she is.

Last year, we had the privilege of introducing her to the USA, and it was a joy to see her experience our culture (and snow!) and meet extended family and friends. Unfortunately, after returning to Thailand, her health took a sudden turn. She began experiencing increasing numbness and pain in her hands and arms, which was then exacerbated by a bad fall. This has since made it impossible for her to work or live a normal life.

Recent MRI imaging confirmed the diagnosis: a C5/C6 disc herniation causing severe spinal stenosis and compressing her spinal cord. Her doctors believe that years of hard physical labor—work she took on to support herself and her family—may have contributed to this condition. Despite her strength and resilience, the toll of these physically demanding jobs has left her in urgent need of surgical intervention.

The only long-term solution is surgery, but the two options available to her are vastly different. In Thailand’s public healthcare system, the wait time for surgery is over a YEAR (I can’t imagine waiting that long), and the procedure is invasive. Public hospitals would completely remove the damaged disc and fuse the affected parts of her spine, significantly limiting her mobility and increasing recovery time by months. By contrast, a private hospital can perform a minimally invasive cervical endoscopic discectomy right away, preserving her spinal mobility and allowing for a quicker recovery. The cost for the private surgery and all other related expenses, however, is $8,000—an amount that is certainly reasonable by US standards but completely out of reach for her. To put it in perspective, for most Thai citizens this amount is more than a year’s salary.

A little about her:

She has always been a hardworking and independent person—I don’t know many people who learn near-perfect English in their 20's just by watching the shows Friends and Harry Potter! After earning an engineering degree in Thailand, she was unable to get a well-paying job in her homeland, so she worked overseas in Australia doing several odd jobs for a few years to support herself and her family back in Thailand. Even when faced with challenges, she persevered with determination and optimism. But now, this health crisis has left her unable to work or pursue her dreams.

Why this means so much to me (Cheri):

Years ago, I found myself in a difficult situation, needing parathyroid surgery but unable to afford it. I was incredibly fortunate to have people in my life who generously gave to help me get the care I needed. That kindness changed my life and gave me a second chance. I’ve never forgotten how grateful I was, and now I feel compelled to pay it forward by helping someone else in need. I know how transformative this help can be, and I’m hoping we can all come together to make the same kind of impact for her.

How you can help:

This minimally invasive surgery will relieve her pain, restore the use of her hands/arms, prevent further deterioration/nerve damage, and allow her to recover without the severe limitations of a spinal fusion. Without it, her condition will continue to worsen, and her ability to work or live independently will remain at risk. We want to help her get this surgery as soon as possible (as soon as she has funds she can book within a week) so she can regain her health, independence, and the ability to pursue her dreams once more.

We are hoping to raise $8,000 to cover the cost of her surgery and related expenses. Every donation, no matter the size, will bring us closer to helping her heal. If you’re unable to donate, sharing this campaign with your friends and family would mean the world to us.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read her story. Your kindness and generosity will help her reclaim her future and her quality of life.

With gratitude,

Keith and Cheri Mencke