{
  "id": 17015004,
  "title": "Woman seeks RM35k to undergo spinal surgery",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/woman-seeks-rm35k-to-undergo-spinal-surgery",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-29T05:30:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1566125/woman-seeks-rm35k-undergo-spinal-surgery"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Penang woman Tan Swee Yee seeks RM35,510.50 to undergo spinal surgery for her severe scoliosis. Her condition worsened from a 40-degree curvature at age 13 to 70 degrees, causing severe back pain, numbness in her left leg, and difficulty walking. Her spinal curvature was initially detected by her elder sister, who suspected scoliosis. After achieving a weight loss target, Tan was advised to undergo tumour removal surgery on October 30, after which doctors will determine the next steps. The surgery's cost covers only the orthopaedic implants, leaving Tan without income while travelling between Penang and Kuala Lumpur for medical appointments. Tan's family circumstances include her father's death in 2021 and her visually impaired mother, whose elder sister works a factory job earning RM2,030 monthly. Despite financial struggles, Tan hopes to recover and support her family, expressing gratitude to the Media Prima-NSTP Humanitarian Fund and public contributors.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: A 24-year-old woman from Penang needs RM35,510.50 to pay for orthopaedic implants required for spinal fusion surgery after her adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) progressed to a 70-degree spinal curvature.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}