A 71-year-old mother of three is fighting against time and pain as her family appeals to the public to help fund urgent knee replacement surgery that could determine whether she walks again or spends the rest of her life confined to a bed.
Chandra Wati, a former Taveuni farmer now living in Suva, requires $30,000 for a bilateral knee replacement surgery scheduled for March 27 in India. Medical specialists have warned that delaying the procedure could result in permanent loss of mobility and serious secondary health complications.
Her niece, Bindiya Rashni, said decades of hard labour in farming had taken a severe toll on Ms Wati’s body.
“She worked the farm alone for years, every day her feet were in the water, in the mud. Now, at a certain age, her knees are giving up. According to the medical report, the space in her knee joint has become very small,” Ms Rashni said.
Medical reports confirm advanced degeneration in both knees, with tissue no longer regenerating. Ms Wati is now semi-bedridden and relies on strong daily medication just to manage the pain.
“It’s a stabbing pain – like the bone is eating the other bone, when the pain hits, you can see it in her breathing. Her movements are completely restricted. She must hold onto the walls just to get to the washroom.”
She said Ms Wati’s life had been marked by hardship. In 2003, she lost her husband and eldest son within a year. Despite the loss, she continued farming to raise her remaining children — two daughters and a son — ensuring they received an education.
More recently, her children pooled their savings to support her through cancer treatment in India. The family says that effort has exhausted their financial capacity.
“All her children collected money for her cancer treatment, that’s why we are now pleading with the public for help.”
She said Ms Wati remained on medication related to both pain management and her cancer recovery.
Ms Wati’s daughter, Shoma Nand, said immobility posed serious risks to her mother’s overall health.
“If she doesn’t have movement, one illness will lead to another,” Ms Nand said.
“We don’t want her to be stuck in a bed for the rest of her life.
“We are asking for her independence, to be able to stand, to bathe, to go to the washroom on her own.”
Members of the public who wish to assist may make contributions directly to Chandra Wati’s medical fund. Donations can be deposited into her BSP account (Account name: Chandrawati; Account number: 8253227; Swift code: BOSPFJFJ). Contributions can also be made via mobile platforms — M-PAiSA: 9479973 or MyCash: 7698200.
