Zahida Saleem's Story

Zahida Saleem, a 51-year-old woman from Karachi, had been living with pain in the upper right side of her abdomen for nearly a year. Along with the pain, she frequently experienced nausea, indigestion, and occasional vomiting, particularly after eating fatty meals. At first, she believed the discomfort would go away with time, but her symptoms gradually became more severe, making routine household activities increasingly difficult. Hoping to find relief, Zahida consulted a doctor, who prescribed medicines to manage her symptoms. Although the medication provided temporary relief, the pain continued to return. The doctor then advised further investigations, which confirmed that she was suffering from cholelithiasis. To relieve her symptoms and prevent further complications, the doctor recommended laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder.

Affording the surgical expenses was not possible for Zahida’s family. She lives in a modest home with her husband and their two school-going daughters. Her husband works as a driver and earns approximately PKR 25,000 per month, which is the family’s only source of income. Most of the household earnings are spent on food, utility bills, educational expenses, and other daily necessities. Looking for a way to receive the recommended treatment, Zahida contacted Transparent Hands and asked us to register her case.

On June 10, 2026, Zahida was admitted to the Altamash General Hospital, Karachi. Her laparoscopic cholecystectomy was successfully performed by Dr. Abdul Waheed. The procedure removed the gallbladder containing the gallstones that had been causing her prolonged pain and digestive discomfort. After receiving post-operative care and observation, she was discharged in stable condition on June 11, 2026.

Zahida Saleem expressed her gratitude as follows:

“For a long time, I lived with pain that affected my daily life and made even simple tasks difficult. Today, I feel relieved knowing that the source of my suffering has been treated. Your kindness has given me a new beginning, and I will always be grateful to you.”

Today, Zahida is recovering at home.

She and her family extend their deepest gratitude to you for empowering her with cholecystectomy.