A 76-year-old woman with cancer had to shave her head. After leaving the hospital, she hurried to scan her face to buy goods using the State Welfare Card, but the scan failed. She cried in despair but eventually found a kind store that helped her successfully complete the scan. She appeals to generous donors for used wigs.
On 5 Jun 2026 GMT+7, a Facebook user posted a clip showing an elderly woman crying and speaking in a local dialect with joy. She said she could not get her facial photo scanned before, although others could. Previously, she had long hair, but due to illness, she had to shave her head. Upon leaving the hospital, she tried to scan her face to verify her State Welfare Card rights at several shops, but the scan failed. She asked if anyone had wigs until she finally reached the last shop where the scan succeeded, causing her to cry tears of joy.
After the clip was shared widely, many people commented on it.
A reporter later visited the area and found Ms. Plon Phasada, age 76, from Sung Noen Subdistrict, Krasang District, Buriram Province, who appeared in the clip. Ms. Plon said she usually receives 300 baht monthly welfare payments like others. She was very happy to hear that the government added 1,000 baht per month for four months.
However, last month she was diagnosed with cancer, and doctors had to shave her head for chemotherapy. Having just returned from the hospital, she hoped to use her welfare card to buy goods for her grandchildren at home. Yet, facial scans at village shops failed because her face looked different. She asked around for wigs to borrow but found none. Even applying powder did not help the scan pass. Feeling hopeless and heartbroken, she walked home. At the last shop, which was a bit far, the first scan failed, but the second succeeded. She was so happy she couldn’t express it and cried as shown. Now, she wishes to request old wigs from kind donors to wear when scanning to buy goods.
Ms. Sim Ngamchoei, 65, the shop owner, said she saw the elderly woman walking sadly. When asked, the woman said she was hopeless because no shop would accept her facial scan. Ms. Sim offered to find a better spot to scan her face. The first attempt failed, but the second succeeded. Ms. Plon was so happy she could not describe it and cried while speaking. Someone recorded the moment and posted the clip online.