Sophy from Cambodia raised $1,500 to fund spinal fusion surgery.

100%

$1,500 raised, $0 to go

$1,500

raised

to go

Sophy's story
Sophy's update

September 4, 2017

Sophy is a 53-year-old man from Cambodia. Two years ago, Sophy began feeling some pain in his lower back. He visited a hospital where he was treated for tuberculosis and diagnosed with spondylodycitis, an infection of the spine.

Sophy still feels pain in his lower back, which makes it difficult for him to work and walk. Seeking further treatment, Sophy was referred to our medical partner’s care center, Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, where he was told he would undergo a spinal fusion and laminectomy procedure to treat his condition.

Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, is asking for $1,500 to cover the cost of Sophy’s surgery.

Sophy is a 53-year-old man from Cambodia. Two years ago, Sophy began feeling some pain in his lower back. He visited a hospital where he was...

October 6, 2017

Sophy did not receive treatment as expected.

His surgery was postponed by three months. At that time, he will be re-eligible for Watsi funding.

His surgery was postponed by three months. At that time, he will be re-eligible for Watsi funding....

September 4, 2017
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Sophy was submitted by Lindsay Bownik, Stakeholder Relations Officer at Children's Surgical Centre.
September 5, 2017
TREATMENT SCHEDULED
Sophy was scheduled to receive treatment at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre in Cambodia. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.
September 18, 2017
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Sophy's profile was published to start raising funds.
October 6, 2017
FUNDING ENDED
Sophy is no longer raising funds.
October 6, 2017
TREATMENT UPDATE
Sophy's treatment did not happen. Read the update.

Funded by 22 donors

Treatment

Spinal Surgery

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $1,500 for Sophy's treatment

Hospital Fees

$160

Medical Staff

$722

Medication

Supplies

$610

Labs

Radiology

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients experiencing severe back pain may also experience fever and chills, unexplained weight loss, sudden bowel and/or bladder incontinence, and severe, continuous abdominal pain. Back pain may be caused by vertebrae, the small bones of the spine. The back conditions for which surgery is recommended include degenerative disk disease, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, fracture, infection, and tumor.

What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

Patients with severe back pain experience difficulty walking, sleeping, sitting, riding a motorcycle, working, going to school, and carrying out everyday tasks. If the pain affects a patient's ability to work or go to school, the patient will be unable to earn money to support his or her family or continue his or her education. Patients may experience discomfort and difficulty breathing.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

Cambodian culture emphasizes the importance of working hard and earning money to support the family. When a patient is unable to work, he or she may feel helpless or may experience financial difficulty.

Process
Impact on patient's life
Risks and side-effects
Accessibility
Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

There are several types of spinal surgeries performed to treat back pain: Spinal fusion: This is the most common surgery for back pain and is used to keep the spine stable after injury, infection, or a tumor. The surgeon joins the spinal bones (vertebrae) together. In a spinal fusion for scoliosis, the surgeon attaches rods, hooks, wires, or screws to the curved part of the backbone to straighten and stabilize the spine. Laminectomy: In this procedure, the surgeon removes parts of the bone, bone spurs, or ligaments in the back. This relieves pressure on spinal nerves and can ease pain or weakness. Foraminotomy: The surgeon cuts bone at the sides of the vertebrae to widen the space through which nerves exit the spine, relieving pressure on the nerves and easing pain. Diskectomy: A disk, the cushion that separates the vertebrae, can slip out of place, pressing on a spinal nerve and causing back pain. In a diskectomy, the surgeon removes all or part of the disk to relieve pain. Disk replacement: A surgeon removes the damaged spinal disk and inserts an artificial one between the vertebrae. Interlaminar implant: The surgeon implants a U-shaped device between two vertebrae in the lower back. This device helps keep the space between them open and eases pressure on the spinal nerves. Bone grafting will also be performed to support the spine and stimulate bone healing.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

The patient will be able to work or go to school without pain.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

As with any operation, there are potential risks associated with spinal surgery. These include: Infection: Antibiotics are regularly given to the patient before, during, and after surgery to lessen the risk of infection. Bleeding: A certain amount of bleeding is expected, but this is not typically significant. Pain at bone graft site: A small percentage of patients will experience persistent pain at the bone graft site. Recurring symptoms: Some patients may experience a recurrence of their original symptoms. Nerve damage: It is possible that the nerves or blood vessels may be injured during these operations. These complications are very rare. Blood clots: Another uncommon complication is the formation of blood clots in the legs.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

Spinal surgery is not widely offered in Cambodia, especially for low-income patients who cannot afford treatment. Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) provides this procedure free of charge. Patients travel to CSC by bus, taxi, or motorbike from all over Cambodia.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Patients that do not seek a surgical procedure may try exercises and medication. However, these forms of treatment may not be effective.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Enzo is a 7-month-old infant from Haiti. He lives with his parents and his older brother. He has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure, resulting in increasing head circumference. Without treatment, Enzo will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is requesting $957 to cover the cost of surgery for Enzo at Hospital Bernard Mevs. This is the only site in the country where this care is currently available and the procedure is scheduled to take place on February 27th. This critical treatment will place a shunt to drain the excess fluid from Enzo's brain to reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve his quality of life. With proper treatment, Enzo will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young boy. The family is hoping this surgery will be successful so that he will be able to grow up healthy.

Sopheany is a 59-year-old grandmother who needs eye surgery to restore her sight. She lived alone in Kratie province since the untimely death of her husband eight years ago, but recently moved in with her youngest son, a rice farmer. Fortunately, she has five sons, two daughters, and 13 grandchildren who live in the province. They fill her life with joy and keep her busy. At home, she enjoys listening to music and local news. Sopheany, a rice farmer, now stays indoors due to poor eyesight. Three months ago, Sopheany developed a cataract in her right eye, causing her an intolerance of bright or low sunlight. She describes her eyesight as seeing through very dirty glasses and is frustrated she cannot recognize the faces of her grandchildren when they visit. When Sopheany learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for eight hours seeking treatment. On March 5th, doctors will perform small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Sopheany said: "I hope after surgery my eye can see better and I can go outside again."

Elizabeth, who is seven months old, lives with her parents and two older brothers in a small house in Haiti, that they share with other relatives. Both of her parents are farmers. Elizabeth has a cardiac condition called atrioventricular septal defect. A large hole exists in the center of her heart, which affects all four of the heart's chambers. Blood leaks through this hole without passing through her lungs to obtain oxygen, leaving Elizabeth weak and unable to gain weight. Elizabeth will fly to the Dominican Republic to receive treatment. As she is too small and weak to undergo major surgery to completely correct her condition, on April 9th she will have a procedure, during which the doctors at Hospital CEDIMAT will implant a shunt, that will allow oxygenated blood to circulate through her body. This will stabilize Elizabeth's condition so that she can continue to grow and gain weight until she can more safely undergo a complete repair in several years. While another organization is contributing money to pay for Elizabeth's surgery, our medical partner, International Cardiac Alliance, is seeking your help to fund the $1,500 needed to cover the costs of Elizabeth's pre and post-operative care and for the documents and travel costs for Elizabeth, her family, and the social workers that will accompany the family. Elizabeth's mother said: "Our daughter's heart condition has been very stressful for our family, and we are very thankful to know that there may be a way to solve it!"

Sophy's Timeline

Funded by 22 donors

Treatment

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.