Mao is a 17-year-old farmer - and the youngest of five children - living in Takeo province. Except for one sister who works in a nearby clothing factory, the family cultivates rainy day rice. Mao left school so that he could help his family with the farm work, and he is now learning how to cook, so that he can prepare meals for his family to share.
During a Cambodian holiday last year, Mao fell off his motorbike while navigating a rugged road. He fractured his distal radius and several of his fingers. His parents took him to a local clinic, where he had surgery, and metal pins inserted to allow proper healing. He still has pain and weakness in his hand. In order to assess the progress of his fractures, surgeons need to remove the hardware from his fingers and wrist.
Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, can help. On January 8th, Mao will undergo hardware removal surgery at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, which will cost $304. This procedure will help him to strengthen his wrist and fingers, enabling Mao to work with his parents in the rice paddies, and reduce his risk of infection. Mao and his family need your help to fund this surgery.
Mao said: “I hope that I will have full movement of my hand, and that I will not have any pain or infection.”