Success! Sok from Cambodia raised $1,500 to fund spinal surgery.

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$1,500 raised, $0 to go

$1,500

raised

to go

Sok's story
Sok's update

June 12, 2018

Sok is a girl from Cambodia. She has two sisters and two brothers. She enjoys reading and eating fruit. After school, she likes to play with her neighbors outside and sing.

Sok was born with scoliosis, which is progressing with age, making it difficult to sit in school for long periods, and causing a lot of discomfort. Surgery can help correct the position of her spine, and prevent further worsening of the condition. She needs to undergo a rod expansion to improve her posture and get rid of her back pain.

Surgery is scheduled for June 12 at our medical partner’s care center. Now, her family needs help raising $1,500.

She says, “I hope my back doesn’t hurt so much after surgery and I can return to school.”

Sok is a girl from Cambodia. She has two sisters and two brothers. She enjoys reading and eating fruit. After school, she likes to play with...

Photo of Sok post-operation

June 20, 2018

Sok underwent spinal surgery.

Sok is recovering well from surgery. She is doing light physiotherapy as her back continues to improve. She will continue her exercises at home, and looks forward to getting back to her family and village.

She says, “I am happy with this surgery. Now my back is better than before and I don’t feel pain. Thank you so much for helping me.”

Sok is recovering well from surgery. She is doing light physiotherapy as her back continues to improve. She will continue her exercises at h...

June 12, 2018
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Sok was submitted by Lindsay Bownik, Stakeholder Relations Officer at Children's Surgical Centre.
June 12, 2018
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Sok received 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.
June 17, 2018
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Sok's profile was published to start raising funds.
June 20, 2018
TREATMENT UPDATE
Sok's treatment was successful. Read the update.
August 8, 2018
FULLY FUNDED
Sok's treatment was fully funded.

Funded by 34 donors

Treatment

Spinal Surgery

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $1,500 for Sok'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.

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Chantha is a retired merchant from Preah Vihear province in northern Cambodia. She is 64 years old with three children and five grandchildren. Her husband passed away recently so she moved in with her daughter, who sells clothes in the local market. At home, she likes to cook food for her grandchildren and listen to Buddhist radio. About one year ago, Chantha developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on her own. When Chantha learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for seven hours seeking treatment. On April 18th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Chantha is able to contribute $75 but needs an additional $178 to fund this procedure. She shared, "After surgery, I hope I can see clearly and help more around the house and take care of my grandchildren."

Sok's Timeline

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Funded by 34 donors

Treatment

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.