Success! Ravuth from Cambodia raised $925 to fund ear surgery so he can hear well and do his best in school.

100%

$925 raised, $0 to go

$925

raised

to go

Ravuth's story
Ravuth's update

January 17, 2022

Ravuth is a bright student in the 4th grade. He’s the youngest in his family and has three older siblings. When not studying, Ravuth likes to play football, watch TV and play games with his friends from school.

Six weeks ago, Ravuth had a severe ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. Ravuth now experiences ear discharge, pain, fevers, and hearing loss. It is difficult to listen and he feels shy because he doesn’t understand the conversation. He has frequently been absent from class and his mother is worried that he might be held back in school.

Ravuth’s family traveled to our medical partner’s care center to receive treatment. On January 18th, he will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in his left ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, is requesting $925 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care.

Ravuth said: “I hope my hearing will improve and I can go back to school!”

Ravuth is a bright student in the 4th grade. He's the youngest in his family and has three older siblings. When not studying, Ravuth likes t...

Photo of Ravuth post-operation

February 9, 2022

Ravuth underwent ear surgery so he can hear well and do his best in school.

Ravuth had a successful surgery to repair the damage caused by his ear infections. He was able to return home the following day with instructions that would help decrease any risk of infection. He’ll return to the hospital in a month for a post-operative hearing test, but already has no more ear pain or discharge. Ravuth is excited that he no longer has to miss school, and can now participate in all of his classes without having trouble hearing.

Ravuth’s mother said: “We are happy that our son can hear well again, and won’t suffer from infections and feel bad. He is much happier now. Thank you to those who helped him to have this surgery. It will make a big difference in his life.”

Ravuth had a successful surgery to repair the damage caused by his ear infections. He was able to return home the following day with instruc...

January 17, 2022
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Ravuth was submitted by Sieng Heng at Children's Surgical Centre.
January 18, 2022
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Ravuth 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.
January 19, 2022
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Ravuth's profile was published to start raising funds.
January 29, 2022
FULLY FUNDED
Ravuth's treatment was fully funded.
February 9, 2022
TREATMENT UPDATE
Ravuth's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 20 donors

Treatment

Mastoidectomy

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $925 for Ravuth's treatment

Hospital Fees

$153

Medical Staff

$771

Medication

Supplies

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

A mastoidectomy is a surgical procedure that removes diseased mastoid air cells. A patient who needs a mastoidectomy will experience hearing loss, chronic ear infections, and possibly cholesteatoma—an abnormal skin growth in the middle ear. Cholesteatomas cause hearing loss and ear discharge. The cholesteatoma will erode bones in the middle ear and can eventually expose the brain and cause death in complicated, untreated cases.

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

Patients live with hearing loss and chronic ear infections.

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

Treated incorrectly or left untreated, an infected mastoid bone can cause hearing loss, persistent ear discharge, meningitis, temporary dizziness, and temporary loss of taste. Due to poor hygiene and limited education in rural Cambodia, patients are likely to experience complications and receive the incorrect treatment.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

A mastoidectomy is performed with the patient asleep under general anesthesia. Surgeons will perform one of several different types of mastoidectomy, depending on the amount of infection present. These include: • Simple (or closed) mastoidectomy: The operation is performed through the ear or through an incision behind the ear. The surgeon opens the mastoid bone and removes the infected air cells. The eardrum is incised to drain the middle ear. Topical antibiotics are placed in the ear. • Radical mastoidectomy: This procedure removes the most bone and is usually performed for extensive spread of a cholesteatoma. The eardrum and middle ear structures may be completely removed. Usually the stapes, the "stirrup"-shaped bone, is spared to preserve some hearing. • Modified radical mastoidectomy: In this procedure, some middle ear bones are left in place, and the eardrum is rebuilt by tympanoplasty. After surgery, the wound is stitched up around a drainage tube, and a dressing is applied.

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

This treatment will relieve chronic ear infections, hearing loss, and other symptoms caused by the infected mastoid bone.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

This treatment is highly effective, but it poses risks if performed by an inexperienced surgeon. The operation is near the facial nerve and the brain, so surgeons must be careful when operating. At Children's Surgical Centre, ENT surgeons only operate on cases about which they feel confident.

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

Care for this condition is not easily accessible in Phnom Penh. Only one other hospital performs ENT surgery, but care at that hospital is expensive. The ENT surgeons at our medical partner have a proven record of successful cases.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Once the infection stops responding to antibiotics, surgery is the only option.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Vichheka is a 26-year-old from Cambodia. Along with caring for her daughter, Vichheka and her husband sell grocery products from their home. When Vichheka was a toddler, she fell off the front stoop of her home, possibly creating a left hip deformity. Her parents brought her to Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) for examination; it was decided that surgery was not needed at the time. Since then, she has suffered from frequent spasms down her left leg, made worse by prolonged periods of standing while working. A relative suggested she return to CSC to determine if there was a solution to her ongoing pain. Now doctors would like Vichheka to undergo contracture release surgery on her rectus femoris, a muscle in the upper leg to finally heal her condition. After recovery, Vichheka should be in less pain. Now, she needs $572 to fund her procedure. Vichheka shared "I hope I can walk easier with no more pain after this surgery, so I can help my husband and raise my child."

Gerson is a four-month-old baby. He is the second-born child in a family of two children. Gerson's mother stays at home while his father engages in casual day jobs to earn a living. Gerson was born with clubfoot on both his legs. His feet are twisted inward and downward, which requires treatment at an early stage. This will make it difficult for Gerson to crawl, walk, and wear shoes. Fortunately, Gerson's family traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, Kafika House. There, the team will begin clubfoot treatment on April 5th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $935 to fund Gerson's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to wear shoes and will reduce stress on his feet when he starts walking. Gerson’s mother Says: “Please help my son. I hope he finishes his treatment and his feet get better to grow up and be successful.”

Two-month-old Dayana is the first child of her mother, who is a food vendor, and her father, who works in construction. She battles a condition called coarctation of the aorta. One of Dayana's major blood vessels connected to her heart is too narrow, this causes blood to back up into her heart, which can lead to heart failure. Fortunately there is a treatment than can cure her condition. During surgery, doctors will expand the aorta to allow blood to flow normally. She is scheduled for treatment on February 8th and our medical partner International Cardiac Alliance is helping her family to raise $1,500 to support the cost of care. Dayana's mother says, "We have been very afraid for our daughter's life ever since she was born, and so we are so glad to have this opportunity!"

Ravuth's Timeline

Share Ravuth's story

Funded by 20 donors

Treatment

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.