Sarith is a 14-year-old student from Cambodia. She is the oldest child in a family of five who live in Siem Riep. Her family farms and sells crops, but they also do daily wage labor when they are not farming. Sarith is in grade six, and her favorite subject of study at school is mathematics. She wants to run the farm business and improve it when she grows up.
One year ago, Sarith had an ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in both ears to perforate. For this reason, Sarith experiences hearing loss, infection, occasional tinnitus, and constant irritation. Her family has spent a considerable amount of money paying for treatments for Sarith’s ears, but nothing yet has been effective. She has found it difficult to participate in schooling with her reduced hearing, and her parents are worried that her condition will worsen.
Sarith traveled to our medical partner’s care center to receive treatment. On June 2nd, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in both ears. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforations. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, is requesting $913 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care.
Sarith said, “The itchy feeling in my ears is always there and it makes me crazy, I hope that it will go away soon and I can feel calm.”