Reaksmey is a 15-year-old student from Cambodia. She is the youngest of six siblings. She lives with her siblings and mother in Kampong Thom province. Sadly, her older brother and her father passed away recently in a motor vehicle accident. Her mother sells watermelons at the market, two sisters run a small coffee shop at home, one brother works as a waiter, and another as a motor technician. At home, she enjoys playing with her friends in the village and eats chicken, fish, or pork with rice.
Reaksmey has a developmental disability and is still in kindergarten. She struggles with hearing and cognition and tries to lip-read. When she was about eight months old, Reaksmey had an ear infection. This infection caused both ears’ tympanic membrane, or the eardrum, to perforate. For this reason, Reaksmey experiences recurrent ear discharge, frequent infections, difficulty listening and understanding, and trouble speaking clearly. Her condition affects her ability to hear, causing her to rely on simple lip-reading for communication.
Reaksmey traveled to our medical partner’s care center to receive treatment. On April 1st, 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 $914 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care.
Reaksmey’s mother shared: “We hope Reaksmay will be able to hear more clearly after her operation, and live happily at home.”