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Success! Ath from Cambodia raised $253 to fund cataract surgery so she can live a more independent life.

Ath
100%
  • $253 raised, $0 to go
$253
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Ath's treatment was fully funded on November 29, 2022.
June 14, 2022

Ath is a 72-year-old retired farmer with one son, three daughters, and twenty-five grandchildren. Ath’s husband passed away a long time ago, and she lives near her daughter. In her free time, Ath likes to listen to the monks pray on the radio.

One year ago, Ath developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her photophobia, blurry vision, and tearing. Consequently, she has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she cannot go out on her own.

When Ath learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On June 14th, doctors will perform cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. CSC is requesting $253 to fund this procedure.

Ath says, “I hope I can see well enough to take care of myself well and go places on my own.”

Ath is a 72-year-old retired farmer with one son, three daughters, and twenty-five grandchildren. Ath's husband passed away a long time ago,...

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Ath's Timeline

  • June 14, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Ath was submitted by Sieng Heng at Children's Surgical Centre.

  • June 14, 2022
    TREATMENT SCHEDULED

    Ath was scheduled to receive 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 16, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Ath's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • November 29, 2022
    FULLY FUNDED

    Ath's treatment was fully funded.

  • TODAY
    AWAITING UPDATE

    Awaiting Ath's treatment update from Children's Surgical Centre.

Funded by 2 donors

Funded by 2 donors

Treatment
Cataract - One Eye
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $253 for Ath's treatment
Hospital Fees
$36
Medical Staff
$174
Medication
$0
Supplies
$43
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients with cataracts experience decreased vision, discomfort, and irritation. Cataracts occur when the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, causing functional blindness. These changes in the lens commonly occur with increasing age and therefore affect elderly people. Cataracts can also be congenital or traumatic.

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

The decreased vision from cataracts can cause functional blindness. This makes it difficult for the patient to conduct daily activities. Patients often need a family member to help guide and care for them. If the patient is elderly, this often affects a young child in the family. When a grandmother needs help getting around, a young child is often assigned to help with her daily tasks. That child cannot go to school.

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

In many countries in the developing world, surgical services are inadequate. Cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness globally. Even where surgical services are available, barriers to surgery remain, including cost, shortage of human resources, poor infrastructure, and limited awareness about access to available services.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

Cataract surgery is the most common surgery performed worldwide. Surgeons remove the cloudy lens and place a clear lens implant in its place.

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

A patient's vision can improve to 20/20 within one day after the surgery.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Cataract surgery is highly effective and carries a low risk.

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

Cataract surgery is available in most areas of Cambodia. However, free surgery is not as widely available.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Some debilitating effects of cataracts can be improved with glasses. When the cataract becomes mature, however, the only definitive treatment is surgical.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Su

Su is 10-year-old girl who lives in Thailand. Both of her parents work for a community based organization helping others in their area. In her free time, Su likes to draw pictures and play with her friends. Su was born with clubfeet and a dislocated hip. She received corrective surgery in Chiang Mai with the help of our medical partner BCMF after she was born. During her last visit to the hospital when she was young, the doctor told her mother that they only had to return to the hospital when she outgrew her clubfeet correction shoes. However, her parents could never bring her back. In additional to financial constraints, their legal documents expired, and later when they had legal documents, they could not go to Chiang Mai due to covid-19 travel restrictions. In June 2022, Su started to experience pain in her right foot whenever she walked more than 10 minutes. She also experienced pain in her right hip for the first time when she walked. The doctor at Mae Sot Hospital diagnosed her with a dislocated hip and referred her to the larger hospital Chiang Mai for further treatment. In October an MRI was performed for Su and it was determined that she may need two surgeries: one for hrt hip and another for her clubfeet condition. The first surgery is for a hip replacement and the doctor scheduled her for surgery on November 25th so she can be out of pain as quickly as possible. Her family needs $1500 for her hip replacement surgery. Su's father said, "I am hopeful for my daughter to receive surgery soon. After surgery, I hope that she will be able to walk like other children and she will not be shy when she grows up. Now, when she goes to school, some of her friends tease her that she cannot walk properly like other children."

78% funded

78%funded
$1,183raised
$317to go

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.