Sokhoeun from Cambodia raised $450 to fund repair surgery.

100%

$450 raised, $0 to go

$450

raised

to go

Sokhoeun's story
Sokhoeun's update

January 31, 2017

Sokhoeun is a 44-year-old farmer who is married and has two sons and two daughters. He likes to go to his fields, feed his chickens, and watch TV.

In June 2016, Sokhoeun was in a car accident, resulting in a fracture in the tibia of his right leg and wounds on both legs. He underwent an external fixation procedure on his right leg and was hospitalized for one month.

Sokhoeun has now developed an infection on both legs. He is unable to walk without support, and he experiences pain. Sokhoeun heard about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, (CSC), from his next-door neighbor. He traveled for four hours with his wife to reach CSC for treatment.

On February 1, surgeons at CSC will remove the dead bone tissue from Sokhoeun’s left leg as the first step in a series of treatments to allow him to feel better.

CSC is requesting $450, which pays for Sokhoeun’s surgery, surgical and medical supplies, and four nights of hospital stay.

Sokhoeun is a 44-year-old farmer who is married and has two sons and two daughters. He likes to go to his fields, feed his chickens, and wat...

Photo of Sokhoeun post-operation

March 7, 2017

Sokhoeun underwent successful repair surgery.

In addition to performing a debridement procedure in his left leg, surgeons at CSC also performed an open reduction internal fixation procedure to realign his bones and fixate a plate in his tibia to heal the fracture. Following the procedure, he was given pain medication, and he was instructed to keep his left leg elevated to prevent swelling. He had one week of physiotherapy at CSC before returning home. His wound has healed nicely, and he does not experience pain. Sokhoeun is now able to walk more easily than before.

Sokhoeun says, “I can walk properly again. I don’t need anyone to help me. I am happy that I can farm again.”

In addition to performing a debridement procedure in his left leg, surgeons at CSC also performed an open reduction internal fixation proced...

January 31, 2017
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Sokhoeun was submitted by Lindsay Bownik, Stakeholder Relations Officer at Children's Surgical Centre.
February 1, 2017
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Sokhoeun 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.
February 3, 2017
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Sokhoeun's profile was published to start raising funds.
March 7, 2017
TREATMENT UPDATE
We received an update on Sokhoeun. Read the update.
May 13, 2017
FULLY FUNDED
Sokhoeun's treatment was fully funded.

Funded by 11 donors

Treatment

Excision and Flap Surgery

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $450 for Sokhoeun's treatment

Hospital Fees

$105

Medical Staff

$345

Medication

Supplies

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Flap surgery is used for large or complex wound repair. The wound may be too large to be closed directly or may not be amenable to grafting due to poor vascularization. A flap may also be favorable to grafting due to function or aesthetics. Such a wound can be caused by trauma, cancer, or burns, which may bring about disfigurement, pain, and exposure to infection.

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

Large wounds are disfiguring, and patients may face stigmatization and social rejection. Wounds will be prone to recurrent infections, which may cause further damage to the underlying tissue. Depending on the site of the wound, there may be functional loss and the patient may lose the ability to perform tasks independently.

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

For many Cambodians, the primary mode of transport is the motorcycle. Coupled with unregulated traffic and dangerous driving practices, motorcycle accidents are very common. Soft tissue injuries arising from these accidents are often large and complex, with flap surgery being the best approach to avoid skin necrosis or infection.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

Analysis of the wound location, vascularity of the wound bed, comorbidities, and cosmetic and functional significance must first be performed. Flaps can then be selected accordingly, with local and regional flaps being preferred over distant pedicled or free flaps. Prior to the skin transfer, debridement may be needed to remove dead or damaged skin. Local and regional flaps use adjacent tissue that is mobilized then advanced or pivoted into place. Distant flaps transfer tissue from a different part of the body and can be pedicled to preserve its original blood supply. The blood supply is cut off in free flaps and therefore will need to be joined to the local blood supply via microsurgery. Flap surgery can take anywhere from a short procedure for the most basic local flap, to many hours for the complex microsurgery associated with free flaps.

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

Flap surgery allows the wound to heal much faster, avoiding infection risk and a long wait for the defect to develop scar tissue. In flap reconstructive surgery of an area of the body more aesthetically sensitive, such as the face, disfigurement is reduced and patients feel more confident.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

The most common cause of flap failure is vascular compromise. Loss of blood supply to the flap could lead to partial flap loss or even total flap necrosis. In the latter, the flap must be removed. Other complications include haematoma, seroma, surgical site infection, and complications specific to the donor site. However, all these complications can be avoided with regular post-op checks of the flap and acting quickly on any foreboding signs.

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

Flaps and other reconstructive surgical procedures are accessible at local clinics and hospitals at a cost, and patients also often turn to traditional healers. Inadequate treatment or poorly designed flaps can contribute to unnecessary complications and prolonged suffering. Patients travel as much as twelve hours to reach Children's Surgical Centre for free surgery, arriving by bus, motorbike, or taxi.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Regular dressings with gauze and bandages can take many months and has a significant risk of infection, which may result in cutting away more tissue to treat it. Traditional medicine is available, but with unsuccessful results.

Meet another patient you can support

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Kyaw is a three-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his mother, grandmother, and uncle in a village in Karen State, Burma. Kyaw’s mother looks after him and his grandmother while his uncle is a cow farmer. The family also raises chickens and pigs and sells them when they need money. In September 2023, Kyaw accidentally fell on a tree stump while he was playing with his friends. Kyaw was in pain and was brought to a nearby hospital where they found that he sustained an injury to his right kidney. However, due to insufficient equipment at the hospital, Kyaw could not be treated there. Kyaw is not comfortable sitting, so mostly he lies down. He has difficulty passing urine, his stomach is painful, and he cries a lot. Doctors want Kyaw to undergo a CT scan, a procedure in which x-ray images taken from several angles are combined to produce cross-sectional images of the body. This scan will hopefully help doctors diagnose his condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $693 to cover the cost of Kyaw's CT scan and care, scheduled for April 4th. Kyaw’s mother said, “I felt hopeless when I learned that Kyaw needed further treatment in Chiang Mai because I have no money to afford his treatment. However, when I heard that there are donors and an organisation who will support my son’s treatment, I was very happy. Thank you so much for your support even though you have never seen us.”

Anne, a seven-month-old baby from Kati, is adored by her parents and three siblings. Anne was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. She previously underwent surgery to correct the condition, but the surgery was unsuccessful. She requires a shunt to drain excess fluid from the brain and reduce intercranial pressure. Without treatment, Anne will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, Project Medishare, is helping Anne receive treatment at Hospital Bernard Mevs, the only site in the country where this care is currently available. On April 10th, surgeons will perform a ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) surgery, giving an opportunity for Anne to grow into a strong and healthy young girl. Now, Anne's family needs help to fund this $957 procedure. Anne's mother says: "I hope this surgery will allow my daughter to grow up healthy"

Tha is a 63-year-old grandfather. He is a rice farmer and lives in Kampong Speu province with his wife and one daughter. They have two sons, five daughters, and six grandchildren. His wife watches most of the grandchildren and makes sure they get to school. His daughter works in a garment factory and helps with cooking. At home, Tha enjoys listening to radio news or monks' prayers. Five months ago, Tha developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him blurry vision and difficulty seeing in bright or low light. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so is not able to go places on his own. When Tha learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for two hours seeking treatment. On January 24th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Tha said: "I feel bad and it is hard to even see the faces of my family clearly, I hope after surgery my eye can see better and I can go back to growing rice."

Sokhoeun's Timeline

Funded by 11 donors

Treatment

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.