Watsi

Success! Makara from Cambodia raised $696 to fund a brachial plexus repair surgery so he can use his arm.

100%

$696 raised, $0 to go

$696

raised

to go

Fully funded

Makara's treatment was fully funded on July 17, 2021.

Makara's story
Makara's update

Photo of Makara post-operation

July 26, 2021

Makara underwent a brachial plexus repair surgery so he can use his arm.

Makara successfully underwent a nerve surgery to repair his left arm. Although his recovery may take up to six months as his nerves regenerate, Makara is thankful that there is hope for a full recovery. The doctors are also hopeful and will track his improvements over the coming months. This treatment will help him tremendously with the job hunting process in the future.

His wife shares how important this procedure is for their family, “Makara’s life will change because he will be able to work with his left hand again. It has been hard on our small family with the pandemic and no work, now we have hope again.”

Makara successfully underwent a nerve surgery to repair his left arm. Although his recovery may take up to six months as his nerves regenera...

June 21, 2021

Makara shared, “I hope this surgery can help me return to work in the future so I can support my family. My life will change if I can use my arm again.”

Makara is a 31-year-old man who has been married for four years and has a three-year-old daughter. Makara’s wife works in a garment factory near their home in the province.

In April 2021, Makara was in a motor vehicle accident that caused paralysis of his left arm. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his left side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. He is unable to lift his arm and he cannot work.

Makara traveled to our medical partner’s care center to receive treatment. On June 21st, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he will be able to use his arm normally again. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, is requesting $696 to fund this procedure.

Makara shared, "I hope this surgery can help me return to work in the future so I can support my family. My life will change if I can use my...

Submitted by

Learn more

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

Makara's Timeline

June 21, 2021
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Makara was submitted by Sieng Heng at Children's Surgical Centre.
June 21, 2021
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Makara 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.
June 22, 2021
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Makara's profile was published to start raising funds.
July 17, 2021
FULLY FUNDED
Makara's treatment was fully funded.
July 26, 2021
TREATMENT UPDATE
Makara's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Share Makara's story

Funded by 10 donors

Treatment

Brachial Plexus Injury Surgery

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $696 for Makara's treatment

Hospital Fees

$87

Medical Staff

$561

Medication

Supplies

$40

Labs

Radiology

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Symptoms of brachial plexus injury (BPI) vary on the severity and location of the injury, but include muscle weakness, loss of sensation, pain, and paralysis. BPI can cause neuropathic pain with damage to the spinal cord and can be long-lasting, with effects such as burning numbness.

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

The impact of a brachial plexus injury can range in severity; some patients may experience weakness or great pain, others may be paralyzed in their shoulder and upper arm. This can make day-to-day tasks difficult and impair quality of life.

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

Motorcycle collisions are the most common cause of brachial plexus injury, and are, unfortunately, an exceedingly common occurrence in Cambodia.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

Treatment for brachial plexus injury can involve nerve repair, nerve grafting, nerve transfer, or tendon and muscle transfers depending on the location and type of injury, and the amount of time since the injury occurred. A nerve repair involves reattaching a severed nerve; nerve graft is a procedure that takes a healthy nerve from another part of the body and transplants it to the injured nerve to guide regrowth; a nerve transfer is a procedure that cuts a donor nerve and connects it to the injured nerve when there is no functioning nerve stump to attach a graft. Nerve regeneration occurs approximately at a rate of 1 mm/day, and so recovery from a brachial plexus injury can take months for small improvements. Physical therapy during this time is important to prevent stiffness, contractures, or atrophy and increase the chances of regaining good movement in the affected limb.

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

While BPI surgery may not restore full movement to a patient, it can greatly increase the patient’s ability to use the affected limb and reduce the pain of the injury.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

BPI surgery is complicated and risks include infection as well as failure to restore movement, which would require further surgery.

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

Surgery to treat brachial plexus injury can be very complex and not widely performed. Surgical treatment in Cambodia can be expensive and hard to access. Patients will travel for hours by car, motocycle, and bus to receive free surgery at CSC.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Brachial plexus injury can have a range of severity; some patients may be able to be treated by splinting or physical therapy, but serious cases require surgical intervention. These types of injuries do not have alternatives to improving movement and functionality.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Bora is a rice farmer from Kampot province, known for its famous Kampot pepper. She has three sons, one daughter, and two grandchildren. Currently, she lives with her husband who is also a rice farmer. In her free time, she likes to grow vegetables around her home to supplement the family diet and sell them at the market. About one year ago, Bora developed chronic tearing in her eyes. It is difficult for her to see well, and her vision has become blurry. She is unable to perform daily activities due to her vision and feels poorly. Fortunately, doctors from our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. Her nasal passageways are not properly draining tear liquid from her eyes, and she has also developed polyps - non-cancerous growths in the lining of the nasal passage. This tear duct build-up can lead to infection. Bora has been diagnosed with bilateral lacrimal sac obstruction and needs a polypectomy and dacryocystorhinostomy, which will be performed on January 19th. She now needs help to pay for the $397 procedure, which will include the surgery, hospitalization, and her medications. Bora shared: "I hope after surgery my both eyes will stop tearing, and I will able to easily to do all my work and see everything better than before."

25% funded

25%funded

$100raised

$297to go

Vichea is a 37-year-old soft drink seller from Cambodia. He is married and has two daughters and one son. When he is not working, Vichea enjoys playing with his small son and helping his wife at home. When he was six, Vichea had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. Because of this, Vichea experiences hearing loss, discharge, and pain. It is difficult for him to communicate with others, and the pain and discharge disrupts his sleep. The medications to alleviate his symptoms are expensive and have not treated the problem. Fortunately, our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), is helping Vichea receive treatment. He traveled to CSC's care center where, on November 16th, he will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in his right ear. During the procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Now, he needs help raising $926 to fund his procedure and care. Vichea shared, "I hope my hearing improves and my ear heals."

51% funded

51%funded

$474raised

$452to go

SokKea is a 48-year-old traditional Khmer noodle seller. She was widowed twenty years ago, and now lives with her married son, who is a garment factory worker. At home, she likes to do housework and to take care of her grandchildren. Many years ago, SokKea developed nasal polyps, which are noncancerous growths in the lining of the nasal passage. For this reason, she experiences difficulty breathing. She frequently has a runny nose, and sneezes constantly. She tried different medications that she purchased at her local pharmacy, but none of them has been able to alleviate her symptoms. There are many times when she doesn't feel well enough to work, which puts a strain on the family's finances. SokKea learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, and sought their help. Doctors diagnosed her with a deviated septum, in addition to the nasal polyps. She is now scheduled to undergo a nasal polypectomy on December 19th at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. After the polyps have been removed, SokKea should be able to breathe more easily. Now, she needs your help to fund this $319 procedure. SokKea said: "I hope after surgery I won't have any more pain in my nose, and I can breathe easily."

4% funded

4%funded

$15raised

$304to go