Meet Sithorn, a 14-year-old girl who lives with her parents and three siblings in Prey Veng province in Cambodia. Her father is a construction worker, while her mother works in a clothing factory. Her oldest brother is a waiter, while her younger siblings are in primary school.
Sithorn dropped out of eighth grade at the start of the school year, due to back pain, which made it difficult for her to sit comfortably at her desk. She now stays at home to help her mother with cooking, cleaning the house, and taking care of her younger siblings.
Several months ago, Sithorn’s mother noticed an abnormal curvature of her daughter’s spine, which was later diagnosed as Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS). This condition, which typically develops between the ages of ten and 18, causes Sithorn’s spine to curve sideways in an “S” shape. Sithorn complains of back pain that extends to her neck, making it hard for her to sit for long periods. She also experiences fullness in her chest, and difficulty breathing, especially at night.
Fortunately, our medical partner, the Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), can help. On September 11th, surgeons will perform posterior spinal fusion surgery to correct the curvature of Sithorn’s spine. Sithorn’s mother can only afford $100 toward her daughter’s care and needs your help to raise the remaining $1,400 for the surgery, hospitalization, post-operative medication, and physiotherapy. This surgery will help alleviate Sithorn’s pain, improve her posture, and enable her to return to school again.
Sithorn shared, “I hope my surgery will be successful so I can return to school and focus on my studies.”