Thatt is a 24-year-old former construction driver from Cambodia. He is the youngest of five siblings. All his brothers and sisters are married and live separately. He lives with his widowed mother, a rice farmer, in Siem Reap province. In his free time, Thatt enjoys playing games on his phone and helping his mother with household tasks.
Four months ago, Thatt was involved in a motorcycle accident after losing control while driving too fast around a corner. He suffered head trauma and a fracture in his left shoulder, and he was unconscious for several hours at a local hospital. After ten days, he was discharged and returned home. For ongoing rehabilitative care, he visited a Khmer traditional healer, but he is unable to use 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 move or lift his left hand and continues to experience pain. He has also developed Horner’s Syndrome, a condition affecting the sympathetic nervous system that causes symptoms such as a drooping eyelid and facial changes on one side. These disabilities prevent him from working and from helping to support his mother.
Thatt traveled to our medical partner’s care center, Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, to receive treatment. This is the only center in the whole country where this treatment is available. On October 14th, with the help of our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he hopes to use his left hand again, allowing him to find work and perform daily activities. Thatt’s family can contribute $50 towards his medical care, but needs help raising the remaining $687 in funds.
Thatt said: “After this operation, I hope to use my left hand again to return to work and support my family.”

