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Success! Yun from Cambodia raised $225 for vision-restoring cataract surgery.

Yun
100%
  • $225 raised, $0 to go
$225
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Yun's treatment was fully funded on August 7, 2016.

Photo of Yun post-operation

September 17, 2016

Yun received vision-restoring cataract surgery.

Yun can see clearly again for the first time in one year. With restored vision, he looks forward to going to the pagoda by himself, and traveling outdoors without assistance.

Yun’s surgery lasted approximately 45 minutes, during which his clouded lenses were replaced with artificial implants. He can return to Children’s Surgical Centre at any time for follow-up care if he experiences complications, but he has been discharged and is expected to make a full recovery.

Yun can see clearly again for the first time in one year. With restored vision, he looks forward to going to the pagoda by himself, and trav...

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June 30, 2016

Yun is an 84-year-old grandfather living with his family in Cambodia. He is married with four sons, one daughter, and five grandchildren. He enjoys visiting the pagoda and listening to the monks pray in his free time.

Three years ago, Yun started having blurred vision and became unable to work well or travel independently. He and his nephew traveled three hours to visit our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). He was found with a cataract in each eye and was recommended surgical treatment.

Yun’s doctors told him he was in need of a phacoemulsification and an intraocular lens implant in each eye, which will replace his internal lenses and restore his vision to full clarity. In total, the procedure, supplies, drugs, and three days of inpatient care will cost $225. Yun’s family needs financial assistance to complete payment.

Yun will have his vision cleared after full recovery from his surgery and will be able to work independently. “I hope I will see everything clearly,” he adds, “and will be able to look after my grandchildren.” His nephew is looking forward to the relief that will come after Yun is independent again.

Yun is an 84-year-old grandfather living with his family in Cambodia. He is married with four sons, one daughter, and five grandchildren. He...

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Yun's Timeline

  • June 30, 2016
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Yun was submitted by Hannah Callas, Stakeholder Relations Officer at Children's Surgical Centre.

  • June 30, 2016
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Yun 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.

  • July 31, 2016
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Yun's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • August 7, 2016
    FULLY FUNDED

    Yun's treatment was fully funded.

  • September 17, 2016
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Yun's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 12 donors

Funded by 12 donors

Treatment
Cataract - Two Eyes
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
  • 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.

Loyce

Loyce is a social and loving 46-year-old wife and mother of six. She had to drop out of school in grade 12 and could not realize her dream of becoming a banker, because her parents could not afford to keep her in school. She is determined to fully educate all her children. Loyce is now a businesswoman who operates a small retail shop in a trading center. A sole proprietorship, it barely generates enough revenue to cater to the family's basic needs and pay her children's school fees. Her husband is a motorcycle taxi driver.  For the past 9 months, Loyce has been experiencing severe lower abdominal pain, backache and vaginal bleeding. She visited a hospital in the region, and treatment was recommended. Since the couple could not afford to pay for the surgery, Loyce had no option but to live with the condition. Recently, the pain has become unbearable, and she visited Nyakibale Hospital and was examined by a gynecologist. She has been diagnosed with premalignant cervical lesion, and needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $219 to fund Loyce's surgery. On November 8th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Loyce will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Loyce says: “I have truly experienced a lot of pain; I hate it so much, I've always had financial problems, but with your help, I believe that I'll be able to have my surgery and, with God's help, hopefully, recover.”

22% funded

22%funded
$50raised
$169to go
Prossy

Prossy is a hospital cleaner and a mother of three children, all of whom are currently studying. After completing high school, she joined a nursing school to pursue a certificate in midwifery. Unfortunately, her father, who was paying her school fees, passed away while she was in her second year. Due to financial constraints, she had to drop out of nursing school. However, her passion for caring for the sick never faded, and she decided to become a cleaner, a job she has held for over 25 years at a local health center. Prossy's husband is a farmer, and they live in a two-roomed house. Their income is not sufficient to cover the cost of her surgery, and she is, therefore, appealing for support. For the last five years, Prossy began to experience troubling symptoms, including shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, palpitation, and pain while swallowing. Concerned about her health, Prossy sought medical attention and went to a local health center. She needed specialized care and was referred to Nyakibale hospital where surgery was recommended. She was diagnosed with a bilateral goiter and needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Prossy receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on March 7th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Prossy says: “I hope to get healed and have normal health like any other person once I am given your support to undergo surgery.”

7% funded

7%funded
$20raised
$232to go

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Loyce

Loyce is a social and loving 46-year-old wife and mother of six. She had to drop out of school in grade 12 and could not realize her dream of becoming a banker, because her parents could not afford to keep her in school. She is determined to fully educate all her children. Loyce is now a businesswoman who operates a small retail shop in a trading center. A sole proprietorship, it barely generates enough revenue to cater to the family's basic needs and pay her children's school fees. Her husband is a motorcycle taxi driver.  For the past 9 months, Loyce has been experiencing severe lower abdominal pain, backache and vaginal bleeding. She visited a hospital in the region, and treatment was recommended. Since the couple could not afford to pay for the surgery, Loyce had no option but to live with the condition. Recently, the pain has become unbearable, and she visited Nyakibale Hospital and was examined by a gynecologist. She has been diagnosed with premalignant cervical lesion, and needs to undergo a hysterectomy, a procedure in which surgeons will remove her uterus. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $219 to fund Loyce's surgery. On November 8th, she will undergo gynecological surgery at our medical partner's care center. Once recovered, Loyce will be able to resume her daily activities free of pain. Loyce says: “I have truly experienced a lot of pain; I hate it so much, I've always had financial problems, but with your help, I believe that I'll be able to have my surgery and, with God's help, hopefully, recover.”

22% funded

22%funded
$50raised
$169to go