Watsi

Soy is a 55-year-old man from Cambodia who needs $253 to fund cataract surgery.

15%

$40 raised, $213 to go

$40

raised

$213

to go

Soy's story

June 6, 2022

Soy is a 55-year-old rice farmer who is married and has one daughter, two sons, and five grandchildren. Soy lives with his wife who is also a farmer and his oldest daughter who is a garment worker. They also have a few cows to support their family. At home, Soy likes to watch the news and funny stories on TV.

Five years ago, Soy developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him sensitivity to light and blurry vision. Soy 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 Soy learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), he traveled for four and a half hours seeking treatment. On June 6th, doctors will perform cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, Soy will be able to see clearly. CSC is raising $253 to fund this life altering procedure.

Soy shared, “I really hope after surgery, I will be able to see better again. I want do more with my days.”

Soy is a 55-year-old rice farmer who is married and has one daughter, two sons, and five grandchildren. Soy lives with his wife who is also ...

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

Soy's Timeline

June 6, 2022
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Soy was submitted by Sieng Heng at Children's Surgical Centre.
June 6, 2022
TREATMENT SCHEDULED
Soy was scheduled to receive 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 9, 2022
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Soy's profile was published to start raising funds.
TODAY
AWAITING FUNDING
Soy is currently raising funds for his treatment.
TBD
AWAITING UPDATE
Awaiting Soy's treatment update from Children's Surgical Centre.

Share Soy's story

Funded by 2 donors

Treatment

Cataract - One Eye

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $253 for Soy's treatment

Hospital Fees

$36

Medical Staff

$174

Medication

Supplies

$43

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

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Nana is an adorable 18-month-old baby. Her father works as a farmer, and her mother works selling food. Nana is the only child in her family. She enjoys playing with toys, and her favorite meal is fried noodles with fresh milk! Ten months ago, Nana's left-hand fingers were severely burned from a pan of boiling oil. Her mother took her to a local clinic for medications, but her fingers did not heal. She has since developed scar contracture on three of her fingers. This means the scar from the accident is pulling together and tightening the skin surrounding it, leaving Nana unable to hold objects. In order to help her condition, she will need to undergo a contracture release surgery, as well as a skin graft surgery to repair the scar tissues. When Nana and her family learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), they traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On July 4th, surgeons at CSC will perform a burn contracture release surgery to help Nana use her fingers again. Now, she needs help to fund this $495 procedure. Her mother expressed, "I hope after this surgery my daughter can use her hand like other children."

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Lath is a 37-year-old mother from Cambodia who supports her family by selling Chinese noodles. She is divorced and has one son and one daughter. Lath's son is 13 and repairs motorcycles, and her daughter is nine and attends second grade. In her free time, Lath enjoys exercising, cooking, reading books, and watching TV. In 2019, Lath was in a traffic accident and fractured her right femur. After the accident, she had plate screws fixated in hopes of healing her fracture, but the procedure was not successful in healing her injury. Two weeks ago, she fell and the plate screws broke. She is now experiencing pain and difficulty walking, which are preventing her from being able to return to work. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On August 1st, Lath will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $483. Surgeons will remove the broken plate screws and perform an open reduction internal fixation, which will fixate a nail for her. This procedure will heal her fracture and allow her to walk without pain. Lath says, "I hope after surgery my leg can finally heal well and I can be without pain."

1% funded

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