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Heang is a 73-year-old retired rice farmer from Cambodia who needs $324 to fund surgery on her injured hand.

Heang
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January 17, 2023

Heang is a 73-year-old retired rice farmer in Prey Veng province from Cambodia. She has three sons and five daughters. Her husband passed away many years ago, and she lives with her youngest daughter who is a farmer. In her free time, she helps her daughter to do housework and cooking.

In December 2022, Heang injured her left hand while cutting wood. She has pain, swelling, and worrying discharge from the wound. She can no longer use her hand for daily activities such as washing clothes or cooking.

When Heang learned about our medical partner Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled two hours to seek treatment. On January 17th, surgeons at CSC will perform a debridement procedure that will allow her infected hand to heal. Her family is able to contribute $100 to the surgery, and she needs only $324 to fully fund the procedure.

Heang shared, “After surgery, I hope my hand will heal, I will not have pain, and can work with my daughter at the rice farm.”

Heang is a 73-year-old retired rice farmer in Prey Veng province from Cambodia. She has three sons and five daughters. Her husband passed aw...

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Heang's Timeline

  • January 17, 2023
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Heang was submitted by Romanea Khun, Assistant Manager, CSC at Children's Surgical Centre.

  • January 17, 2023
    TREATMENT SCHEDULED

    Heang 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.

  • January 20, 2023
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Heang's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • TODAY
    AWAITING FUNDING

    Heang is currently raising funds for her treatment.

  • TBD
    AWAITING UPDATE

    Awaiting Heang's treatment update from Children's Surgical Centre.

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Treatment
Debridement
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $324 for Heang's treatment
Hospital Fees
$70
Medical Staff
$203
Medication
$0
Supplies
$43
Labs
$3
Radiology
$5
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

A variety of injuries related to extensive skin loss and the cause of wounds can necessitate a debridement procedure. These include large open wounds, infection, and third degree burns.

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

Patients who have injuries that are in need of a debridement are in compromised health and at risk of infection from bacteria or viruses entering through the open wound.

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

Road traffic accidents—particularly with motorcycles—and hot water or fire burns are common causes of injuries in Cambodia and can often result in surgeries that involve debridement.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

Debridement is done using scalpels, forceps, scissors and other instruments for large wounds that have deep tissue damage. First, the skin surrounding the wound is cleaned and disinfected. After determining the depth of the wound, the dead tissue is cut away and the wound is washed out to remove any free tissue. It may take the wound many weeks to heal. However, following a debridement procedure, patients will remain at the hospital for only one week for follow-up care.

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

By removing unhealthy tissue from a wound, the wound is able to heal more easily and it reduces the patient’s risk of disease-causing bacteria or viruses entering the body, improving the overall health of the patient.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Debridement procedures come with minor possible complications that include pain, bleeding, infection, and delayed healing.

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

Severe injuries in need of debridement procedures require surgical operation; affordable surgical care is not very accessible, and so patients travel as much as twelve hours to reach Children's Surgical Centre for free surgery, arriving by bus, motorbike, or taxi.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Alternatives to surgical debridement include chemical debridement (applying a debriding medication to the wound), mechanical debridement (involves a whirlpool bath, a syringe and catheter or wet to dry dressings), and autolytic debridement (involves dressings that retain wound fluids and assist in the body’s natural abilities to clean the wound). However, these alternatives are not as effective as surgical debridement in treating severe wounds.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.