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Success! Somaly from Cambodia raised $292 to fund cataract surgery.

Somaly
100%
  • $292 raised, $0 to go
$292
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Somaly's treatment was fully funded on January 9, 2017.

Photo of Somaly post-operation

February 2, 2017

Somaly underwent successful cataract surgery.

Somaly’s lens aspiration treatment went well for both eyes. Her vision has improved.

Somaly’s mother says, “I am happy that my daughter can see like other kids. She can go to study when she grows up, and I won’t have to worry about her eyes. I am thankful to the doctors and all of the staff that helped on her surgery to make her eyes normal.”

Somaly's lens aspiration treatment went well for both eyes. Her vision has improved. Somaly's mother says, "I am happy that my daughter c...

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December 21, 2016

Somaly is a two-year-old girl from Cambodia. She has one older brother and two older sisters. She likes to play with dolls and play games.

Somaly was born with a cataract in each eye, causing her blurred vision and cloudy lenses. She has difficulty walking around independently.

When Somaly’s mother learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, they traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On December 22, doctors performed a lens aspiration in each eye to remove the cataract. After recovery, Somaly’s vision will improve. Now, her family needs help to fund this $292 procedure.

“I hope my daughter can see like other kids,” says Somaly’s mother, “so that I don’t have to worry about her eyes having any problems. I want her to be able to play with her siblings and friends, and I want her to go to school to study like other children.”

Somaly is a two-year-old girl from Cambodia. She has one older brother and two older sisters. She likes to play with dolls and play games. ...

Read more

Somaly's Timeline

  • December 21, 2016
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Somaly was submitted by Lindsay Bownik, Stakeholder Relations Officer at Children's Surgical Centre.

  • December 22, 2016
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Somaly 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.

  • December 29, 2016
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Somaly's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • January 9, 2017
    FULLY FUNDED

    Somaly's treatment was fully funded.

  • February 2, 2017
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Somaly's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 9 donors

Funded by 9 donors

Treatment
Cataract - Two Eyes
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $292 for Somaly's treatment
Hospital Fees
$187
Medical Staff
$100
Medication
$5
Supplies
$0
  • 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.

Kaptuya

Kaptuya is a widow and a happy mother of three sons and a daughter from the semi-arid area of Baringo County in Kenya. Her husband passed away some years back after a short illness. Kaptuya and her children live in a semi-permanent three room house on her late husband's piece of land in an area well known for insecurity and cattle rustling. During the rainy season, they plant maize and millet that sometimes yields enough for both her school-aged children, and for her to sell. Currently, the area is faced with drought and famine, so they depend on relief food from the government and from well-wishers due to the lack of rain experienced this year. Six months ago, Kaptuya applied for a job as a housekeeper at a nearby health center. She was happy knowing that she would earn some money, and that the facility would pay for her medical coverage, but unfortunately that did not happen. The salary was also inconsistent and, thus, unreliable. In 2013, when Kaptuya was expecting her last born, she developed a growth at her neck which gradually increased in size. Kaptuya began to experience troubling symptoms, including neck swelling, which is most visible on the right side. She currently experiences shortness of breath, especially at night, and she sleeps with difficulty. She also has a fast heart rate, and easily gets tired, which affects her daily duties. She was diagnosed with non-toxic goiter, or an irregular growth of the thyroid. She needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Kaptuya receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on November 22nd. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $936, and she and her family need help raising money. Kaptuya says, “I am the only hope for my dear children. I live because of them, and my well-being keeps them going. I would like to get well so that I may continue working in order to support them to pursue their dreams. Please assist me.”

56% funded

56%funded
$533raised
$403to go

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.