Success! Phal from Cambodia raised $1,500 to fund spinal surgery.

100%

$1,500 raised, $0 to go

$1,500

raised

to go

Phal's story
Phal's update

March 10, 2019

Channy is a girl from Cambodia. She enjoys reading books and listening to music in her free time and her favorite subject in school is Khmer literature. She would like to become a teacher when she grows up.

Since 2015, Channy has developed a deformity in her spine, which is progressing with age, making it difficult to sit in school for long periods, and causing a lot of discomfort. Surgery can help correct the position of her spine, and prevent further worsening of the condition.

Channy is scheduled to undergo spinal surgery on March 11. Our medical partnerr needs help raising $1,500 to fund this procedure.

She says, “I hope that after my surgery is over, I can go for walks in the village again with my family and also be able to take care of myself.”

Channy is a girl from Cambodia. She enjoys reading books and listening to music in her free time and her favorite subject in school is Khmer...

Photo of Phal post-operation

March 28, 2019

Phal underwent spinal surgery.

Phal’s operation went well. Surgery will improve her quality of life by correcting her spine position and allowing her to sit for long periods of time without discomfort.

Phal's operation went well. Surgery will improve her quality of life by correcting her spine position and allowing her to sit for long perio...

March 10, 2019
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Phal was submitted by Lindsay Bownik, Stakeholder Relations Officer at Children's Surgical Centre.
March 11, 2019
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Phal 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.
March 11, 2019
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Phal's profile was published to start raising funds.
March 28, 2019
TREATMENT UPDATE
Phal's treatment was successful. Read the update.
April 10, 2019
FULLY FUNDED
Phal's treatment was fully funded.

Funded by 33 donors

Treatment

Spinal Surgery

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $1,500 for Phal's treatment

Hospital Fees

$160

Medical Staff

$722

Medication

Supplies

$610

Labs

Radiology

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients experiencing severe back pain may also experience fever and chills, unexplained weight loss, sudden bowel and/or bladder incontinence, and severe, continuous abdominal pain. Back pain may be caused by vertebrae, the small bones of the spine. The back conditions for which surgery is recommended include degenerative disk disease, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, fracture, infection, and tumor.

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

Patients with severe back pain experience difficulty walking, sleeping, sitting, riding a motorcycle, working, going to school, and carrying out everyday tasks. If the pain affects a patient's ability to work or go to school, the patient will be unable to earn money to support his or her family or continue his or her education. Patients may experience discomfort and difficulty breathing.

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

Cambodian culture emphasizes the importance of working hard and earning money to support the family. When a patient is unable to work, he or she may feel helpless or may experience financial difficulty.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

There are several types of spinal surgeries performed to treat back pain: Spinal fusion: This is the most common surgery for back pain and is used to keep the spine stable after injury, infection, or a tumor. The surgeon joins the spinal bones (vertebrae) together. In a spinal fusion for scoliosis, the surgeon attaches rods, hooks, wires, or screws to the curved part of the backbone to straighten and stabilize the spine. Laminectomy: In this procedure, the surgeon removes parts of the bone, bone spurs, or ligaments in the back. This relieves pressure on spinal nerves and can ease pain or weakness. Foraminotomy: The surgeon cuts bone at the sides of the vertebrae to widen the space through which nerves exit the spine, relieving pressure on the nerves and easing pain. Diskectomy: A disk, the cushion that separates the vertebrae, can slip out of place, pressing on a spinal nerve and causing back pain. In a diskectomy, the surgeon removes all or part of the disk to relieve pain. Disk replacement: A surgeon removes the damaged spinal disk and inserts an artificial one between the vertebrae. Interlaminar implant: The surgeon implants a U-shaped device between two vertebrae in the lower back. This device helps keep the space between them open and eases pressure on the spinal nerves. Bone grafting will also be performed to support the spine and stimulate bone healing.

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

The patient will be able to work or go to school without pain.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

As with any operation, there are potential risks associated with spinal surgery. These include: Infection: Antibiotics are regularly given to the patient before, during, and after surgery to lessen the risk of infection. Bleeding: A certain amount of bleeding is expected, but this is not typically significant. Pain at bone graft site: A small percentage of patients will experience persistent pain at the bone graft site. Recurring symptoms: Some patients may experience a recurrence of their original symptoms. Nerve damage: It is possible that the nerves or blood vessels may be injured during these operations. These complications are very rare. Blood clots: Another uncommon complication is the formation of blood clots in the legs.

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

Spinal surgery is not widely offered in Cambodia, especially for low-income patients who cannot afford treatment. Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) provides this procedure free of charge. Patients travel to CSC by bus, taxi, or motorbike from all over Cambodia.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Patients that do not seek a surgical procedure may try exercises and medication. However, these forms of treatment may not be effective.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Pich is a 70-year-old grandmother who has lived with her daughter since her husband died of COVID last year. She cares for her granddaughter while her daughter works. Pich used to sell delicious Khmer cakes near their house but has stopped due to her declining vision. At home, she likes to listen to the monks pray on the radio. Two years ago, Pich developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision and constant tearing. She feels depressed because she is often alone all day at home. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places on her own. When Pich learned about our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On December 7th, doctors will perform phacoemulsification and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Pich is able to contribute towards the cost of the surgery and needs help raising $253 to fund her surgery. Pich shared, "I hope after my operation I can see well again and go outside by myself."

Poe is a 28-year-old loving mother from Burma. She lives with her husband, her daughter and her son in Karen State, Burma. Poe is the primary caregiver of the children and runs the household, and her husband is a farmer. Their family also raise chickens and pigs to feed their family. During her free time, she enjoys going out to forage vegetables in the forest and going fishing in the stream. Poe and her family are unable to pay for healthcare. Poe is eight months pregnant with her third child. Her doctors recommend that she deliver her baby via a caesarean section because of her labor pain and severe bleeding. This way, doctors can ensure the safety of both Poe and her child. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is helping Poe undergo a C-Section on February 9th. This procedure will cost $1500, and Poe needs your support. Her brother says, "Thank you to the donors and everyone who helps my sister during our difficult time."

Dickson is a married man from a village in Lilongwe District. He has one child who is in primary school, and to support his family, he depends on a motorcycle transport business locally known as Kabaza. He also practices small-scale farming where he grows maize, tomatoes, and groundnuts for consumption and commercial purposes. Dickson was hit by a car while he was on his motorcycle, and he sustained a fracture to his left upper arm. He was rushed to our medical partner's Nkhoma Hospital the same night where he was diagnosed with distal radius fracture, and he was scheduled to undergo open reduction and internal fixation surgery. However, Dickson cannot afford to pay for the surgery although he is willing to pay the little that he can afford. This condition has had a negative impact on Dickson’s life as he feels pain from the fracture, and he is worried about his family’s well-being as he will not be able to work on his farm or his business due to the fracture. If the condition is left untreated, pain and swelling may continue to worsen over time and there might be a misalignment of the fractured bone. Our medical partner African Mission Healthcare is requesting $525 to fund his surgery. After treatment, Dickson will be relieved of his pain and able to work to support his family again. Dickson says, “I have no idea how I will take care of my family with no income from my business. I hope to get well soon.”

Phal's Timeline

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Funded by 33 donors

Treatment

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.