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Success! Boramey from Cambodia raised $709 to fund brachial plexus repair surgery to restore her arm's functioning.

Boramey
100%
  • $709 raised, $0 to go
$709
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Boramey's treatment was fully funded on March 22, 2023.

Photo of Boramey post-operation

January 18, 2023

Boramey underwent brachial plexus repair surgery to restore her arm's functioning.

Boramey and her parents traveled three hours to our medical partner’s care center for her surgery. Everything went well, and Boramey stayed at the hospital for a couple of weeks as she healed and worked with the physiotherapist. Her mother also learned several rehabilitative exercises to help Boramey slowly increase her strength and flexibility as the nerves in her arm regenerate. Boramey’s family has returned home, hopeful about her recovery process. While it may take months for a full recovery, the surgery team hopes she will develop some arm function and will continue to see her over the next year to check on her healing progress.

Boramey’s mother said: “While my daughter was there, all the staff were very friendly and gave good care. We are hopeful she can use her arm and go to school with other children.”

Boramey and her parents traveled three hours to our medical partner's care center for her surgery. Everything went well, and Boramey stayed ...

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January 2, 2023

Boramey is an adorable 2-year-old toddler from Cambodia. She has an older sister, who is seven and in the 1st grade, and an older brother, who is four and not in school yet. Her father works as a driver for a construction company, and her mother sells groceries at a local market. Boramey’s favorite activities include playing with the other children in her neighborhood and snacking on bread.

When Boramey was born, she experienced an injury called shoulder dystocia, which occurs when one or both of a baby’s shoulders become stuck inside the pelvis during childbirth. As a result, the nerves responsible for providing feeling and movement in her shoulder and arm were stretched. Boramey cannot move her left arm and has no shoulder abduction or elbow or wrist flexion. She has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on her left side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand; injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation.

Our medical partner’s care center is the only center in Cambodia where the treatment Boramey needs is available. On January 3rd, she will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), is requesting $709 to fund this procedure. Boramey’s parents were able to gather $100 to contribute to her care.

Boramey’s mother said: “I hope the doctors can fix her arm so she can use it like other children and be able to go to school when she is old enough.”

Boramey is an adorable 2-year-old toddler from Cambodia. She has an older sister, who is seven and in the 1st grade, and an older brother, w...

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Boramey's Timeline

  • January 2, 2023
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Boramey was submitted by Ellen Interlandi, Stakeholder Relations at Children's Surgical Centre.

  • January 3, 2023
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Boramey 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.

  • January 4, 2023
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Boramey's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • January 18, 2023
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Boramey's treatment was successful. Read the update.

  • March 22, 2023
    FULLY FUNDED

    Boramey's treatment was fully funded.

Funded by 9 donors

Funded by 9 donors

Treatment
Brachial Plexus Injury Surgery
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $709 for Boramey's treatment
Hospital Fees
$92
Medical Staff
$566
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?

Symptoms of brachial plexus injury (BPI) vary on the severity and location of the injury, but include muscle weakness, loss of sensation, pain, and paralysis. BPI can cause neuropathic pain with damage to the spinal cord and can be long-lasting, with effects such as burning numbness.

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

The impact of a brachial plexus injury can range in severity; some patients may experience weakness or great pain, others may be paralyzed in their shoulder and upper arm. This can make day-to-day tasks difficult and impair quality of life.

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

Motorcycle collisions are the most common cause of brachial plexus injury, and are, unfortunately, an exceedingly common occurrence in Cambodia.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

Treatment for brachial plexus injury can involve nerve repair, nerve grafting, nerve transfer, or tendon and muscle transfers depending on the location and type of injury, and the amount of time since the injury occurred. A nerve repair involves reattaching a severed nerve; nerve graft is a procedure that takes a healthy nerve from another part of the body and transplants it to the injured nerve to guide regrowth; a nerve transfer is a procedure that cuts a donor nerve and connects it to the injured nerve when there is no functioning nerve stump to attach a graft. Nerve regeneration occurs approximately at a rate of 1 mm/day, and so recovery from a brachial plexus injury can take months for small improvements. Physical therapy during this time is important to prevent stiffness, contractures, or atrophy and increase the chances of regaining good movement in the affected limb.

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

While BPI surgery may not restore full movement to a patient, it can greatly increase the patient’s ability to use the affected limb and reduce the pain of the injury.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

BPI surgery is complicated and risks include infection as well as failure to restore movement, which would require further surgery.

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

Surgery to treat brachial plexus injury can be very complex and not widely performed. Surgical treatment in Cambodia can be expensive and hard to access. Patients will travel for hours by car, motocycle, and bus to receive free surgery at CSC.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Brachial plexus injury can have a range of severity; some patients may be able to be treated by splinting or physical therapy, but serious cases require surgical intervention. These types of injuries do not have alternatives to improving movement and functionality.

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.