Sry is a Cambodian homemaker, and likes to grow vegetables around her house to supplement her family’s diet. She lives with her husband, who is a rice farmer, and they have three daughters, five sons, and many grandchildren. Much of her time is spent caring for her youngest granddaughter and helping her husband with the farm.
For many years, Sry has felt an ear fullness and pain and ringing in the ear. She has had serosanguineous drainage on and off for over twenty years. In the past two weeks, her hearing has been much worse. She is unable to communicate well with her family and neighbors and is embarrassed she does not understand people who speak to her. She has tried many medicines from the pharmacy, but none seem to work.
Fortunately, our medical partners at Children’s Surgical Centre can help. Doctors diagnosed her with chronic otitis media or “glue ear.” Glue ear is where the empty middle part of the ear canal fills up with fluid. The fluid can become thick and glue-like affecting hearing. This can cause temporary hearing loss.
On October 19th, Sry will undergo a myringotomy procedure in her left ear. During this procedure, surgeons will insert a grommet. Grommets are tiny tubes that are inserted into the eardrum. They allow air to pass through the eardrum, which keeps the air pressure on either side equal. The surgeon makes a tiny hole in the eardrum and inserts the grommet into the hole. The grommet usually stays in place for six to 12 months and then falls out on its own. Sry needs $184 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care.
Sry shared: “I feel depressed because I cannot understand my family when they talk to me. I hope this operation will help me hear well again, and I will have no more infections or discharge.”
