Engy is an only child from Svay Rieng province. Her father is a tuk-tuk driver and her mother works in a local garment factory. She is in grade two, and she enjoys learning to read. At home, she likes to play with toys, do her homework, and help her mother around the house.
Soon after birth, Engy was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and has suffered from problems with movement, coordination, and development. She has stiff hips, and a “crouch gait”, which causes increased knee and hip flexion as if she is crouching over while moving forward. She has difficulty walking, and feels unwell most of the time. If not properly managed, her conditions will worsen over time and further compromise her walking ability.
A neighbor introduced her family to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, where surgeons determined she needs an operation on her hips and a hamstring lengthening/split thickness transfer. Now Engy and her family need help with the cost of the $572 procedure, which is planned for November 21st. The cost covers the operation, hospital stay, medications, and post-op physiotherapy.
Engy’s father said: “Although Engy is afraid of the pain, we hope that she will walk easier and return to school to socialize and learn with other children.”
