Souty is a 14-year-old student from Cambodia. He has three brothers and one sister. He lives with his siblings, his grandfather, and his mother in Kampong Cham province. His father works in Thailand in a factory and sends money home to support the family. Souty attends public school and enjoys playing football with his friends.
Since Souty was a small child, he has not been able to hear out of his right ear. For three years, he has also had frequent fevers and ear discharge from his left ear, due to an ear infection. The infection caused the tympanic membrane (the ear drum) in his left ear to perforate. Souty suffers from almost total hearing loss because of the poor hearing in his right ear combined with the problems in his left ear. This makes it difficult for him to attend school or understand the teacher. He shared that he feels embarrassed and has been held back in school for several years.
Souty and his mother traveled to our medical partner’s care center to receive treatment. On November 22nd, he will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in his left ear. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforation. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, is requesting $487 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care.
Souty’s mother said: “Souty wants to go to school and be like other boys. I hope he can get his hearing back so he can communicate well with others.”