Minea was born with polydactyly, a condition in which extra fingers and/or toes are present. In Minea’s case, she had seven fingers on her right hand, six fingers on her left hand, six toes on her right foot, and seven toes on her left foot. Her mom was born with a similar condition.
Minea is a four-year-old girl from Cambodia who enjoys playing with her doll. Minea traveled two hours with her grandmother to reach Watsi’s medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), for treatment.
It is hard for Minea to hold objects, as she does not have functional thumbs on both hands. Surgeons at CSC have already removed the extra digits and performed a pollicisation surgery– a procedure in which an existing digit is used to create a thumb– on Minea’s left hand. This was successful, and her left hand now has five fingers including a functional thumb.
Minea requires the same surgery on her right hand, but her family needs financial support to cover the $392 procedure. The cost includes a one-to-two day hospital stay for proper recovery.
Minea’s mom is happy for her daughter to receive surgery on her right hand, and she is excited to see the results.