Watsi

Success! Chan Thou from Cambodia raised $1,025 to fund a hip replacement.

100%

$1,025 raised, $0 to go

$1,025

raised

to go

Fully funded

Chan Thou's treatment was fully funded on March 6, 2018.

Chan Thou's story
Chan Thou's update

Photo of Chan Thou post-operation

January 16, 2018

Chan Thou underwent a hip replacement.

Chan Thou is recovering well from surgery. She is doing light physiotherapy as his mobility continues to improve. She will continue to do physiotherapy at home, and looks forward to finally being able to sleep through the night pain-free.

Her son says, “I am so happy my mom isn’t in pain anymore.”

Chan Thou is recovering well from surgery. She is doing light physiotherapy as his mobility continues to improve. She will continue to do ph...

January 11, 2018

Chan Thou is a grandmother from Cambodia. She has two sons and two grandchildren. She works at a money exchange stall in the market.

She has been experiencing pain on her right hip for more than 12 years. The pain is so severe that she cannot walk on her own or sleep at night.

Fortunately, Chan Thou learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre. At CSC, surgeons can perform a total hip replacement to relieve Chan Thou of her pain and allow her to walk easily. Treatment is scheduled for January 11, and Chan Thou needs help raising $1,025 to pay for this procedure.

She says, “I hope I can take care of my family and walk again.”

Chan Thou is a grandmother from Cambodia. She has two sons and two grandchildren. She works at a money exchange stall in the market. She ...

Submitted by

Learn more

Chan Thou's case was submitted by Lindsay Bownik at Children's Surgical Centre in Cambodia.

Chan Thou's Timeline

January 11, 2018
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Chan Thou was submitted by Lindsay Bownik, Stakeholder Relations Officer at Children's Surgical Centre, our medical partner in Cambodia.
January 11, 2018
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Chan Thou received treatment at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. 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 12, 2018
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Chan Thou's profile was published to start raising funds.
January 16, 2018
TREATMENT UPDATE
Chan Thou's treatment was successful. Read the update.
March 6, 2018
FULLY FUNDED
Chan Thou's treatment was fully funded.

Share Chan Thou's story

Funded by 32 donors

Funded by 32 donors

Treatment

Hip Replacement

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $1,025 for Chan Thou's treatment

Hospital Fees

$160

Medical Staff

$517

Medication

Supplies

$340

Labs

Radiology

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients typically experience severe hip pain and difficulty walking or standing. By the time Children's Surgical Centre provides treatment, patients have often lived with these symptoms for months or more. A total hip replacement (THR) treats hips that are severely damaged and therefore not amenable to other forms of treatment.

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

Patients may not be able to walk or walk normally. Physical activity is extremely restricted, making any movement painful. This prevents patients from carrying out daily life, going to work, attending school, or taking care of themselves and their families.

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

Many Cambodians use motorbikes as their main form of transportation. Because of weak traffic laws, motorbike accidents are common. Injured individuals who cannot afford treatment often self-medicate or rely on Khmer traditional healers. Their fractures never heal, and patients live with the pain. Steroids are a common painkiller in Cambodia. No prescription is required. Individuals who do intense physical labor take steroids regularly, which restricts blood flow to the joints. This causes bone tissue death and tiny bone breaks, making bones more susceptible to breaks and fractures.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

During a hip replacement, doctors replace both the acetabulum (hipbone socket) and femoral head (head of the femur) with prosthetic implants. Doctors remove the dead or broken bone. A cup is inserted into the acetabulum, and a metal hip prosthesis is inserted into the femur.

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

The patient will be able to walk independently without pain, improving quality of life.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Severe disability, arthritis, and avascular necrosis of the hip can be successfully treated by a THR. This treatment is highly effective, with few risks.

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

Most Cambodians visit Khmer traditional healers before seeking modern medical care. As recently as ten years ago, a THR was unavailable in Cambodia. Children's Surgical Centre is one of the few centers that provides this procedure.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Younger patients can elect to undergo hip fusion surgery and postpone the THR until later in life. The duration of the prosthesis is 10-15 years.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Seng Ly is a 65-year-old retired policeman. He has a daughter, two sons, and three grandchildren. He lives with his wife, his youngest daughter, and his grandchildren. His daughter works in the garment industry. Seng Ly retired from his work two years ago due to poor vision, so he stays home to look after his grandchildren. When not helping to take care of his grandchildren, he likes to listen to the news on the radio. Two years ago, Seng Ly developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him blurry vision, photophobia, inability to see in dim light. When Seng Ly learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled there with his daughter seeking treatment. On March 29th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $229 procedure. Seng Ly shared with us: "I hope after surgery I can see well. I can bring my grandchildren to school, and can teach them at home. I hope I'll be able to go outside and be able to see."

0% funded

0%funded

$0raised

$229to go

Shazma is a 2-year-old and the last born in a family of three children. She is a friendly and cheerful girl who already loves playing! Shazma's mother was laid off from her work at a horticulture farm due to the pandemic, and her father works as a cook at a local guest house. The parents used to support each other on payment of bills but now Shazma's father is the only earner while her mother takes care of the children at home. Shazma was diagnosed with bilateral genu varus which causes her legs to bend outward and results in difficulty walking. This condition is typically caused by an excessive accumulation of fluoride in the bones, which often stems from contaminated drinking water. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $880 to fund corrective surgery for Shazma on April 16th. Treatment will ensure Shazma's mobility as she grows, allow her to participate in all she wants to do, and greatly decrease her risk of future complications. Shazma’s mother shared, "My daughter is in need of treatment to repair her legs. She currently struggles a lot to walk but the cost of treatment is not something we cannot afford. Kindly help our daughter if it’s possible."

77% funded

77%funded

$685raised

$195to go

Mugabirwe is a 45-year-old woman from Western Uganda. Both she and her husband are farmers. They have six children and their youngest is still in school. Mugabirwe also takes up casual labor projects in their community to make a living for their family. For the past five years, Mugabirwe has been experiencing pain in her lower abdomen that radiates to her back and fatigue that limits her from engaging in strenuous work for long. When she visited our medical partner's care center, she had a pelvic scan and was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst that needs to be removed. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), is requesting $220 to fund Mugabirwe's procedure. On April 9th, she will undergo surgery at AMH's care center. Once treated, Mugabirwe will be free from pain and the chances of the cyst becoming malignant will be reduced. Mugabirwe shared, “I hope to get well after the treatment and have reduced pain to continue tending to the farm and raising my family."

13% funded

13%funded

$30raised

$190to go