Rifai is a 15-year-old student from Cambodia. He is the middle child of three siblings and lives with his parents, who are rice farmers in Battambong Province. His older sister works in a garment factory, and his younger brother attends kindergarten. He enjoys studying math and hopes to become a teacher. In his free time, he likes playing football and listening to music.
For the past five years, Rifai has been experiencing difficulty swallowing, discomfort while eating, and loud snoring at night. These symptoms make eating and sleeping uncomfortable and affect his ability to enjoy his daily activities. Rifai was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if not treated, will cause his symptoms to persist and possibly intensify over time.
Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, is requesting $345 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Rifai, which is scheduled to take place on September 1st. Surgeons will remove his tonsils and adenoids, hopefully relieving Rifai of his symptoms and helping him live much more comfortably.
Rifai’s mother said, “I hope the surgery will help my son swallow and eat more comfortably and reduce his tonsil problems and loud snoring. I want him to sleep better, feel comfortable, and enjoy his daily activities without the discomfort he has experienced for so long.”
