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Thuon is a 63-year-old baker and loving grandmother from Cambodia who needs $253 to fund cataract surgery so that she can see well again.

Thuon
20%
  • $51 raised, $202 to go
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$202
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December 12, 2022

Thuon is a 63-year-old mother of seven sons and one daughter, and the grandmother of seven grandchildren. She lives in Kandal province with her husband, who is a security guard, and her son, who is a construction laborer. Thuon is a traditional khmer cake seller.

About three months ago, Thuon developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her blurry vision, a cloudy lens, and light sensitivity. When Thuon learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for one and half hours seeking treatment. On December 12th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery, to break up and remove the cataract, and then implant a new lens in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly again. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure.

Thuon says, “After surgery, I hope I can see clearly. I would like to make more of my cakes for selling to earn more money. And, I’d like to easily go anywhere outside.”

Thuon is a 63-year-old mother of seven sons and one daughter, and the grandmother of seven grandchildren. She lives in Kandal province with ...

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Thuon's Timeline

  • December 12, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Thuon was submitted by Sieng Heng at Children's Surgical Centre.

  • December 12, 2022
    TREATMENT SCHEDULED

    Thuon was scheduled to receive treatment at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre in Cambodia. 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.

  • December 13, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Thuon's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • TODAY
    AWAITING FUNDING

    Thuon is currently raising funds for her treatment.

  • TBD
    AWAITING UPDATE

    Awaiting Thuon's treatment update from Children's Surgical Centre.

Funded by 3 donors

Funded by 3 donors

Treatment
Cataract - One Eye
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $253 for Thuon's treatment
Hospital Fees
$36
Medical Staff
$174
Medication
$0
Supplies
$43
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients with cataracts experience decreased vision, discomfort, and irritation. Cataracts occur when the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, causing functional blindness. These changes in the lens commonly occur with increasing age and therefore affect elderly people. Cataracts can also be congenital or traumatic.

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

The decreased vision from cataracts can cause functional blindness. This makes it difficult for the patient to conduct daily activities. Patients often need a family member to help guide and care for them. If the patient is elderly, this often affects a young child in the family. When a grandmother needs help getting around, a young child is often assigned to help with her daily tasks. That child cannot go to school.

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

In many countries in the developing world, surgical services are inadequate. Cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness globally. Even where surgical services are available, barriers to surgery remain, including cost, shortage of human resources, poor infrastructure, and limited awareness about access to available services.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

Cataract surgery is the most common surgery performed worldwide. Surgeons remove the cloudy lens and place a clear lens implant in its place.

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

A patient's vision can improve to 20/20 within one day after the surgery.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Cataract surgery is highly effective and carries a low risk.

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

Cataract surgery is available in most areas of Cambodia. However, free surgery is not as widely available.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Some debilitating effects of cataracts can be improved with glasses. When the cataract becomes mature, however, the only definitive treatment is surgical.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Prossy

Prossy is a hospital cleaner and a mother of three children, all of whom are currently studying. After completing high school, she joined a nursing school to pursue a certificate in midwifery. Unfortunately, her father, who was paying her school fees, passed away while she was in her second year. Due to financial constraints, she had to drop out of nursing school. However, her passion for caring for the sick never faded, and she decided to become a cleaner, a job she has held for over 25 years at a local health center. Prossy's husband is a farmer, and they live in a two-roomed house. Their income is not sufficient to cover the cost of her surgery, and she is, therefore, appealing for support. For the last five years, Prossy began to experience troubling symptoms, including shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, palpitation, and pain while swallowing. Concerned about her health, Prossy sought medical attention and went to a local health center. She needed specialized care and was referred to Nyakibale hospital where surgery was recommended. She was diagnosed with a bilateral goiter and needs surgery to prevent her symptoms from getting worse. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Prossy receive treatment. She is scheduled to undergo a thyroidectomy on March 7th at our medical partner's care center. Surgeons will remove all or part of her thyroid gland. This procedure will cost $252, and she and her family need help raising money. Prossy says: “I hope to get healed and have normal health like any other person once I am given your support to undergo surgery.”

7% funded

7%funded
$20raised
$232to go

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.