Nita, who is eight years old, lives with her family near the border with Vietnam. Nita’s parents are construction workers.
Ten months ago, Nita noticed pain in her hip when she was playing with her friends. She has now been experiencing pain in her left hip for several months, which has made it difficult for her to walk or run. After a series of tests and examinations, she was diagnosed with Perthes disease.
Perthes disease is a rare, childhood condition that affects the hip joint. It occurs when the blood supply to the head of the femur bone (which fits into the hip socket) is temporarily disrupted, leading to the weakening and breaking down of the bone. This can cause pain, stiffness, and difficulty in moving the hip joint.
In Nita’s case, surgery on her left hip is necessary to correct the damage caused by Perthes disease. The surgery, which is scheduled for March 2nd at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, will involve reshaping the femur head and placing it back into the hip socket, which should help improve her mobility and reduce her pain. Her family is hopeful that the surgery will be successful, so that Nita will be able to easily resume her normal activities. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, is asking for your support to fund the $469 cost of Nita’s procedure.