Success! Aakash from Nepal raised $491 to repair a hernia.

100%

$491 raised, $0 to go

$491

raised

to go

Aakash's story
Aakash's update

January 17, 2016

Aakash, a five-year-old boy from Nepal, was born with a hernia. “His parents tried to get it operated early on but they were advised to wait until he turned five,” shares our medical partner, Possible.

A inguinal hernia occurs when abdominal organs and tissue protrude through a hole in the abdominal cavity. Aakash’s hernia has caused a deformity, and Aakash faces pain when he has to walk long distances to school.

“Aakash is the youngest child in his family and is loved by all. He is in kindergarten and enjoys singing rhymes and reciting numbers and the alphabet,” states Possible. “His parents tend to the farm to make ends meet at home.”

Besides pain, Aakash’s mother worries his condition will make him unable to have children of his own in the future.

$491 will provide Aakash with a surgery to push the bulging tissue back in its proper place and will relieve him of the pain and discomfort associated with the condition. Successful treatment will allow Aakash to walk to school without experiencing pain and will prevent further complications in the future.

Aakash, a five-year-old boy from Nepal, was born with a hernia. “His parents tried to get it operated early on but they were advised to wait...

Photo of Aakash post-operation

February 28, 2016

Aakash had surgery to repair his hernia.

For two weeks after his procedure, Aakash will be spending time in bed recovering, our medical partner, Possible, shares. During this period, he will be given medicine to control the pain and “should be careful while playing that he’s not doing any strenuous activity or lifting heavy weight.”

“Though it may pain initially,” Possible adds, “the ideal exercise for Aakash’s surgery to heal is to walk.” With proper rest and care, Aakash should be able to return to his normal life in about two months.

Aakash’s mother details her relief about the successful procedure. “After waiting for five years to get this surgery, I’m relieved that Aakash finally got the treatment.”

For two weeks after his procedure, Aakash will be spending time in bed recovering, our medical partner, Possible, shares. During this period...

January 17, 2016
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Aakash was submitted by Subeksha Poudel, Crowdfunding Associate at Possible.
January 17, 2016
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Aakash received treatment at Bayalpata Hospital in Nepal. 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.
February 3, 2016
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Aakash's profile was published to start raising funds.
February 3, 2016
FULLY FUNDED
Aakash's treatment was fully funded.
February 28, 2016
TREATMENT UPDATE
Aakash's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 1 donor

Treatment

Hernia Repair

Diagnosis
Procedure

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

A hernia occurs when an organ pushes through an opening in the muscle or tissue that holds it in place. For example, the intestines may break through a weakened area in the abdominal wall. Hernias are most common in the abdomen, but they can also appear in the upper thigh, belly button, and groin. Patients may experience pain, discomfort, nausea, and vomiting.

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

Patients have difficulty walking long distances, lifting heavy weights, and doing strenuous activities.

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

People in rural Nepal rely heavily on agriculture. They do a lot of strenuous exercise, increasing the likelihood of developing a hernia. People also tend to cook indoors using firewood. They may develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which leads to constant coughing and increases the likelihood of developing a hernia.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

During open surgical repair, surgeons close the hernia using sutures, mesh, or both. They close the surgical wound with sutures.

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

The patient should feel better within a week of surgery. However, the patient should refrain from lifting heavy weights or doing other strenuous exercises until recovery is complete.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Patients may develop infections or urinary dysfunction. Sometimes, hernias recur.

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

Hernia surgeries can only be performed by skilled clinicians at advanced hospital centers. Patients walk for up to seven days to reach our medical partner's hospital because they have heard about the possibility of free healthcare.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Depending on the size and severity of the hernia, some lifestyle changes can treat the symptoms. These include quitting smoking, treating COPD, and changing one's diet.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Sokchea is a 30-year-old taxi driver from Cambodia. He is a widower who lives with his mother and his 10-year-old son in Kampong Cham province. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer with the villagers but now his enjoyment has been interrupted due to his unfortunate health crisis. One month ago, Sokchea was in a motorbike accident and fractured his left ankle. He visited a local clinic, which only cleaned his wound as he could not pay for surgery to repair his fracture. The wound is now infected and Sokchea cannot walk or drive his taxi as he is in constant pain. Fortunately, Sokchea was referred to our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, where the surgeons can help. On March 22nd, Sokchea will undergo an Open Reduction Internal Fixation (ORIF) to repair the fracture and clear up the infection. The procedure will cost $483 and Sokchea is asking for help to fund his treatment. Sokchea shared: "I hope my ankle will be fixed, so I can work to support my family and have no more pain.”

Amos is a loving father to 6 children: 3 sons and 3 daughters who are all in school. Currently, he and his wife have a banana and coffee plantation from which they earn their living. However, being that they have a big extended family and have limited land, they are unable to pay for some medical costs. Amos came into our facility with swelling and pain. He had never visited a doctor before, but when pain became severe, he came here to Nyakibale hospital, he was examined and requested to do a scan which revealed that he needed herniorrhaphy treatment. For the last six months, Amos has had a bilateral inguinal hernia. This causes him pain standing, walking, sitting and discomfort whenever he does strenuous work. Fortunately, on February 20th, he will undergo hernia repair surgery at our medical partner's care center. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $230 to fund Amos's surgery. Once completed, this procedure will hopefully allow him to live more comfortably and confidently. Amos says, “I hope to get much better once operated and will surely continue farming in better health to sustain my family."

Saream lives in Cambodia with her niece's family. Her niece and husband work as grocery sellers in the village, while Saream stays home as a caretaker. In her free time, she likes listening to Cambodian traditional music and cooking. Saream and her niece traveled two hours to reach the Children's Surgical Centre for consultation regarding scar tissue contractures on her ankle. Due to the swelling and restriction of movement, Saream finds it difficult to walk and get housework done. On March 4th, Saream will have a contracture release surgery. This surgery will improve her mobility and ability to carry out everyday tasks at home. Now, the family needs help to fund the $487 procedure, including post-op care and physiotherapy. Saream shared, "I hope I can fix this problem and be able to take care of my family."

Aakash's Timeline

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Funded by 1 donor

Treatment

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.