“Vy is a student in his second year at university,” says our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). They add that the 23-year old from Cambodia enjoys “playing soccer and learning about computers” in his free time. However, recently Vy has experienced difficulty concentrating on his university work due to discomfort in his inner ear.
“Since Vy was a young teenager, he has had discharge from his ear and chronic ear infections,” explains CSC. The cause of the problem is chronic otitis media, a problem which has worsened over time. “His eardrum is now perforated and he feels discomfort everyday,” reports CSC.
Chronic otitis media results from a blockage in the eustachian tube, the connecting channel between the middle ear and the back of the nose. This obstruction – which is often caused by swelling that has occurred due to inner-ear inflammation or injury – can ultimately contribute to long-term pain in the ear and head region, hearing loss, and ultimately cases of severe ear damage such as Vy’s perforated eardrum.
Vy’s condition has impaired his hearing, causing him to struggle to focus on his studies. Hopeful for treatment, “his father brought him from over two hours away in hope that his son will no longer have discharge.”
With $399, Vy will receive a myringoplasty surgical operation to close the perforation in his eardrum. Water will no longer be able to drain into the middle ear, thus preventing the likelihood of future ear infections. In addition to his surgery, Vy will receive two-days of hospitalized care as well as two postoperative visits to help him ease into recovery.
After treatment, Vy will be liberated from chronic ear discomfort. CSC comments on the impact of this operation by stating that “he will no longer have discharge and will be able to go to school and concentrate better.”
