Saorith is ten years old and in the third grade. He has three older sisters and two older brothers. He likes to draw pictures and read books in his free time.
When Saorith was four years old, he developed an ear infection that spread to both ears and caused a perforation of the tympanic membrane in both ears. He was treated with ear drops, but his symptoms did not improve. Since then, he experienced ear discharge, hearing loss, pain, and buzzing in his ears. He had difficulty hearing at school, and he was in pain.
Saorith’s parents learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), from an NGO in Phnom Penh that specializes in hearing disabilities. The family traveled for six hours to seek treatment. On December 13, ENT surgeons at CSC performed a mastoidectomy procedure in Saorith’s right ear to relieve him of his symptoms.
After recovery, Saorith’s hearing will improve. Now, CSC is requesting $842 in funding.
“I hope the operation stops the ear discharge and gives me good hearing,” says Saorith. “I want to be a doctor.”
