Laysing is a two-year-old boy from Cambodia who needs $1,500 to fund spinal surgery.

Meet Laysing

Laysing's story

March 23, 2026

Laysing is a two-year-old boy from Preah Sihanouk Province in Cambodia. He lives with his parents and his four-year-old sister. His father works for a private company, while his mother stays at home to care for the children. He enjoys playing with toys alongside his sister, and his favorite meal is soup, especially lemongrass sour soup.

Laysing was born with scoliosis, a condition in which the spine curves abnormally to one side. His parents first noticed the condition when he began walking. As he has grown, the scoliosis has caused him to tire easily when walking or playing. The condition makes everyday activities difficult and sometimes causes discomfort. Laysing’s parents are concerned about his posture and possible complications in the future.

Laysing’s family heard about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), and traveled four hours to attend a consultation. After extensive testing, doctors recommended that Laysing have spinal surgery. Without treatment, Laysing’s symptoms will continue, and he will be at risk of future complications.

On March 23rd, surgeons at CSC will implant a metal “growing rod” into Laysing’s spine to help correct the curve and allow for further spine growth. CSC is requesting $1,500 to cover the costs of his surgery, the implant, and post-operative care, including physiotherapy. This treatment will help him stand taller, move more comfortably, and reduce fatigue. After recovery, he should be able to play, walk, and participate in daily activities more easily, improving both his quality of life and his confidence.

Laysing’s mother shares, “I pray that after the surgery, my child will feel stronger, stand taller, and live freely without discomfort, embracing a future full of hope and happiness.”

Laysing is a two-year-old boy from Preah Sihanouk Province in Cambodia. He lives with his parents and his four-year-old sister. His father w...

March 23, 2026
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Laysing was submitted by Pisey Sim Rey, Administration Officer at Children's Surgical Centre
March 23, 2026
TREATMENT SCHEDULED
Laysing 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.
March 23, 2026
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Laysing's profile was published to start raising funds.
TODAY
AWAITING FUNDING
Laysing is currently raising funds for his treatment.
TBD
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Laysing's treatment update from Children's Surgical Centre is in progress.

70%

$1,052 raised, $448 to go

Funded by 23 donors

$1,052

raised

$448

to go

Laysing's story

March 23, 2026

Laysing’s mother shares, “I pray that after the surgery, my child will feel stronger, stand taller, and live freely without discomfort, embracing a future full of hope and happiness.”

Laysing is a two-year-old boy from Preah Sihanouk Province in Cambodia. He lives with his parents and his four-year-old sister. His father w...

March 23, 2026
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Laysing was submitted by Pisey Sim Rey, Administration Officer at Children's Surgical Centre
March 23, 2026
TREATMENT SCHEDULED
Laysing 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.
March 23, 2026
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Laysing's profile was published to start raising funds.
TODAY
AWAITING FUNDING
Laysing is currently raising funds for his treatment.
TBD
UPDATE IN PROGRESS
Laysing's treatment update from Children's Surgical Centre is in progress.

Funded by 23 donors

Treatment

Spinal Surgery

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $1,500 for Laysing's treatment

Hospital Fees

$181

Medical Staff

$713

Medication

Supplies

$544

Labs

$40

Radiology

$22

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients experiencing severe back pain may also experience fever and chills, unexplained weight loss, sudden bowel and/or bladder incontinence, and severe, continuous abdominal pain. Back pain may be caused by vertebrae, the small bones of the spine. The back conditions for which surgery is recommended include degenerative disk disease, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, fracture, infection, and tumor.

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

Patients with severe back pain experience difficulty walking, sleeping, sitting, riding a motorcycle, working, going to school, and carrying out everyday tasks. If the pain affects a patient's ability to work or go to school, the patient will be unable to earn money to support his or her family or continue his or her education. Patients may experience discomfort and difficulty breathing.

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

Cambodian culture emphasizes the importance of working hard and earning money to support the family. When a patient is unable to work, he or she may feel helpless or may experience financial difficulty.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

There are several types of spinal surgeries performed to treat back pain: Spinal fusion: This is the most common surgery for back pain and is used to keep the spine stable after injury, infection, or a tumor. The surgeon joins the spinal bones (vertebrae) together. In a spinal fusion for scoliosis, the surgeon attaches rods, hooks, wires, or screws to the curved part of the backbone to straighten and stabilize the spine. Laminectomy: In this procedure, the surgeon removes parts of the bone, bone spurs, or ligaments in the back. This relieves pressure on spinal nerves and can ease pain or weakness. Foraminotomy: The surgeon cuts bone at the sides of the vertebrae to widen the space through which nerves exit the spine, relieving pressure on the nerves and easing pain. Diskectomy: A disk, the cushion that separates the vertebrae, can slip out of place, pressing on a spinal nerve and causing back pain. In a diskectomy, the surgeon removes all or part of the disk to relieve pain. Disk replacement: A surgeon removes the damaged spinal disk and inserts an artificial one between the vertebrae. Interlaminar implant: The surgeon implants a U-shaped device between two vertebrae in the lower back. This device helps keep the space between them open and eases pressure on the spinal nerves. Bone grafting will also be performed to support the spine and stimulate bone healing.

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

The patient will be able to work or go to school without pain.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

As with any operation, there are potential risks associated with spinal surgery. These include: Infection: Antibiotics are regularly given to the patient before, during, and after surgery to lessen the risk of infection. Bleeding: A certain amount of bleeding is expected, but this is not typically significant. Pain at bone graft site: A small percentage of patients will experience persistent pain at the bone graft site. Recurring symptoms: Some patients may experience a recurrence of their original symptoms. Nerve damage: It is possible that the nerves or blood vessels may be injured during these operations. These complications are very rare. Blood clots: Another uncommon complication is the formation of blood clots in the legs.

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

Spinal surgery is not widely offered in Cambodia, especially for low-income patients who cannot afford treatment. Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) provides this procedure free of charge. Patients travel to CSC by bus, taxi, or motorbike from all over Cambodia.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Patients that do not seek a surgical procedure may try exercises and medication. However, these forms of treatment may not be effective.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Ny is 54 years old and a fruit seller from Banteay Meanchey Province from Cambodia. She is married and has one son, two daughters, and one grandson. She currently lives with her husband, who works as a construction laborer. In her free time, Ny enjoys listening to the news on the radio and listening to monks' sermons. Ny is diabetic, which has affected her vision. She was diagnosed with retinal detachment on her right eye. She has been experiencing constant tearing and blurred vision, which makes it difficult for her to see clearly and affects her ability to sell fruit properly. Because of her poor vision, she also finds it difficult to travel far places. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, recognizing faces, and going anywhere outside. When Ny learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for eight hours seeking treatment. On February 26th, eye surgeons will perform a retinal detachment repair procedure in her right eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Her family can contribute $50, but needs hep raising $656 more to fund her procedure and care. Ny said, "She hopes that after surgery, her vision will improve, the tearing will stop, and her vision will not deteriorate any further. She wishes to return to selling fruit and move around independently as before."

Salimu is a 22-year-old young man from Malawi, who lives with and cares for his mother. He has an older brother who cares for their younger brother, who is currently in Form 4. Following his parents' separation when he was in secondary school, Salimu dropped out of school due to a lack of school fees, and joined his mother in selling second-hand clothes. He presently works in a film show room, earning about $20 per month - barely enough to support the household. In late 2025, Salimu was diagnosed with a right inguinal hernia, a condition that occurs when abdominal tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the lower abdominal muscles, causing a bulge in the groin area. He has been experiencing swelling episodes that have continued to worsen, significantly impacting his daily activities and ability to work. Surgery has been recommended, and he is hopeful that it will restore his health and enable him to resume his role in supporting his mother and contributing meaningfully to the household. However, Salimu is unable to afford the treatment costs. Fortunately, on April 9th, Salimu will undergo hernia repair surgery with the help of our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare. He is able to contribute towards the cost of his treatment, but still needs help raising an additonal $575 to fund the procedure. Salimu says, "As a young man, I humbly seek your support for medical treatment, so that I can continue supporting my mother."

Naroth is a 51-year-old woman who works as a farmer in Kampong Cham province. She grows vegetables and some fruits. Naroth is married and has one son, one daughter, and three grandchildren. She lives with her husband, who is also a farmer, while her son works as a chef. In her free time, she enjoys watching comedy shows and listening to monks chanting on her phone. About two years ago, Naroth developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye, so it is like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, so she is not able to go places on her own. When Naroth learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for three hours seeking treatment. On May 4th, doctors will perform a phacoemulsification cataract surgery and an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $263 procedure. Naroth said, "I hope that after surgery, my eyesight will improve so I can see clearly, move around more easily, and return to growing vegetables with confidence."