Watsi

Success! Thyda from Cambodia raised $842 to fund the removal of an abnormal growth.

100%

$842 raised, $0 to go

$842

raised

to go

Fully funded

Thyda's treatment was fully funded on June 27, 2017.

Thyda's story
Thyda's update

Photo of Thyda post-operation

March 7, 2017

Thyda underwent ear surgery.

Following the procedure, she was given pain medication and antibiotics. She experienced mild pain on the wound and tinnitus (ringing or buzzing in the ear), common symptoms after ear surgery. After surgery, Thyda returned to CSC with ear discharge. She was given antibiotics to take for three days.

When she returned again, her wound had opened by five millimeters. ENT surgeons sutured the wound and instructed her parents to clean the wound every two days. Now, Thyda is doing well, and she looks forward to going back to school.

Thyda’s grandmother says, “I am very happy that my granddaughter had the operation so that she can have good hearing.”

Following the procedure, she was given pain medication and antibiotics. She experienced mild pain on the wound and tinnitus (ringing or buzz...

February 13, 2017

Thyda is a 13-year-old primary school student. She has three sisters and one brother, and she is the youngest of her siblings. She likes drawing and watching TV in her free time.

For two years, Thyda has experienced ear discharge and buzzing in her right ear. She was treated with ear cleaning and a nose rinse, but her symptoms did not improve. Another organization, All Ears Cambodia, referred her to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC). Surgeons at CSC will perform a mastoidectomy to remove an abnormal growth, a cholesteatoma, from her ear. Her treatment is scheduled for February 13.

However, Thyda’s family cannot afford this treatment, so CSC is requesting $842. Thyda’s grandmother hopes that she will feel better and hear easily.

Thyda is a 13-year-old primary school student. She has three sisters and one brother, and she is the youngest of her siblings. She likes dra...

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Thyda's case was submitted by Lindsay Bownik at Children's Surgical Centre in Cambodia.

Thyda's Timeline

February 13, 2017
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Thyda was submitted by Lindsay Bownik, Stakeholder Relations Officer at Children's Surgical Centre, our medical partner in Cambodia.
February 13, 2017
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Thyda received treatment at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. 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 16, 2017
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Thyda's profile was published to start raising funds.
March 07, 2017
TREATMENT UPDATE
Thyda's treatment was successful. Read the update.
June 27, 2017
FULLY FUNDED
Thyda's treatment was fully funded.

Share Thyda's story

Funded by 24 donors

Treatment

Mastoidectomy

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $842 for Thyda's treatment

Hospital Fees

$153

Medical Staff

$688

Medication

Supplies

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

A mastoidectomy is a surgical procedure that removes diseased mastoid air cells. A patient who needs a mastoidectomy will experience hearing loss, chronic ear infections, and possibly cholesteatoma—an abnormal skin growth in the middle ear. Cholesteatomas cause hearing loss and ear discharge. The cholesteatoma will erode bones in the middle ear and can eventually expose the brain and cause death in complicated, untreated cases.

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

Patients live with hearing loss and chronic ear infections.

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

Treated incorrectly or left untreated, an infected mastoid bone can cause hearing loss, persistent ear discharge, meningitis, temporary dizziness, and temporary loss of taste. Due to poor hygiene and limited education in rural Cambodia, patients are likely to experience complications and receive the incorrect treatment.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

A mastoidectomy is performed with the patient asleep under general anesthesia. Surgeons will perform one of several different types of mastoidectomy, depending on the amount of infection present. These include: • Simple (or closed) mastoidectomy: The operation is performed through the ear or through an incision behind the ear. The surgeon opens the mastoid bone and removes the infected air cells. The eardrum is incised to drain the middle ear. Topical antibiotics are placed in the ear. • Radical mastoidectomy: This procedure removes the most bone and is usually performed for extensive spread of a cholesteatoma. The eardrum and middle ear structures may be completely removed. Usually the stapes, the "stirrup"-shaped bone, is spared to preserve some hearing. • Modified radical mastoidectomy: In this procedure, some middle ear bones are left in place, and the eardrum is rebuilt by tympanoplasty. After surgery, the wound is stitched up around a drainage tube, and a dressing is applied.

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

This treatment will relieve chronic ear infections, hearing loss, and other symptoms caused by the infected mastoid bone.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

This treatment is highly effective, but it poses risks if performed by an inexperienced surgeon. The operation is near the facial nerve and the brain, so surgeons must be careful when operating. At Children's Surgical Centre, ENT surgeons only operate on cases about which they feel confident.

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

Care for this condition is not easily accessible in Phnom Penh. Only one other hospital performs ENT surgery, but care at that hospital is expensive. The ENT surgeons at our medical partner have a proven record of successful cases.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Once the infection stops responding to antibiotics, surgery is the only option.

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