Zana is a 6-year-old pre-schooler who lives in Kandal province with her father, a delivery driver, and her mother, an electronics factory worker. She has a four-year-old brother. In school, she likes learning about Khmer history, and at home, she enjoys playing with toy cars with her brother. She loves it when her mother makes her favorite meal, which consists of fried pork and noodles.
In January, she became feverish and ill. Her father took her to a government hospital where she was diagnosed with meningitis, but she was also unable to move her right shoulder or use her hand. Her paralysis has continued to get worse. She is unable to lift her arm and suffers shoulder pain, upper extremity weakness, and abnormal sensation that feels like tingling or pricking.
On November 1st, she will undergo surgery to heal her condition and restore mobility. After recovery, her family hopes to gain some function in her arm. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Center, requests $709 to fund her procedure.
Zana’s father said: “I hope that she can move her shoulder again with no pain and no difficulty after this operation.”