Huoy is a 12-year-old girl from Cambodia. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), shares, “Huoy likes to play with other kids around her village when she can, and she likes studying Khmer language subjects.”
“Huoy is in the third grade, and is the youngest of her two brothers and three sisters,” CSC continues. “Huoy was born with a severe deformation of her thoracic spine. This condition has had serious effects on her entire life. She has not progressed very well in school because of all the time missed, she can’t play with other children because of her back, and she looks different from other children. She even has pain when she lays down on her back.”
In Huoy’s case, it is her upper/mid back spine that is severely rounded and causes the most pain. Even going to school and playing with children have been made difficult by her scoliosis.
$405 will enable Huoy to undergo an open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) and a spinal fusion in order to correct her spine. During the procedure, her bones will be put into the correct location and secured with devices such as rods or plates. During her spinal fusion, two or more vertebrae will be joined, and additional bone tissue will be provided to work with her existing tissue to further fuse the spine.
As a result of this operation, Huoy will have a healthier and happier childhood. She will be in much less pain and will be able to move and pursue her education with ease.