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Nita is a bright third grader from Cambodia who needs $331 to fund a corrective procedure to align her eyes and help her avoid vision complications.

Nita
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March 2, 2023

Nita is a bright 3rd grader. Her mom works in a restaurant and her dad is a rice farmer. She loves playing with her older sister, and wants to be a teacher when she grows up.

Nita has strabismus in both eyes. Strabismus is a misalignment of the eye caused by injury or dysfunction in the associated nerves and muscles. It is difficult for her to focus and she experiences frequent headaches

Nita’s family traveled to our medical partner’s care center to receive treatment. On March 2nd, surgeons at our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), will perform a corrective procedure to align her eyes. Now, Nita’s family needs help to raise $331 to fund this procedure.

Her mom said, “I hope my daughter has good vision so she can focus in school and play with the other children.”

Nita is a bright 3rd grader. Her mom works in a restaurant and her dad is a rice farmer. She loves playing with her older sister, and wants ...

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Nita's Timeline

  • March 2, 2023
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Nita was submitted by Anne Mcmurrey, Stakeholder Relations Staff at Children's Surgical Centre.

  • March 2, 2023
    TREATMENT SCHEDULED

    Nita 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 11, 2023
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Nita's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • TODAY
    AWAITING FUNDING

    Nita is currently raising funds for her treatment.

  • TBD
    AWAITING UPDATE

    Awaiting Nita's treatment update from Children's Surgical Centre.

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Treatment
Squint / Strabismus
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $331 for Nita's treatment
Hospital Fees
$47
Medical Staff
$241
Medication
$0
Supplies
$43
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

A strabismus is a condition in which the eyes are not properly aligned with each other. This can cause decreased vision in children and double vision in adults.

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

In children, strabismus can cause amblyopia, or lazy eye, where the vision development is stunted. If not treated early enough, amblyopia can cause permanent decreased vision or blindness. In adults, strabismus can cause double vision, which can be severely debilitating. In addition to headaches and eye strain, symptoms may include an inability to read comfortably, fatigue when reading, and unstable or "jittery" vision. Notably, strabismus interferes with normal eye contact, often causing embarrassment, anger, and feelings of awkwardness. It affects social communication in a fundamental way, with a possible negative effect on self esteem. One study showed that the behavior of strabismic children was marked by inhibition, anxiety, and emotional disorders.

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

The etiology for strabismus in children is poorly understood. Strabismus affects children worldwide and is reported to be present in about 4% of children.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

Surgeons identify and move muscles in the eye in order to straighten the eye. The conjunctiva (clear covering of the white part of the eye) is opened to reveal the muscle and then closed. This is usually done under general anesthesia.

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

For children, straightening the eyes can help treat amblyopia and allow the pathway from the eyes to the brain to develop normally. For adults, straightening the eyes will improve double vision.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Strabismus surgery can cure the problem. The risk of surgery is low. Certain congenital disorders and syndromes can present with strabismus. In this case, children are fully evaluated by medical specialists.

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

Strabismus is primarily a surgical problem. Many patients travel from far provinces to our medical partner because they cannot receive this care locally.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Some strabismus can be treated with glasses or prisms, but surgery is usually needed.

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Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Myo

Myo is a 14-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his parents in a village in Karen State. His mother is a homemaker who is currently eight months pregnant. His father is a subsistence farmer, but he also works as a day laborer to earn money. Myo is in grade six and he enjoys playing football in his free time. Two years ago, Myo developed a pain in his arm which he noticed while playing football with his friends. Right away he was in a lot of pain, but his arm did not look broken. At first, the pain lessened, but gradually the pain worsened and his upper left forearm became swollen. Myo could also feel a mass under the swollen area of his left forearm. Myo and his father went to Chiang Mai Hospital, where he received a MRI and other tests, as well as a biopsy which confirmed that the tumor in his forearm was cancer. Now he needs surgery to remove the tumor, and he will need a chemo after surgery. The enlarged mass in Myo's left forearm has not increased in size, and only causes him pain when he lifts something heavy or when he does any physical activity with that arm such as washing his clothes or cleaning. Although he can take a shower by himself, using only his right arm makes it challenging. When he plays with his friends, he needs to protect his left forearm to prevent getting hurt. Myo's family sought treatment through our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund. He is now scheduled to undergo mass removal surgery on December 8th, and his family needs help funding the $1,500 cost to cover his procedure and care. He said, “I feel sorry for my mother and I pity her that she has to stay alone with the new baby. I also feel sad that I cannot go to school this year. I want to recover quickly and go back to see my brother and mother.”

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