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Success! Veng Horn from Cambodia raised $637 to fund a surgery repair.

Veng Horn
100%
  • $637 raised, $0 to go
$637
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Veng Horn's treatment was fully funded on February 9, 2020.

Photo of Veng Horn post-operation

December 4, 2019

Veng Horn underwent his surgery.

Veng Horn’s surgery went well and he’s doing light physiotherapy as he begins the long recovery process.

Veng Horn will need to work hard over the next six months to rebuild muscle in his arm, which will allow him to regain function. Veng Horn hopes to return to playing soccer with his friends as soon as he can.

“I am so happy that my surgery went well and I am now able to fully flex my hands again,” he shared.

Veng Horn's surgery went well and he's doing light physiotherapy as he begins the long recovery process. Veng Horn will need to work har...

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November 21, 2019

Veng Horn is a 22-year-old casino worker from Cambodia. He has eight siblings and he enjoys playing soccer, listening to music, and hanging out with his friends in the evening time.

In July 2019, Veng Horn was in a severe motorcycle accident that left his right arm and shoulder severely injured. He has been diagnosed with a brachial plexus injury on his right side. The brachial plexus is a nerve network that transmits signals from the spine to the shoulder, arm, and hand. Injuries to this nerve network can result in loss of function and sensation. He has limited range of movement in his elbow and shoulder, and cannot use his hand or lift his arm easily.

Veng Horn traveled to our medical partner’s care center to receive treatment. On November 22nd, he will undergo a brachial plexus repair surgery. After recovery, he will be able to use his arm and hands again. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, is requesting $637 to fund this procedure.

Veng Horn said, “I hope that I will regain movement in my hand and no longer have any pain.”

Veng Horn is a 22-year-old casino worker from Cambodia. He has eight siblings and he enjoys playing soccer, listening to music, and hanging ...

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Veng Horn's Timeline

  • November 21, 2019
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Veng Horn was submitted by Lindsay Bownik, Stakeholder Relations Officer at Children's Surgical Centre.

  • November 22, 2019
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Veng Horn received 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.

  • November 26, 2019
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Veng Horn's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • December 4, 2019
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Veng Horn's treatment was successful. Read the update.

  • February 9, 2020
    FULLY FUNDED

    Veng Horn's treatment was fully funded.

Funded by 7 donors

Funded by 7 donors

Treatment
Brachial Plexus Injury Surgery
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $637 for Veng Horn's treatment
Hospital Fees
$86
Medical Staff
$503
Medication
$0
Supplies
$40
Labs
$3
Radiology
$5
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

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

Symptoms of brachial plexus injury (BPI) vary on the severity and location of the injury, but include muscle weakness, loss of sensation, pain, and paralysis. BPI can cause neuropathic pain with damage to the spinal cord and can be long-lasting, with effects such as burning numbness.

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

The impact of a brachial plexus injury can range in severity; some patients may experience weakness or great pain, others may be paralyzed in their shoulder and upper arm. This can make day-to-day tasks difficult and impair quality of life.

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

Motorcycle collisions are the most common cause of brachial plexus injury, and are, unfortunately, an exceedingly common occurrence in Cambodia.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

Treatment for brachial plexus injury can involve nerve repair, nerve grafting, nerve transfer, or tendon and muscle transfers depending on the location and type of injury, and the amount of time since the injury occurred. A nerve repair involves reattaching a severed nerve; nerve graft is a procedure that takes a healthy nerve from another part of the body and transplants it to the injured nerve to guide regrowth; a nerve transfer is a procedure that cuts a donor nerve and connects it to the injured nerve when there is no functioning nerve stump to attach a graft. Nerve regeneration occurs approximately at a rate of 1 mm/day, and so recovery from a brachial plexus injury can take months for small improvements. Physical therapy during this time is important to prevent stiffness, contractures, or atrophy and increase the chances of regaining good movement in the affected limb.

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

While BPI surgery may not restore full movement to a patient, it can greatly increase the patient’s ability to use the affected limb and reduce the pain of the injury.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

BPI surgery is complicated and risks include infection as well as failure to restore movement, which would require further surgery.

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

Surgery to treat brachial plexus injury can be very complex and not widely performed. Surgical treatment in Cambodia can be expensive and hard to access. Patients will travel for hours by car, motocycle, and bus to receive free surgery at CSC.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Brachial plexus injury can have a range of severity; some patients may be able to be treated by splinting or physical therapy, but serious cases require surgical intervention. These types of injuries do not have alternatives to improving movement and functionality.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

David

David is a 24-year-old male from Kenya. He is the last born in a family of four children raised by his mother. He works at a timber workshop near his home. In June 2020, David was involved in an accident where he was hit from the side by a motorbike. He was taken to the nearest public hospital and received emergency care. An x-ray revealed that he had an open right tibia fracture that needed surgery. Following his initial surgery, he has since had several additional surgeries due to the severity of the injury. In October 2022, he was referred to the care center, AIC Kijabe Hospital, run by our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare (AMH), for specialized review and care. His doctors quickly realized that he still walks with a limp, and his ankle is stiff with bloody discharge from the incision site. His doctors determined that a deeper examination was needed, and he ended up having a hardware removal surgery. However, the region where the fracture occurred is still severely infected, and he risks losing his right leg due to the infection. The doctors have recommended an additional procedure to remedy the remaining issues and clean the infection. Fortunately, AMH has scheduled David for a second-stage bone transport in hopes of avoiding amputation and helping him walk again. AMH is requesting $1,500 to fund the procedure and provide for David's post-operative care. David says, “I feel exhausted and worried. I am unable to walk despite having several surgeries. I hope this surgery [helps] to save my leg.”

51% funded

51%funded
$766raised
$734to go

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.