Success! Sovann from Cambodia raised $327 to fund repair surgery.

100%

$327 raised, $0 to go

$327

raised

to go

Sovann's story
Sovann's update

July 9, 2019

Sovann is a man from Cambodia. One year ago, Sovann received amputation surgery to his lower left leg at Kossamak Hospital. Later, he visited Handicap International in Kampong Cham to receive a prosthetic leg, but they refereed him to our medical partner to repair the excess skin near the location of the amputation.

Before Sovann can receive a prosthetic leg, this skin must be removed and the stump must heal properly. His procedure is scheduled for July 10 and will cost $327.

Sovann has three children and enjoys reading books and the newspaper, as well as watching boxing on television and listening to the radio.

He says, “I hope that after my surgery I will have no pain and can be fitted for a prosthetic leg.”

Sovann is a man from Cambodia. One year ago, Sovann received amputation surgery to his lower left leg at Kossamak Hospital. Later, he visite...

Photo of Sovann post-operation

August 9, 2019

Sovann underwent repair surgery.

Sovann’s surgery went well and his leg is healing normally. Surgery will allow Sovann to greatly improve his quality of life by allowing him to qualify for a prosthetic leg. This will enable him to walk and work with minimal difficulty and no pain.

Sovann's surgery went well and his leg is healing normally. Surgery will allow Sovann to greatly improve his quality of life by allowing him...

July 9, 2019
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Sovann was submitted by Lindsay Bownik, Stakeholder Relations Officer at Children's Surgical Centre.
July 10, 2019
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Sovann 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.
July 10, 2019
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Sovann's profile was published to start raising funds.
August 9, 2019
TREATMENT UPDATE
Sovann's treatment was successful. Read the update.
August 19, 2019
FULLY FUNDED
Sovann's treatment was fully funded.

Funded by 1 donor

Treatment

Stump Revision

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $327 for Sovann's treatment

Hospital Fees

$86

Medical Staff

$193

Medication

Supplies

$40

Labs

Radiology

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Unfortunately, injuries from land mines are common in Cambodia. Patients often undergo limb amputations. Following amputation of a leg, a patient is fitted with a prosthetic limb. Surgeons create a stump with enough healthy soft tissue covering the end of the bone to allow pressure to be exerted on it comfortably. Stumps can become painful for a variety of reasons. This pain can compromise the patient's ability to walk. In addition, as scar tissue matures, it can cause distortion of the stump, which may no longer fit into the prosthesis.

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

Pain, discomfort, and inability to use a prosthesis make life difficult for patients requiring stump revision surgeries. Painful stumps can make mobility difficult or impossible. Patients lose their independence and ability to work.

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

The majority of amputations in Cambodia result from trauma. Patients might sustain landmine injuries or infected open fractures. In contrast, amputations in the United States are usually caused by peripheral vascular disease, associated with a sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and the rising prevalence of obesity and diabetes.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

First, surgeons examine the stump to determine the cause of the problem. The patient may need surgery to cut away infected tissue, refashion the soft tissue covering the bone, saw off more of the bone, or remove a neuroma that has grown on the cut end of a nerve.

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

Walking with a prosthetic limb is much easier than using crutches or a self-propelled wheel chair. Patients can maintain their independence, work, and contribute to their communities. Patients with prosthetic legs tend to experience lower levels of depression because they feel more "normal."

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

This surgery is very safe and very effective.

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

The majority of amputees are people who live and work in the countryside. They make up one of the poorest groups in Southeast Asia and cannot afford treatment in private clinics. Children’s Surgical Centre is the only free hospital in Phnom Penh, so it receives the majority of patients with post-operative stump problems.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Patients can use crutches or wheelchairs for mobilization. Both of these options are slower, more awkward, expend more energy, and come with their own risks and complications.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Ly is a one-year-old girl from Cambodia. Ly's father is a farmer and her mother stays home to care for Ly and her two older siblings. Ly enjoys eating noodle soup, and likes to play with toys. Ly was born with polydactyly of both feet. This means that she has an extra toe on each foot. If the extra toes are not removed, it will become difficult for her to use her feet as she grows older and she could feel uncomfortable around others. Fortunately, on April 22nd, surgeons will perform a polydactyly repair procedure to remove the extra toe. Ly's family is able to contribute $100 but our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, needs an additional $199 to fund this procedure. After surgery, she will be able to walk easier and her parents will not worry about other children making fun of her feet. Ly’s mother shared, "I hope she will be able to have normal feet just like other kids when she grows up."

Rose is a 50-year-old woman from Kenya. Her husband works as a vegetable vendor in Nairobi and they have two adult children. Rose has a chronic wound on the left leg. Her doctors say she has severe cellulitis or a bacterial skin infection. The condition causes her pain and makes it difficult for her to walk. The wound in the leg needs to be treated by debridement or removing the damaged tissue so it can heal better. Rose also needs a skin graft to avoid infection. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is helping Rose receive treatment. On March 14th, surgeons will perform a debridement and skin graft procedure to heal the wound and prevent the leg from being amputated. Now, Rose needs help to fund this $1,185 procedure. Rose says, “I risk losing my leg if not treated. This wound is worsening and needs urgent care.”

The birth of twins Jane and her sister brought joy to their parents. She is the 4th born in a family of five. She is a bright grade 1 student who likes reading, drawing and colouring. Her family hails from a small village, and both her parents are farmers. Soon after birth, her parents discovered the challenge of Jane being born with multiple birth conditions: Bilateral clubfeet, hydrocephalus, and spina bifida. They shared that they were quite shocked as they had not heard or experienced any of them before. Treatment for hydrocephalus and spina bifida required a collaborative effort between orthopaedic specialists and neurosurgeons. At ten days, she underwent a spina bifida surgery at a local hospital to address the neural tube defect affecting her spine and then hydrocephalus. Jane is a resilient girl and has overcome so much, carrying a big smile on her face. She now needs treatment for her clubfoot condition as her feet are bent inward, hindering her mobility. She is scheduled to undergo surgery, which will be impactful to her because she will be able to walk confidently like other children and continue with her education. “My desire is to see my daughter walking well and any kind of help is greatly appreciated,” Jane’s mother told us.

Sovann's Timeline

Share Sovann's story

Funded by 1 donor

Treatment

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.