Sambo, who is 11 years old, lives with her older sister and her retired grandmother in Pursat province in Cambodia. Her sister, who is 21 years old, works in a clothing factory. Sambo’s parents are divorced, and her mother works in Phnom Penh, sending home money to ensure that Sambo eats well and stays in school.
When Sambo was just a toddler, an incident caused pain and discomfort in both thighs. This has affected the development of her thigh and her gait, making it difficult for her to walk comfortably and keep up with her friends. At school, she feels conscious of the way she walks.
A friend of her grandmother mentioned our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), where children can receive free or low-cost surgery. Sambo and her grandmother traveled for three and a half hours for a consultation, which resulted in a diagnosis of a right rectus femoris contracture. This condition occurs when the rectus femoris muscle in the right leg becomes shortened and tightened, which restricts the range of motion in knee flexion.
On December 13th, Sambo will undergo contracture release surgery that will correct her gait, so that she can walk and run with her friends. Her family can contribute $100 but needs help to raise $387 more to cover the cost of surgery, medications, post-operative recovery, and physical rehabilitation.
Sambo’s grandmother said: “After her operation, I hope Sambo can walk well and have no pain.”