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Success! Said from Venezuela raised $1,167 to fund surgery for his birth condition.

Said
100%
  • $1,167 raised, $0 to go
$1,167
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Said's treatment was fully funded on March 28, 2022.
January 13, 2022

Said is an active and fun-loving kid. He was born in Venezuela but due to the crisis there, almost 4 years ago his parents decided to move to Colombia seeking for better opportunities. Said loves soccer and video games, and is the youngest sibling in his family.

His mother shared that he was first diagnosed with cryptorchidism in Venezuela, but despite her efforts she hasn’t been able to find the way to pay for his surgery or find a hospital that could help them. Surgery is important to prevent him from having testicular cancer or a hernia.

Fortunately, our medical partner Clínica Noel is helping Said to access care. He’s scheduled for surgery on February 2nd and his family is raising $1,167 to cover his medical treatment.

Said’s mother said: “I’m really glad and thankful with those that might help my little boy, I’ve been seeking for years for a miracle. Knowing that I don’t have the resources makes me feel helpless. Thank you so much for your help.”

Said is an active and fun-loving kid. He was born in Venezuela but due to the crisis there, almost 4 years ago his parents decided to move t...

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Said's Timeline

  • January 13, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Said was submitted by SofĂ­a Gaviria Miranda, Head of Donations at ClĂ­nica Noel.

  • January 19, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Said's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • January 26, 2022
    TREATMENT SCHEDULED

    Said was scheduled to receive treatment at ClĂ­nica Noel in Colombia. 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 28, 2022
    FULLY FUNDED

    Said's treatment was fully funded.

  • TODAY
    AWAITING UPDATE

    Awaiting Said's treatment update from ClĂ­nica Noel.

Funded by 25 donors

Funded by 25 donors

Treatment
Orchidopexy
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $1,167 for Said's treatment
Hospital Fees
$666
Medical Staff
$406
Medication
$95
Supplies
$0
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

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

Not seeing or feeling a testicle where it is expected in the scrotum is the main sign of an undescended testicle. Testicles form in the abdomen during fetal development. During the last couple of months of normal fetal development, the testicles gradually descend from the abdomen through a tube-like passageway in the groin (inguinal canal) into the scrotum. With an undescended testicle, that process stops or is delayed.

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

In order for testicles to develop and function normally, they need to be slightly cooler than normal body temperature. The scrotum provides this cooler environment. Complications of a testicle not being located where it is supposed to be include: -Testicular cancer: the risk is greater for undescended testicles located in the abdomen than in the groin, and when both testicles are affected. Surgically correcting an undescended testicle will decrease the risk of future testicular cancer. -Fertility problems: Low sperm counts, poor sperm quality and decreased fertility are more likely to occur among men who've had an undescended testicle. This can be due to abnormal development of the testicle, and might get worse if the condition goes untreated for an extended period of time. -Testicular torsion: Testicular torsion is the twisting of the spermatic cord, which contains blood vessels, nerves and the tube that carries semen from the testicle to the penis. This painful condition cuts off blood to the testicle. -Trauma: If a testicle is located in the groin, it might be damaged from pressure against the pubic bone. -Inguinal hernia: If the opening between the abdomen and the inguinal canal is too loose, a portion of the intestines can push into the groin.

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

In the country, it’s hard to have access to good health insurance coverage, is rare that patients are driven to a specialized institution, and even when they are, families often don’t have enough money to pay for the treatment or to travel to the city where they can access surgery.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

A pediatric surgeon does a detailed review of the patient’s condition and determines the best surgical approach. After surgery, the patient has a follow-up appointment to remove stitches.

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

Bringing down the testicle may improve its function and prevent it from being damaged. An undescended testicle has a higher risk of testicular cancer. Although bringing the testicle down into the scrotum may not fully remove that risk, it will allow doctors to be able to feel any abnormalities in the testicle on routine physical exams throughout a child’s lifetime. An undescended testicle may also have a hernia associated with it that will need to be fixed during the same surgery to bring the testicle down.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

As in any surgery, there’s a risk of bleeding or infection.

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

In the country, it’s hard to have access to good health insurance coverage, is rare that patients are driven to a specialized institution, and even when they are, families often don’t have enough money to pay for the treatment.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

There’s no alternative.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Ly Hor

Ly Hor is a 13-year-old curious student. He comes from Tboung Khmum province in the central lowlands of the Mekong river. He has two sisters - his older sister is 19 and is a factory worker, and his younger sister is six and studies in grade one. His parents are farmers and grow rainy-day rice and vegetables. Ly Hor attends grade 7 in public school. His favorite subjects are math and physical education. In the future, he would like to be a doctor. At home, he enjoys playing football, reading books, doing homework with friends, and helping his family with the vegetable gardens. He loves it when his mom makes fried rice or fried noodles, which he enjoys eating with fresh milk. In October, Ly Hor injured his right elbow when playing football by stretching out his hand to break a fall. His mother took him to a Khmer traditional healer because she could not afford the care at a government hospital. He has chronic pain, and his elbow has become swollen and deformed. He is unable to use his hand due to swelling and pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On December 7th, Ly Hor will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $483. This procedure will repair the fracture, and Ly Hor will be able to use his arm again. Ly Hor's mother said: "He is very sad now because he cannot do anything with his friends. I hope the doctors can fix his arm so he won't be in pain, and he can be active again with his friends in school."

31% funded

31%funded
$150raised
$333to go

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Ly Hor

Ly Hor is a 13-year-old curious student. He comes from Tboung Khmum province in the central lowlands of the Mekong river. He has two sisters - his older sister is 19 and is a factory worker, and his younger sister is six and studies in grade one. His parents are farmers and grow rainy-day rice and vegetables. Ly Hor attends grade 7 in public school. His favorite subjects are math and physical education. In the future, he would like to be a doctor. At home, he enjoys playing football, reading books, doing homework with friends, and helping his family with the vegetable gardens. He loves it when his mom makes fried rice or fried noodles, which he enjoys eating with fresh milk. In October, Ly Hor injured his right elbow when playing football by stretching out his hand to break a fall. His mother took him to a Khmer traditional healer because she could not afford the care at a government hospital. He has chronic pain, and his elbow has become swollen and deformed. He is unable to use his hand due to swelling and pain. Fortunately, surgeons at our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, can help. On December 7th, Ly Hor will undergo a fracture repair procedure, which will cost $483. This procedure will repair the fracture, and Ly Hor will be able to use his arm again. Ly Hor's mother said: "He is very sad now because he cannot do anything with his friends. I hope the doctors can fix his arm so he won't be in pain, and he can be active again with his friends in school."

31% funded

31%funded
$150raised
$333to go