Success! Chheang from Cambodia raised $1,500 to fund spinal surgery.

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$1,500 raised, $0 to go

$1,500

raised

to go

Chheang's story
Chheang's update

June 6, 2019

Chheang is a teenager from Cambodia. He was born with scoliosis, which is progressing with age and making it difficult to sit in school for long periods, and causing a lot of discomfort.

Surgery can help correct the position of his spine, and prevent further worsening of the condition. Spinal surgery is scheduled for June 6 and will cost $1,500.

In his free time, he likes to read books, watch TV, listen to music, and go outside with his family. He hopes to one day become a doctor when he grows up.

Chheang is a teenager from Cambodia. He was born with scoliosis, which is progressing with age and making it difficult to sit in school for ...

Photo of Chheang post-operation

June 19, 2019

Chheang underwent spinal surgery.

Chheang’s operation went well. Surgery will improve her quality of life by correcting her spine position and allowing Chheang to sit for long periods of time without discomfort. Surgery is also important to ensure Chheang does not further the worsening of the condition. Chheang’s mom feels happy that he won’t have to miss any more school.

Chheang's operation went well. Surgery will improve her quality of life by correcting her spine position and allowing Chheang to sit for lon...

June 6, 2019
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Chheang was submitted by Lindsay Bownik, Stakeholder Relations Officer at Children's Surgical Centre.
June 6, 2019
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Chheang 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.
June 10, 2019
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Chheang's profile was published to start raising funds.
June 19, 2019
TREATMENT UPDATE
Chheang's treatment was successful. Read the update.
June 30, 2019
FULLY FUNDED
Chheang's treatment was fully funded.

Funded by 36 donors

Treatment

Spinal Surgery

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $1,500 for Chheang's treatment

Hospital Fees

$160

Medical Staff

$722

Medication

Supplies

$610

Labs

Radiology

Symptoms
Impact on patient's life
Cultural or regional significance

What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients experiencing severe back pain may also experience fever and chills, unexplained weight loss, sudden bowel and/or bladder incontinence, and severe, continuous abdominal pain. Back pain may be caused by vertebrae, the small bones of the spine. The back conditions for which surgery is recommended include degenerative disk disease, spondylolisthesis, spinal stenosis, scoliosis, fracture, infection, and tumor.

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

Patients with severe back pain experience difficulty walking, sleeping, sitting, riding a motorcycle, working, going to school, and carrying out everyday tasks. If the pain affects a patient's ability to work or go to school, the patient will be unable to earn money to support his or her family or continue his or her education. Patients may experience discomfort and difficulty breathing.

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

Cambodian culture emphasizes the importance of working hard and earning money to support the family. When a patient is unable to work, he or she may feel helpless or may experience financial difficulty.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

There are several types of spinal surgeries performed to treat back pain: Spinal fusion: This is the most common surgery for back pain and is used to keep the spine stable after injury, infection, or a tumor. The surgeon joins the spinal bones (vertebrae) together. In a spinal fusion for scoliosis, the surgeon attaches rods, hooks, wires, or screws to the curved part of the backbone to straighten and stabilize the spine. Laminectomy: In this procedure, the surgeon removes parts of the bone, bone spurs, or ligaments in the back. This relieves pressure on spinal nerves and can ease pain or weakness. Foraminotomy: The surgeon cuts bone at the sides of the vertebrae to widen the space through which nerves exit the spine, relieving pressure on the nerves and easing pain. Diskectomy: A disk, the cushion that separates the vertebrae, can slip out of place, pressing on a spinal nerve and causing back pain. In a diskectomy, the surgeon removes all or part of the disk to relieve pain. Disk replacement: A surgeon removes the damaged spinal disk and inserts an artificial one between the vertebrae. Interlaminar implant: The surgeon implants a U-shaped device between two vertebrae in the lower back. This device helps keep the space between them open and eases pressure on the spinal nerves. Bone grafting will also be performed to support the spine and stimulate bone healing.

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

The patient will be able to work or go to school without pain.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

As with any operation, there are potential risks associated with spinal surgery. These include: Infection: Antibiotics are regularly given to the patient before, during, and after surgery to lessen the risk of infection. Bleeding: A certain amount of bleeding is expected, but this is not typically significant. Pain at bone graft site: A small percentage of patients will experience persistent pain at the bone graft site. Recurring symptoms: Some patients may experience a recurrence of their original symptoms. Nerve damage: It is possible that the nerves or blood vessels may be injured during these operations. These complications are very rare. Blood clots: Another uncommon complication is the formation of blood clots in the legs.

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

Spinal surgery is not widely offered in Cambodia, especially for low-income patients who cannot afford treatment. Children's Surgical Centre (CSC) provides this procedure free of charge. Patients travel to CSC by bus, taxi, or motorbike from all over Cambodia.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Patients that do not seek a surgical procedure may try exercises and medication. However, these forms of treatment may not be effective.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Oun is a 64-year-old rice farmer from Prey Veng province. He is married with one son, one daughter, and four grandchildren. His son helps support the family by working in construction, and his daughter works on the rice farm. In his free time, he enjoys watching the news and going to his local pagoda to pray. About six months ago, Oun developed a cataract in his left eye, causing him blurry vision and light sensitivity. He has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, thus he is unable to travel on his own. When Oun learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, he traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On February 13th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and implant an intraocular lens in his left eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Oun and his family need help raising $253 to fund his procedure. He said, "I hope after surgery my eye can see better so I can work on my farm."

Victoria is a three-year-old girl from Kenya. Victoria is a cheerful, playful girl, who has been raised by her aunties. When she reached walking age, she could not walk. This prompted her family to seek medical attention at a public hospital near their hometown. They were referred to the Provincial General Hospital in Nakuru County, Kenya. Several tests were done, but financial constraints prevented them from returning for the test results. Victoria's medical treatment was further delayed when a relative who was actively supporting and raising her became ill, and all available finances were directed toward their treatment. Recently, Victoria's guardian, who was visiting her grandmother, was advised to seek medical care at BethanyKids. Victoria has been diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain and increases intracranial pressure. As a result of her condition, Victoria has been experiencing a visibly enlarged head size. Without treatment, Victoria will experience severe physical and developmental delays. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is requesting $720 to cover the cost of surgery for Victoria that will treat her hydrocephalus. The procedure is scheduled to take place on March 8th and will drain the excess fluid from Victoria's brain. This will reduce intracranial pressure and greatly improve her quality of life. With proper treatment, Victoria will hopefully develop into a strong, healthy young girl. Victoria’s aunty says, “This kid is active but unable to support herself because of the condition. She needs this treatment to be able to lead a normal life.”

Kimhong is an eight-year-old first grader from Cambodia, where he lives with his parents and younger sister. His father works in sales at a local company and his mother sells groceries from a street cart. Kimhong hopes to become a police officer when he grows up. Two years ago, Kimhong began experiencing a sore throat and difficulty swallowing. Frequent illness has caused him to miss school and he is unable to eat properly. He was recently diagnosed with enlarged tonsils and adenoids, which, if left untreated, will cause his symptoms to persist, and possibly intensify over time. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is requesting $265 to fund a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy for Kimhong. On April 26th, surgeons at Kien Khleang Rehabilitation Centre will remove his tonsils and adenoids, relieving Kimhong of his symptoms and improving his quality of life. Kimhong shared: "I hope my throat feels better so I can sleep without waking up and go back to school every day."

Chheang's Timeline

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Funded by 36 donors

Treatment

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.