Success! Kakada from Cambodia raised $1,500 to fund surgery for scoliosis.

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$1,500 raised, $0 to go

$1,500

raised

to go

Kakada's story
Kakada's update

October 8, 2019

Kakada is sixteen years old and enjoys reading books, playing soccer, and listening to music. Since the age of five, Kakada started showing signs of a curve in his spine. Over time, the curve has worsened, and now the spine deformity causes difficulty breathing, sleeping, walking, and an overall uncomfortable life. Surgery will help to straighten out and realign his spine, allowing him to breath without difficulty and create a less straining posture while he walks, eliminating discomfort. Kakada’s favorite subject in school is Khmer literature, and he hopes to become a doctor when he grows up.

“I hope that after surgery, I will not have to worry about my son’s spine getting any worse and I will be happy that he can return to his normal activities again.” -Kakada’s Mother

Kakada is sixteen years old and enjoys reading books, playing soccer, and listening to music. Since the age of five, Kakada started showing ...

Photo of Kakada post-operation

October 26, 2019

Kakada underwent surgery for scoliosis.

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

Kakada said, “I am so happy that my operation went well and now I am able to sleep and walk without any problems.”

Kakada's operation went well. Surgery will improve his quality of life by correcting his spine position and allowing him to sit for long per...

October 8, 2019
PROFILE SUBMITTED
Kakada was submitted by Lindsay Bownik, Stakeholder Relations Officer at Children's Surgical Centre.
October 8, 2019
TREATMENT OCCURRED
Kakada 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.
October 15, 2019
PROFILE PUBLISHED
Kakada's profile was published to start raising funds.
October 26, 2019
TREATMENT UPDATE
Kakada's treatment was successful. Read the update.
January 21, 2020
FULLY FUNDED
Kakada's treatment was fully funded.

Funded by 41 donors

Treatment

Spinal Surgery

Cost Breakdown
Diagnosis
Procedure

On average, it costs $1,500 for Kakada'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.

Hamith is a ten-year-old student from Cambodia. He lives with his family in Kandal province where his father is a journalist and his mother is a factory worker. He has one sister and one brother. At school, he is in the fourth grade, where his favorite subjects are Khmer, mathematics, social science, and English. Although he loves academics, Hamith aspires to be a footballer when he grows up. When he was very young, Hamith developed an ear infection. This infection caused his right ear's tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, to perforate. As a result, Hamith experiences frequent ear discharge, pain, tinnitus, and progressive hearing loss. He cannot communicate clearly with those around him and struggles to hear his teacher in class. Our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, is seeking $487 to fund a myringoplasty for Hamith, which will repair the perforation in his eardrum. The procedure is scheduled for April 25th at Kien Khleang National Rehabilitation Centre. Once he has recovered, Hamith's life will no longer be disrupted by the unpleasant symptoms he has been living with. Hamith's mother said: "We hope that after surgery, Hamith will be healthy, his hearing will be better, and he can return to school."

Neap is a 75-year-old retired rice farmer, mother, and grandmother. She has two sons, seven daughters, and twenty grandchildren. After her husband passed away, Neap moved in with one of her daughters, who supports them by working as a rice farmer. In her free time, she enjoys listening to the radio and visiting her local pagoda. About a year ago, Neap developed a cataract in her left eye, causing itchiness, tearing, and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking, thus is unable to travel on her own. When Neap learned about our medical partner, Children's Surgical Centre, she traveled for four hours to seek treatment. On March 7th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and implant an intraocular lens in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure. Neap said, "After surgery I want to see more clearly so I can take care of my family."

Nang is a 40-year-old woman from Burma. She lives with her husband and son in a camp for people who are internally displaced due to conflict in her country. Her husband is a day laborer, while she looks after their son at home. A few years ago, Nang accidentally cut off her left index and middle finger while chopping wood. Unable to afford a hospital or clinic, she wrapped her injury in a cloth and tried to treat herself with traditional medicine. Over time, the wound became infected, and the infection spread up her hand. She later had her arm amputated below her left elbow at the IDP camp clinic. However, the wound never healed fully and became re-infected. Doctors want Nang to undergo an MRI, a scan which will hopefully help doctors fully diagnose her condition and formulate an appropriate treatment plan. Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $814 to cover the cost of Nang's MRI and care, scheduled for March 6th. She said, “I feel sad about my condition. I am looking forward to getting treatment or surgery at the Hospital. I would like to thank the organization BCMF as I am happy to have the opportunity to receive treatment for my wound."

Kakada's Timeline

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Funded by 41 donors

Treatment

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.