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Success! SokChea from Cambodia raised $913 to fund ear surgery so she can communicate clearly.

SokChea
100%
  • $913 raised, $0 to go
$913
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
SokChea's treatment was fully funded on July 10, 2022.

Photo of SokChea post-operation

July 19, 2022

SokChea underwent ear surgery so she can finally communicate clearly.

SokChea and her husband traveled several hours to our medical partner Children’s Surgical Centre, where surgeons diagnosed bilateral chronic otitis media, with over half of her eardrum ruptured and vulnerable to chronic infection. This was the cause of SokChea’s hearing loss and fevers. She had successful surgery to repair both of her eardrums and will recover at home. Surgeons expect her eardrums to be fully healed within three months, and she looks forward to hearing normally again. This will help her in communication with her family and friends, and she told us that she is happy she will no longer be embarrassed by her hearing.

SokChea said: “I am so grateful that I will no longer have pain or infections. My family is happy that I will be able to hear them and our grandchildren. Thank you for making it possible for me to hear again. It will change my life for the better.”

SokChea and her husband traveled several hours to our medical partner Children's Surgical Centre, where surgeons diagnosed bilateral chronic...

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March 10, 2022

SokChea is a 57-year-old farmer. She and her husband farm their ancestral land; they have seven children who are all married and help them with the farming. She enjoys spending time with the family and cooking for her grandchildren.

When SokChea was about ten years old, she developed chronic ear discharge from both ears. Sometimes she would experience headaches, dizziness, and ringing in her ears. The infection she had caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in both ears to perforate. Now she cannot communicate clearly with others because it is hard for her to hear. She shared that this feels embarrassing for her so she shies away from speaking with strangers. Also, the medications she has used are costly for the family.

SokChea traveled to our medical partner’s care center to receive treatment. On March 10th, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in both ears. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforations. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, is requesting $913 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care.

“I hope that my hearing will improve and I won’t have to spend money to keep buying ear drops,” SokChea told us.

SokChea is a 57-year-old farmer. She and her husband farm their ancestral land; they have seven children who are all married and help them w...

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SokChea's Timeline

  • March 10, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    SokChea was submitted by Sieng Heng at Children's Surgical Centre.

  • March 10, 2022
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    SokChea 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.

  • March 12, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    SokChea's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • July 10, 2022
    FULLY FUNDED

    SokChea's treatment was fully funded.

  • July 19, 2022
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    SokChea's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 15 donors

Funded by 15 donors

Treatment
Bilateral Myringoplasty
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $913 for SokChea's treatment
Hospital Fees
$141
Medical Staff
$771
Medication
$1
Supplies
$0
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

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

A myringoplasty is the closure of the perforation of the tympanic membrane in the ear. This surgery is performed when a patient has a perforated eardrum, certain types of hearing loss, and chronic otitis media (middle ear infection). A bilateral myringoplasty will be performed when a patient has otitis media on both sides. Patients experience difficulty hearing and communicating, in addition to chronic infection and daily ear discharge.

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

The patient has difficulty hearing and experiences daily pain and ear discharge. These symptoms make it difficult to attend school or work regularly.

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

Many people in Cambodia are unaware that medical help is available for ear, nose, and throat (ENT) conditions. In rural villages, if a young child has trouble hearing, it may be assumed that he or she is deaf. For this reason, that child may not attend school.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

A myringoplasty is the closure of the perforation of the tympanic membrane. The temporalis fascia is grafted. An incision is made along the edge of the perforation, and a ring of epithelium is removed. A strip of mucosal layer is removed from the inner side of the perforation. The middle ear is packed with gelfoam soaked with an antibiotic. The edges of the graft should extend under the margins of the perforation, and a small part should extend over the posterior canal wall. The tympanomeatal flap is then replaced.

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

This surgery will repair the perforated tympanic membrane, treat the infection, and stop the ear discharge. This operation has a high success rate of hearing improvement.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

The surgery is highly effective with few risks.

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

Treatment for chronic ear infections is not widely available in Cambodia. There are only a handful of doctors in the country that will perform a myringoplasty, but their services are expensive. Children's Surgical Centre is the only affordable treatment option for patients coming in with chronic otitis media on one or both sides.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

The alternative to surgery is antibiotic ear drops, but they have a far lower success rate. Many people neglect their pain and discharge for years, until total loss of hearing becomes a reality.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.