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Success! Mao from Cambodia raised $487 to fund surgery to help him hear and communicate.

Mao
100%
  • $487 raised, $0 to go
$487
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Mao's treatment was fully funded on October 5, 2022.

Photo of Mao post-operation

October 16, 2022

Mao underwent surgery to help him hear and communicate.

Mao had ear infections and hearing problems over the past twenty years and was reluctant to try anything new. After his ear surgery at Children’s Surgical Centre, he is hopeful that his problems will finally disappear. The surgical repair will provide Mao with improved hearing so he can communicate better at work and with friends and family. His life will improve because he will no longer miss work and enjoy his life.

Mao’s mother said: “I am happy to have my son feeling good again; he has felt poorly for many years because he could not hear. Now he can go to work to help support our family and enjoy his life. Thank you to the strangers and to the CSC staff for helping Mao.”

Mao had ear infections and hearing problems over the past twenty years and was reluctant to try anything new. After his ear surgery at Child...

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May 3, 2022

Mao is a 22-year-old welder. He has two older sisters and enjoys fishing and playing football with his friends.

When he was young, Mao had a severe ear infection. This infection caused the tympanic membrane, or his ear drum, to perforate. Now, Mao experiences hearing loss, ear discharge, pain, and tinnitus. He shared that he can’t communicate clearly with others.

Mao traveled to our medical partner’s care center hoping to receive treatment. On May 3rd, he will undergo a myringoplasty procedure. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforations. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, is requesting $487 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care.

Mao says, “I want to get healthy and be free of pain and discharge.”

Mao is a 22-year-old welder. He has two older sisters and enjoys fishing and playing football with his friends. When he was young, Mao ha...

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Mao's Timeline

  • May 3, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

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

  • May 3, 2022
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Mao 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.

  • May 3, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Mao's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • October 5, 2022
    FULLY FUNDED

    Mao's treatment was fully funded.

  • October 16, 2022
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Mao's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 14 donors

Funded by 14 donors

Treatment
Myringoplasty
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $487 for Mao's treatment
Hospital Fees
$61
Medical Staff
$375
Medication
$0
Supplies
$43
Labs
$3
Radiology
$5
  • 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?

This 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.