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Success! Pheap from Cambodia raised $913 to fund ear surgery to help him hear and communicate clearly again.

Pheap
100%
  • $913 raised, $0 to go
$913
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Pheap's treatment was fully funded on June 3, 2022.

Photo of Pheap post-operation

June 10, 2022

Pheap underwent ear surgery to help him hear and communicate clearly again.

Pheap and his son traveled to our medical partner CSC to repair his ruptured tympanic membranes. Prior to surgery, Pheap was not optimistic that his hearing could be fixed, but soon after surgery, he was thrilled that the pain and tinnitus were gone! His hearing will slowly improve, and he will soon be able to communicate with others and support his family.

Pheap said: “I am happy I don’t have to pay for expensive medicine that didn’t help. I had trouble hearing people when I was outside, and it was difficult to hear my children or think clearly. Now I can listen better. I am thankful to the people who funded my surgery and hope that they continue to help Cambodians who need help.”

Pheap and his son traveled to our medical partner CSC to repair his ruptured tympanic membranes. Prior to surgery, Pheap was not optimistic ...

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February 24, 2022

Pheap is a 49-year-old rice farmer and a caring father to his three sons and daughter. Unfortunately, Pheap’s wife died of cancer last year, so now he only lives with his youngest son. On the weekends, Pheap likes to watch boxing on TV and go fishing with his son.

When he was a child, Pheap had an ear infection, which caused the tympanic membrane, or the ear drum, in both ears to perforate. For this reason, Pheap experiences ear discharge, hearing loss, and tinnitus. In the last three months the symptoms have worsened. He cannot hear well and has a lot of trouble communicating clearly with others.

Luckily, Pheap traveled to our medical partner’s care center, Kien khleang National Rehabilitation Centre, to receive treatment. On February 24th, Pheap will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in both ears. During this procedure, surgeons will close the perforations, which will hopefully allow for Pheap to hear and communicate clearly again. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, is requesting $913 to help fund this procedure. This cost covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care.

Pheap says, “I really hope the infection will stop and I can hear people again.”

Pheap is a 49-year-old rice farmer and a caring father to his three sons and daughter. Unfortunately, Pheap's wife died of cancer last year,...

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Pheap's Timeline

  • February 24, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

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

  • February 24, 2022
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Pheap 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 1, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Pheap's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • June 3, 2022
    FULLY FUNDED

    Pheap's treatment was fully funded.

  • June 10, 2022
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Pheap's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 21 donors

Funded by 21 donors

Treatment
Bilateral Myringoplasty
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $913 for Pheap'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.

Vanis

Vanis is a 60 year old small-scale farmer. She and her husband - who passed away in 2021 - had eleven children, of whom nine are still alive. Vanis had to leave school because of a lack of the fees necessary to remain in school, and of her children, only her youngest has been able to be educated. Over 20 years ago, Vanis began to experience troubling symptoms, including a small neck swelling that later started progressing in size. She initially thought it was a temporary condition, and resorted to using herbs, which did not help to relieve her symptoms. After delivering her first five children, she underwent a thyroidectomy, and she felt better. However, her symptoms recurred after she gave birth to six more children, and this time, the swelling was larger than it had ever been. She finds that she is unable to carry loads on her head, and she will occasionally experience difficulty breathing. Vanis has been diagnosed with a non-toxic, multinodular goiter, and she needs surgery to resolve her condition. Her family cannot afford to pay for her treatment, but our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, has stepped up to help Vanis access the care that she needs. They are requesting $333 to fund Vanis' procedure, which is scheduled to take place on December 3rd, at Rushoroza Hospital, and which will ensure that Vanis' symptoms do not get worse over time. Vanis says: “I pray that I may be considered for treatment so that I may live a normal life once again. I will continue with farming as soon as possible.”

40% funded

40%funded
$136raised
$197to go

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.