Read our powered by our community 🙌 Check out our 🙌
Meet another patient

Watsi logo blueWatsi

Or is a mom of three from Cambodia who needs $487 to fund surgery to heal a perforated eardrum.

Or
17%
  • $87 raised, $400 to go
$87
raised
$400
to go
Dedicate my donation


We'll send your dedicatee an email
about your gift, along with updates
about Or's recovery.

December 15, 2022

Or is a 40-year-old woman from Cambodia. She and her husband have three sons, all of whom are in school studying. Or recently had to leave a better-paying job in Thailand to return home for medical treatment. She now works in a local factory, and her husband works as a farmer. At home, Or enjoys baking desserts and sells them to supplement the family’s income.

Since Or was very young, she has had an ear infection. This infection caused her left ear’s tympanic membrane, or eardrum, to perforate. Medication has not helped relieve her symptoms. As a result of this condition, Or experiences pain and chronic tinnitus, a ringing in her ear that prevents her from hearing people when they speak to her.

Fortunately, Or traveled to our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), to receive treatment. On December 15th, she will undergo a myringoplasty procedure in her left ear to close the perforation. CSC is requesting $487 to fund this procedure, which covers all medications, supplies, and inpatient care. Or’s family was able to gather $100 to contribute to her care.

Or said, “I heard about CSC from relatives and that I can get treatment for my ear. I hope my ears can be fixed so I feel better and can work again to support my family.”

Or is a 40-year-old woman from Cambodia. She and her husband have three sons, all of whom are in school studying. Or recently had to leave a...

Read more

Or's Timeline

  • December 15, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

    Or was submitted by Ellen Interlandi, Stakeholder Relations at Children's Surgical Centre.

  • December 15, 2022
    TREATMENT SCHEDULED

    Or was scheduled to receive 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.

  • December 15, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Or's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • TODAY
    AWAITING FUNDING

    Or is currently raising funds for her treatment.

  • TBD
    AWAITING UPDATE

    Awaiting Or's treatment update from Children's Surgical Centre.

Funded by 4 donors

Funded by 4 donors

Treatment
Myringoplasty
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $487 for Or'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.

Mark

Mark is a 2-year-old boy, His mother works as a teacher, while the father owns a small business of selling thrift shoes around town. However, ever since the lock down period during the COVID-19 pandemic, their business has been slow, thus, reducing their household income. The past year has been the most difficult for them, and they are unable to raise funds to seek medical treatment for their son. Last year, while playing with his friends, Mark accidentally pulled on a flask of hot water resulting in the water spilling and burning most parts of his arms and stomach. Following the accident, his mother applied honey and a raw egg on the wound as first aid and then rushed him to the hospital. Mark was given ointments to help the wound heal, but his mother was led to believe that applying mashed cassava mixed with honey would help Mark’s wound heal faster and better compared to the medicine he was given at the hospital. Two months after the incident, Mark no longer had an open wound, but the skin around the fingers of his right hand was badly damaged. Burn scar contractures have developed, tightening the skin around the burn. Now it is difficult for him to use his right hand. Fortunately, our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, is helping Mark receive treatment. On March 3rd, surgeons at their care center will perform a burn contracture release surgery to increase the functionality of his fingers. Now, he needs help to fund this $874 procedure. Mark’s mother says, “Sometimes I wonder if not following the doctor’s advice is the reason my son’s hand is the way it is, and I’m the one responsible for that.”

0% funded

0%funded
$0raised
$874to go

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.