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Success! Rachhan from Cambodia raised $925 to fund ear surgery so he can excel in school.

Rachhan
100%
  • $925 raised, $0 to go
$925
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Rachhan's treatment was fully funded on July 11, 2022.

Photo of Rachhan post-operation

July 28, 2022

Rachhan underwent ear surgery so he can excel in school.

Rachhan had successful surgery to repair the damage caused by his ear infections and was able to go back home the following day. His family will come back to the surgical centre in a month for a post-operative hearing test, but he already has no more ear pain or discharge and will no longer have to miss school. He’s feeling happy that he can participate in all his classes without hearing difficulty any more.

Rachhan’s mother said: “We are so happy that our son can hear well again, and won’t suffer from infections and feel bad. He is much happier now, and we know he will do better in school. Thank you to those who helped him to have this surgery. It will make a big difference in his life.”

Rachhan had successful surgery to repair the damage caused by his ear infections and was able to go back home the following day. His family ...

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March 10, 2022

Rachhan is a 12-year-old student with five siblings. His parents are construction workers in their province. Rachhan enjoys playing football and riding bikes with his friends.

Six years ago, Rachhan had an ear infection. This infection caused a cholesteatoma, or an abnormal skin growth, to develop in the middle ear behind the ear drum. For this reason, Rachhan experiences ear fullness, headaches, hearing loss, and ear discharge. He shared that he does not want to go to school because he is ridiculed by his friends when the teacher scolds him for not listening. As a result he has poor grades and it is difficult for him to communicate with other people. His parents are worried, but cannot afford expensive treatment for him.

Rachhan traveled to our medical partner’s care center to receive treatment. On March 10th, he will undergo a mastoidectomy procedure in his right ear. During this procedure, ENT surgeons will remove the cholesteatoma. Our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, is requesting $925 to fund this procedure. This covers medications, supplies, and inpatient care.

Rachhan was excited that he will start to feel better soon. He told us, “I hope that I can hear well and go back to school.”

Rachhan is a 12-year-old student with five siblings. His parents are construction workers in their province. Rachhan enjoys playing football...

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Rachhan's Timeline

  • March 10, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

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

  • March 10, 2022
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Rachhan 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

    Rachhan's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • July 11, 2022
    FULLY FUNDED

    Rachhan's treatment was fully funded.

  • July 28, 2022
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Rachhan's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 25 donors

Funded by 25 donors

Treatment
Mastoidectomy
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $925 for Rachhan's treatment
Hospital Fees
$153
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 mastoidectomy is a surgical procedure that removes diseased mastoid air cells. A patient who needs a mastoidectomy will experience hearing loss, chronic ear infections, and possibly cholesteatoma—an abnormal skin growth in the middle ear. Cholesteatomas cause hearing loss and ear discharge. The cholesteatoma will erode bones in the middle ear and can eventually expose the brain and cause death in complicated, untreated cases.

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

Patients live with hearing loss and chronic ear infections.

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

Treated incorrectly or left untreated, an infected mastoid bone can cause hearing loss, persistent ear discharge, meningitis, temporary dizziness, and temporary loss of taste. Due to poor hygiene and limited education in rural Cambodia, patients are likely to experience complications and receive the incorrect treatment.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

A mastoidectomy is performed with the patient asleep under general anesthesia. Surgeons will perform one of several different types of mastoidectomy, depending on the amount of infection present. These include: • Simple (or closed) mastoidectomy: The operation is performed through the ear or through an incision behind the ear. The surgeon opens the mastoid bone and removes the infected air cells. The eardrum is incised to drain the middle ear. Topical antibiotics are placed in the ear. • Radical mastoidectomy: This procedure removes the most bone and is usually performed for extensive spread of a cholesteatoma. The eardrum and middle ear structures may be completely removed. Usually the stapes, the "stirrup"-shaped bone, is spared to preserve some hearing. • Modified radical mastoidectomy: In this procedure, some middle ear bones are left in place, and the eardrum is rebuilt by tympanoplasty. After surgery, the wound is stitched up around a drainage tube, and a dressing is applied.

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

This treatment will relieve chronic ear infections, hearing loss, and other symptoms caused by the infected mastoid bone.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

This treatment is highly effective, but it poses risks if performed by an inexperienced surgeon. The operation is near the facial nerve and the brain, so surgeons must be careful when operating. At Children's Surgical Centre, ENT surgeons only operate on cases about which they feel confident.

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

Care for this condition is not easily accessible in Phnom Penh. Only one other hospital performs ENT surgery, but care at that hospital is expensive. The ENT surgeons at our medical partner have a proven record of successful cases.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Once the infection stops responding to antibiotics, surgery is the only option.

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.