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

Watsi logo blueWatsi

Success! Mom from Cambodia raised $253 to fund cataract surgery so she can see clearly and travel on her own.

Mom
100%
  • $253 raised, $0 to go
$253
raised
$0
to go
Fully funded
Mom's treatment was fully funded on December 29, 2022.

Photo of Mom post-operation

January 9, 2023

Mom underwent cataract surgery so she can see clearly and travel on her own.

Grateful for the recommendation from a neighbor to visit Children’s Surgical Centre (CSC), Mom underwent cataract surgery and is recovering well. She rested for several days and applied eye drops to continue her healing. Mom shared that her vision has improved already! Before undergoing surgery, it was difficult for Mom to help with the family’s fishing boats. However, now that her eyesight has improved, she looks forward to being able to help support her family and live with greater independence.

Mom’s daughter said, “We are very happy my mother can see well again. She can help me with housework and cooking and do things for herself she could not do before. She feels more useful to my family, and she is happier. Thank you for donating for her care so she can have a good life.”

Grateful for the recommendation from a neighbor to visit Children's Surgical Centre (CSC), Mom underwent cataract surgery and is recovering ...

Read more
July 18, 2022

Mom is a 70-years-old loving grandmother from Cambodia. She has one son, six daughters, and 20 beautiful grandchildren. Her husband unfortunately passed away, so she now lives with her eldest daughter, who is a tailor. Mom enjoys going to the mosque.

Two years ago, Mom developed a cataract in her left eye, causing her to experience light sensitivity, eye tearing, and blurry vision. She has difficulty seeing things clearly, including colors and faces, and is worried about falling when walking. Because of this, she is not able to go places on her own.

When Mom learned about our medical partner, Children’s Surgical Centre, she traveled for three and a half hours seeking treatment. On July 18th, doctors will perform a small incision cataract surgery and place an intraocular lens implant in her left eye. After recovery, she will be able to see clearly. Now, she needs help to fund this $253 procedure.

Mom says, “I hope I can see things clearly again so I can travel easily on my own.”

Mom is a 70-years-old loving grandmother from Cambodia. She has one son, six daughters, and 20 beautiful grandchildren. Her husband unfortun...

Read more

Mom's Timeline

  • July 18, 2022
    PROFILE SUBMITTED

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

  • July 18, 2022
    TREATMENT OCCURRED

    Mom 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.

  • July 18, 2022
    PROFILE PUBLISHED

    Mom's profile was published to start raising funds.

  • December 29, 2022
    FULLY FUNDED

    Mom's treatment was fully funded.

  • January 9, 2023
    TREATMENT UPDATE

    Mom's treatment was successful. Read the update.

Funded by 3 donors

Funded by 3 donors

Treatment
Cataract - One Eye
  • Cost Breakdown
  • Diagnosis
  • Procedure
On average, it costs $253 for Mom's treatment
Hospital Fees
$36
Medical Staff
$174
Medication
$0
Supplies
$43
  • Symptoms
  • Impact on patient's life
  • Cultural or regional significance

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

Patients with cataracts experience decreased vision, discomfort, and irritation. Cataracts occur when the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, causing functional blindness. These changes in the lens commonly occur with increasing age and therefore affect elderly people. Cataracts can also be congenital or traumatic.

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

The decreased vision from cataracts can cause functional blindness. This makes it difficult for the patient to conduct daily activities. Patients often need a family member to help guide and care for them. If the patient is elderly, this often affects a young child in the family. When a grandmother needs help getting around, a young child is often assigned to help with her daily tasks. That child cannot go to school.

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

In many countries in the developing world, surgical services are inadequate. Cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness globally. Even where surgical services are available, barriers to surgery remain, including cost, shortage of human resources, poor infrastructure, and limited awareness about access to available services.

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

What does the treatment process look like?

Cataract surgery is the most common surgery performed worldwide. Surgeons remove the cloudy lens and place a clear lens implant in its place.

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

A patient's vision can improve to 20/20 within one day after the surgery.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Cataract surgery is highly effective and carries a low risk.

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

Cataract surgery is available in most areas of Cambodia. However, free surgery is not as widely available.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

Some debilitating effects of cataracts can be improved with glasses. When the cataract becomes mature, however, the only definitive treatment is surgical.

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.

Miheretu

Miheretu is a sweet nine month old boy, who loves to play with his mother and other children. Miheretu's father works as a day laborer, while his mother stays at home to care for their children. Sadly, the family's income is insufficient to supply adequate food for the children, leaving Miheretu nutritionally deprived. Due to the concerns of his doctors, Miheretu underwent a colostomy for what was determined to be Hirschsprung's Disease. This is a condition that is present at birth, in which the baby's colon is missing necessary nerve cells. Without these cells, the muscles of Miheretu's gut cannot move contents through his colon, which can result in the contents backing up and causing a bowel blockage. After the colostomy, Miheretu's parents brought him back home, as they were unable to pay for the additional medical care that he needs. Thanks to the intervention of a local charitable organization, Miheretu was brought to BethanyKids Myungsung Christian Medical Centre, where on January 5th, doctors from our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare Foundation, will perform a Hirschsprung Pull Through. During this procedure, doctors will remove the damaged section of Miheretu's colon, which will alleviate the bowel obstruction, and allow for normal colon function. Miheretu's parents cannot afford the $1,500 cost of the surgery, and are looking to you for help. Miheretu's mother says: “If my child gets the surgery and recovers, I will give thanks to God in front of all church members and tell my testimony. I will take care of him to the best of my capacity. I want him to get an education and to get married one day.”

61% funded

61%funded
$929raised
$571to go

Meet another patient you can support

100% of your donation funds life-changing surgery.