3. Life saving surgery
Muylen, our representative in Cambodia, meets a man in the rural village suffering from a deep bone infection in his face. It’s in his eye socket and cheek bone, and it’s fatal unless treated. It started when he fell from his bike and injured his face. He cannot afford the medical care required. He is being ostracised by the community and if the infection ruptures into his blood stream, which could happen any day, he would be in grave danger. The photos show his with his mother, with whom he lives. Ethical Much representative Muylen steps in to save his life.
Muylen travels to Phnom Penh with the gentleman and his mother, and books them into a hospital. He is quickly seen by a doctor and surgery is arranged. Muylen buys supplies, including food, water, and basic supplies. His mother will stay in hospital with him for the duration of the process, which could be one or two weeks. During this time food will be brought in from outside three times a day.
The next day he is operated on. The surgeon removes ‘about a litre’ of fluid and matter from his face. The infection was deep in the tissue and bones, and the wound is kept open to be cleaned every day. He’s on an antibiotic drip. And eating well. He loves the food! It’s restaurant food, delivered three times a day, a real treat for him.
In a very moving Skype call, I am able to see and chat with him, with Muylen translating. It’s a very direct and personal experience.
In a very moving Skype call, I am able to see and chat with him, with Muylen translating. It’s a very direct and personal experience.
After another ten days our man is discharged from hospital. He still requires antibiotics and to see a community nurse, but he is now well and healthy. There’s no doubt this has transformed his life, indeed saved his life.
Here he is, meeting with Bird, the MD of Ethical Much, in the rural village in Cambodia.
A successful life transformation.
It’s unlikely he would be alive today if the infection were left untreated.
The cost of this intervention was £600 from the kindness fund.
We also bought him a new bike 🙂