Physical Health Cambodia Project #34426

Fund life-saving healthcare in Cambodia

by Sihanouk Hospital Corporation

Project Report | Feb 1, 2023
A young father seek care in SHCH

By Sok BOUY | Communication and Develpment Manager

A healthy young father, Sovannora, lives in Kandal province with his wife and three kids when he started to feel that it was hard to breathe. Sovannora is a construction worker in his early 30s. His youngest daughter is only one year and a half.

Two weeks ago, he experienced something abnormal, like shortness of breath. Later, it gradually became worse day after day. He then went to a private clinic in his community; on the other hand, he was not getting better, in which he got a series of nonstop fevers. He also developed many other symptoms including chest pain and epigastric pain. After some time, he was suggested to come and get treatment at Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope (SHCH) by his uncle.

Leaving his kids in his sister's care, Sovannora was nervous when he came to SHCH with his wife to get treated. It turned out that he had Pericarditis, swelling, and irritation of the thin, saclike tissue surrounding the heart (pericardium). He also has Dilated Cardiomyopathy, a type of heart muscle disease that causes the heart chambers (ventricles) to thin and stretch, growing larger and making it harder for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body, with mild pericardial effusion, a condition with the accumulation of too much fluid in the pericardium, a sac surrounding the heart. On top of that, he also tested positive for Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). He was really surprised and worried as he had never been this sick before. However, he felt reassured when his doctor told him that he would be fine as long as he regularly took his medications. He was told to quit smoking and drinking in order to recover and stay in good health in the future.

Laughing energetically, Sovannora is preparing for his discharge. He is excited to go back home and meet his three adorable kids. A happy and fine spirit he is, he would love to say “THANK YOU” to all of the donors who supported him in his treatment journey. He shared, “I feel so relieved getting treated nine days here because doctors and nurses are very kind and caring. They always pay close attention to me and frequently ask if I am comfortable and Do I experience any pain? Or Do I need anything? even at night time.”

Before going back home, he lastly mentioned that he would commit to quitting smoking and drinking so that he would be able to remain healthy for his wife and children in the future.

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Oct 5, 2022
A mother of four, found out intrahepatic stone

By Sok Bouy | Communication and Development Manager

Sreymom, a mother of four, found out she had left an intrahepatic stone at the age of forty-two. Sreymom is a housewife from Kompong Cham province. Her husband is a farmer. They have three sons and a daughter. Their oldest is in grade eight, and the youngest is only four years old.

Sreymom started experiencing epigastric pain, especially in the left lower quadrant, for two months before she came to Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope (SHCH) for consultation and treatment. The pain is constant and radiates to her back. She tried to bear the pain because she had no money for the hospital. Later, her aunt recommended she come to SHCH for medical attention because it is where you can get better with the support of finances from several donors.

After consultations with our doctors, she had to undergo standard procedures such as getting her blood tested and CT scan. The CT-scan result showed that she had multiple confluent stones intrahepatic biliary duct of the left lobe. She was then scheduled for surgery after our doctor had explained her condition and asked for permission to do an operation. Sreymom and her husband were very anxious about the surgery because it was her first operation, plus it was also severe. She was a very healthy person before and had never had any illness. To their relief, our surgeon explained and reassured them that they did not have to worry. Waiting in front of the operation room for 4 hours, Sreymom's husband prayed his wife's surgery would have no problems. The prayer worked, and Sreymom's operation was a success.

Looking dynamic, Sreymom is preparing for her discharge after nine days recovering. She described how she had never felt better and how kind of nurses and doctors here took care of her. Last but not least, Sreymom's husband said, "I would like to say thank you very much to surgeons, nurses, and all the staff who help in my wife's treatment journey. Specifically, we appreciate all SHCH doner's kindness which always help other poor patients and us."

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Jun 3, 2022
A widower seeking care at SHCH

By Sok Bouy | Communication and Development Manager

Mrs. Chantha

Leaving her hometown more than ten years ago, Chantha settled down in Phnom Penh with her family. She is a thirty-nine years old widow with a daughter and a son. Her oldest daughter is sixteen years old. She has to leave school when she is only in eighth grade and started a job as a factory worker after her mother fell sick. Her youngest son is ten years old yet he is still in first grade. Chantha was a food seller before she was diagnosed with ovarian cystic mass. They live in a rented room which costs forty dollars a month. Chantha paused her business for about five to six months around the time she started to feel ailing.

Chantha has known about her abdominal mass for approximately one year by self-palpation, and she noticed that it is fast growing. Three months prior to her visit to Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope (SHCH), she started experiencing abdominal distension. She then went to a private clinic to discuss it. As a result, she had a positive Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). She regularly took medication for treatment but her health condition is still not improving. She then decided to stop the treatment and started taking Khmer traditional medicine for two months. On the other hand, her abdomen kept getting bigger and bigger day by day, and she also had trouble digesting food. She was looking for a trusted hospital when her in-law recommended SHCH as her treatment center.

Arriving with a heavy heart, Chantha came to discuss her condition with SHCH’s doctor. She was instructed to undergo an abdominopelvic ultrasound and Computed Tomography (CT) scan. The findings indicate that she had a huge abdominopelvic cystic mass on her right ovary with a size of 23.3 × 30.3 × 19.1 cm. Her stomach was as big as a nine-months pregnant lady. The operation of right ovariectomy was scheduled immediately, and it was a successful one.

She is recovering well; therefore, she can be discharged and go back home tomorrow. She stated that “I have a very comfortable stay here in SHCH. The doctor explains my condition very well. He also calmed me down when I was very nervous about the operation. All the staffs here are very well-manner and always pay close attention to me in case I am uncomfortable or need something. Additionally, the whole facility is spotlessly cleaned.” She continued “I would like to say thank you to all the donors who support me in my treatment. I pray that all of you always be healthy and wealthy.”

Sharing about her future goal, Chantha cannot wait to gain back her energy and return to health so that she can resume her job to support her kids. Falling a victim to this illness affected her family so much that her oldest daughter had to quit school to find a job.

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