Ocho – Overcoming Bell's Palsy with Strength and Care
Age: 11 years old
Ocho's Story
Baby Ocho (Kanya), an 11-year-old Karen girl born on September 27, 2013, comes from Baan Huey Num Kao in Kanchanaburi province. Her family struggles to make ends meet with minimal farm income. Ocho's life took a challenging turn when she developed a right facial drop and other symptoms linked to a suspected congenital cholesteatoma, causing compression of her cranial nerve.
With limited access to specialized care, her family sought assistance from the Be Well Child Care Foundation for life-saving support.
Diagnosis & Condition
Initially suspected congenital cholesteatoma causing cranial nerve compression, later revised to Bell's Palsy after extensive diagnostic workup across multiple hospitals.
Symptoms
Right facial drop and weakness
Eyelid droop
Right facial weakness
Treatment Plan
Medication for Bell's Palsy (responding well)
Neurological follow-up appointments
No surgery required
Medical Journey
March 2024: Ocho's family noticed her right facial weakness and eyelid droop. Initial visits to local hospitals provided temporary relief through steroids but failed to address the underlying cause. Symptoms worsened over the next months.
September 2024: CT scans at Kanchanaburi Provincial Hospital revealed a mass compressing her cranial nerve. Doctors suspected a congenital cholesteatoma and recommended further investigation at a tertiary hospital.
October 2024: Ocho was referred to Bangkok Children's Hospital. Despite thorough evaluations, the hospital lacked the facilities for advanced treatment and referred her to Ramathibodi University Hospital.
October 17, 2024: Visited Paholpolpayuhasena Hospital, Kanchanaburi, where doctors ruled out congenital cholesteatoma but recommended further specialized care.
October 24, 2024: Referred to Bangkok Children's Hospital for advanced evaluation but deemed unsuitable for their facilities and referred to a university medical hospital.
December 9, 2024: Visited Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok. ENT specialist suggested further MRI scans and set a follow-up appointment.
December 19, 2024: Follow-up at Ramathibodi Hospital with ENT specialists. The MRI scan was recommended, but the wait time was over six months. An expedited appointment was arranged at Hua Hin Hospital.
December 31, 2024: Completed MRI temporal bone scan at Paholpolpayuhasena Hospital in Kanchanaburi to evaluate the structure and inform the treatment plan.
January 3, 2025: Visited Be Well Clinic for consultation and review of MRI results.
January 15, 2025: Follow-up with ENT surgeons at Ramathibodi Hospital. MRI scans revealed no serious nerve compression. The diagnosis shifted to Bell's Palsy, which improved with medication. No surgical treatment was needed.
Progress Updates
Neurologist Appointment Scheduled
Scheduled appointment with a neurologist in Bangkok for an arterial evaluation in the brain as a precautionary follow-up measure.
Diagnosis Revised to Bell's Palsy — No Surgery Needed
Follow-up with ENT surgeons at Ramathibodi Hospital. MRI scans revealed no serious nerve compression. The diagnosis shifted to Bell's Palsy, which has improved with medication. No surgical treatment is needed.
Consultation at Be Well Clinic
Visited Be Well Clinic for consultation and review of MRI results. The consultation provided recommendations for further steps in Ocho's care.
MRI Scan Completed
Completed MRI temporal bone scan at Paholpolpayuhasena Hospital in Kanchanaburi to evaluate the structure and inform the treatment plan.
Cholesteatoma Ruled Out at Paholpolpayuhasena Hospital
Visited Paholpolpayuhasena Hospital, Kanchanaburi, where doctors ruled out congenital cholesteatoma but recommended further specialized care.
Referral to Bangkok Children's Hospital
Ocho was referred to Bangkok Children's Hospital for advanced evaluation. Despite thorough evaluations, the hospital lacked the facilities for advanced treatment and referred her to Ramathibodi University Hospital.
CT Scan Reveals Mass — Cholesteatoma Suspected
CT scans at Kanchanaburi Provincial Hospital revealed a mass compressing her cranial nerve. Doctors suspected a congenital cholesteatoma and recommended further investigation at a tertiary hospital.
Facial Weakness Symptoms Noticed
Ocho's family noticed her right facial weakness and eyelid droop. Initial visits to local hospitals provided temporary relief through steroids but failed to address the underlying cause. Symptoms worsened over the following months.
The Difference You Made
Your donations help cover Ocho's ongoing medical expenses, including diagnostic imaging, specialist consultations across multiple hospitals, medication for Bell's Palsy, and transportation costs for her family traveling from Kanchanaburi to Bangkok. Every contribution brings Ocho closer to a full recovery.
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