Cambodia - When Giving Recognises Giving

Images 1 & 2 - Neurosurgery outpatient waiting room...40 degrees heat...no air-conditioning... puts things in perspective.

image 3 - The case was far from straightforward. A large acoustic neuroma, challenging anaesthetic conditions, and a theatre without even the most basic microsurgical tools, no micro-instruments, no head holder, and no facial nerve monitoring. At one point, a simple request to lower the CO₂ levels was misunderstood and nearly adjusted in the opposite direction. And yet, despite all of that, the tumour was completely removed, with the facial nerve preserved perfectly.

People often ask why I devote so much time to pro bono work. The answer, sometimes, is as simple as this patient. He came to Cambodia not for himself, but to serve others, working tirelessly to support himself while volunteering what little time he has at a local orphanage. He owns very little, has no financial safety net, and still chooses to give.

When you meet someone like that, the question isn’t why you give your time, it’s how you could possibly not.

26th April 2026