Takeo children

While giving out bikes in the Takeo Province we have met many village families who are in extreme poverty.  Because of this we are finding children in need of medical care - so this has become yet  another project for me.

Thanks to good friend Mr Vanthon in Phnom Penh and Lisa I have been able to seek treatment for five children from the villages.  Huoy has been blind for the past four years and we have found her problem is cataract/glaucoma.  I gave  her a shortwave radio that will hopefully give her some interest.  Her brother has an eye problem that can be corrected with glasses (his is the simplest solution).  They are staying with their mum at the Takeo Eye Clinic during treatment.  This clinic is a  great project for this province and has good funding from AusAid.

For the other three children it is going to be a little more difficult to organise their treatment.   We have bought them to Phnom Penh and Vanthon is running us around in his tuk-tuk and acting as interpreter at the hospitals.  This involves sitting for many hours waiting to see Doctors and having tests and the families never complain, they will sit for hours patiently waiting - it's a big lesson for me in patience!

Phal is 17 years old and we have been told today she has chronic leukemia.  She has had a swollen abdomen for three years and was never taken for a medical check, apparently believing it was the after effects of maleria.   Loy is 3 years old and was born with a dropped eye so he is having scans at present and our last little boy has very badly scarred legs with sores which is hopefully dermititus (probably because they swim in putrid water!) 

So today we have visited three different hospitals and I'm now in the process of tracking down charities that may be able to help with treatment for Phal.  It is costing $100-$200US  for a CT scan or MRI.

There are many wonderful organisations here doing great work, so I am confident we will be able to improve the lives of these kids.   Though it is looking like Phal will be receiving treatment for a long time  in the future.