Phin Ken, and his daughter, Socheat Nha during the the Cambodian New Year Parade in Long Beach on April 4. (Jeff Gritchen/Press-Telegram)04/22/2010
By Greg Mellen, Staff Writer
Long Beach Press Telegram (California, USA)
Aside from being hungry and thirsty the morning after, Socheat Nha, the Cambodian girl who underwent life-extending open heart surgery Wednesday, appeared to be recovering well in a Dominican Republic hospital Thursday.
Peter Chhun, the head of Hearts Without Boundaries, the Long Beach nonprofit that helped Socheat get the surgery, said the 3-year-old was alert and talkative the morning after a complex and risky four-hour operation.
Chhun said Socheat's father, Phin Ken, emotionally kissed and hugged his daughter, while hiding his tears from her.
According to Chhun, Socheat's first words to her father were to ask him why he had been gone for so long.
"He told her, `Oh, I went to do laundry,"' Chhun recalled.
Socheat was having none of it, Chhun said: "She said, "Nobody is doing laundry this long. It's been too long' And he said, `I had a lot of laundry."'
Chhun said several doctors were amazed at the girl's quick recovery, not to mention quick wits.
"They said hers was the most risky case they have and she comes out this well, `My God, you should be very happy,"' Chhun said.
Socheat, the daughter of a farmer in rural Cambodia, had a hole in her heart fixed, as well as repairs to her pulmonary artery, which connects the heart and lung.
The surgery was not available to Socheat in Cambodia.
Doctors still caution that recovery in the first two days after surgery can be troublesome.
However, Chhun was optimistic and delighted.
"My God, this girl, she's a fighter," Chhun said.
greg.mellen@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1291
Peter Chhun, the head of Hearts Without Boundaries, the Long Beach nonprofit that helped Socheat get the surgery, said the 3-year-old was alert and talkative the morning after a complex and risky four-hour operation.
Chhun said Socheat's father, Phin Ken, emotionally kissed and hugged his daughter, while hiding his tears from her.
According to Chhun, Socheat's first words to her father were to ask him why he had been gone for so long.
"He told her, `Oh, I went to do laundry,"' Chhun recalled.
Socheat was having none of it, Chhun said: "She said, "Nobody is doing laundry this long. It's been too long' And he said, `I had a lot of laundry."'
Chhun said several doctors were amazed at the girl's quick recovery, not to mention quick wits.
"They said hers was the most risky case they have and she comes out this well, `My God, you should be very happy,"' Chhun said.
Socheat, the daughter of a farmer in rural Cambodia, had a hole in her heart fixed, as well as repairs to her pulmonary artery, which connects the heart and lung.
The surgery was not available to Socheat in Cambodia.
Doctors still caution that recovery in the first two days after surgery can be troublesome.
However, Chhun was optimistic and delighted.
"My God, this girl, she's a fighter," Chhun said.
greg.mellen@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1291
7 comments:
GOD BLESS HER. SHE LOOKS SO CUTE.
May Buddha bless her and her families. It is good news to hear.
Buddha answered our prayers. Special thanks to all of you whose generosity made this life-saving operation a reality.
May God help those who help them. Amen,Aust
First and formost Lord Buddha helps the little out of danger and protects her from her illness. Thanks for Dominican Republic for helping her in the surgery.
How come American doctor is unable to do her operation? How can the doctor in Dominican Republic be able to perform that surgery? Are they afraid of law suit?
She is adorable. All best wish to her and her family.
Wonderful... wonderful... wonderful... The power of love of the God our Creator... that she recovers so quickly. Thank Him, and thank you all good people. May God bless you all. The joy is all mine... yeahhhh...
KP
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