Socheat Nha, Davik Teng and Chantha Bob at Sophy's Restaurant in Long Beach on May 16. Taken just days after 3-year-old Socheat's surgery in the Dominican Republic, repairing a major heart defect. Davik was the first child helped by Long Beach nonprofit Hearts Without Boundaries. (Photo by John Futch)Cambodian toddler doing 'really, really well' after heart surgery
05/20/2010
By Kelly Puente, Staff Writer
Long Beach Press Telegram (California, USA)
LONG BEACH - Socheat Nha, a 3-year-old Cambodian girl who was brought to the Dominican Republic for life-extending open heart surgery, is making a remarkable recovery.
Last month, her father, Phin Ken, and supporters held their breath as doctors performed a risky and dangerous four-hour operation to mend a hole in her heart, called a ventricular septal defect.
On Wednesday, she had her first post-operative assessment by Dr. Paul Grossfeld, a pediatric cardiologist at University of California Medical Center in San Diego.
"She's had a very great surgical result and things look favorable for a long-term prognosis," the doctor said. "Basically, she's doing really, really well. It's like a new lease on life for her."
Socheat was originally brought to the United States for the surgery, but doctors at a Las Vegas hospital examined her and determined that the surgery was too risky.
Long Beach-based nonprofit Hearts Without Boundaries, which helped broker the deal for the surgery, was able to arrange to have Socheat operated on in the Dominican Republic. Peter Chhun, the head of Hearts Without Boundaries, said he and his team were all surprised by her rapid recovery.
Socheat and her father returned to Long Beach on May 1. Chhun says he hopes to extend the their stay in the U.S. as long as possible.
"I want her to enjoy every moment here in America before she goes back to her village," he said. "It's going to be tough to let her go."
Hearts Without Boundaries brings Cambodian children with heart defects to the U.S. for surgery unavailable to them in their home country. Socheat is the third child Hearts Without Boundaries has helped.
Chhun said the organization has about 15 other children on its waiting list. The organization is working on generating funding for more surgeries.
"The list just keeps growing and growing," he said.
For Information on Hearts Without Boundaries visit www.heartswithoutboundaries.org.
kelly.puente@presstelegram.com, (562) 499-1305
Last month, her father, Phin Ken, and supporters held their breath as doctors performed a risky and dangerous four-hour operation to mend a hole in her heart, called a ventricular septal defect.
On Wednesday, she had her first post-operative assessment by Dr. Paul Grossfeld, a pediatric cardiologist at University of California Medical Center in San Diego.
"She's had a very great surgical result and things look favorable for a long-term prognosis," the doctor said. "Basically, she's doing really, really well. It's like a new lease on life for her."
Socheat was originally brought to the United States for the surgery, but doctors at a Las Vegas hospital examined her and determined that the surgery was too risky.
Long Beach-based nonprofit Hearts Without Boundaries, which helped broker the deal for the surgery, was able to arrange to have Socheat operated on in the Dominican Republic. Peter Chhun, the head of Hearts Without Boundaries, said he and his team were all surprised by her rapid recovery.
Socheat and her father returned to Long Beach on May 1. Chhun says he hopes to extend the their stay in the U.S. as long as possible.
"I want her to enjoy every moment here in America before she goes back to her village," he said. "It's going to be tough to let her go."
Hearts Without Boundaries brings Cambodian children with heart defects to the U.S. for surgery unavailable to them in their home country. Socheat is the third child Hearts Without Boundaries has helped.
Chhun said the organization has about 15 other children on its waiting list. The organization is working on generating funding for more surgeries.
"The list just keeps growing and growing," he said.
For Information on Hearts Without Boundaries visit www.heartswithoutboundaries.org.
kelly.puente@presstelegram.com, (562) 499-1305
3 comments:
You're out of danger now Socheat. Have a normal and happy life. Thanks to everyone involved.
Someone knows why the family name of Socheat Nha is not Ken nor Phin ?
Phin Ken is her father.
Socheat, I'm so glad that you have success. Wishes you have a wonderful lifes. And brilliance girl went you grow up.
Post a Comment