Treatment reduces swelling in Cambodian girl's 'elephant arm'

Taipei, Oct. 1 (CNA) A tailor-made elastic bandage has helped reduce swelling in the arm of a two-year-old Cambodian girl who checked into Taichung Veterans General Hospital in central Taiwan for treatment on Aug. 28, her doctor said Friday.

The young patient from Cambodia, Reachny Mich, whose condition has been described as an "elephant arm, " was prescribed the elastic garment by pediatric hematologist Chang Teh-kao.

The sleeve reduced her right arm's circumference from 31 centimeters two weeks ago to 26 centimeters, Chang said at a news conference at the hospital.

"It proves that our conservative therapy to reduce the massive swelling in her arm has worked, " he said.

The two-year-old was brought to Taiwan by her mother about one month ago for examination and possible treatment of her arm, which weighed so much the girl was unable to walk.

Chang said Mich's right arm was four to five times larger than her left arm. He diagnosed the girl with a rare case of Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome, a deformation of blood vessels and bones.

The girl was fortunate as she has not suffered from arteriovenous malformation, an abnormal connection between veins and arteries that would otherwise cause heart failure, Chang said.

"It is hoped that the circumference of the child's arm will decrease to about 20 centimeters in a month," Chang said.

He said that doctors decided not to perform surgery on the child because they felt she was too young and the surgery could cause complications.

"It will take six months to one year for us to complete the current treatment. We will make a new assessment if there is a problem with the sleeve," he said.

Reachny Mich is expected to be released from the hospital in one month so she and her mother can rent a home near the hospital and visit the doctor twice a week, according to Hsu Yu-pi, a volunteer at the hospital.

Hsu has been assisting the two with their finances as they seek medical attention in Taiwan. They have also received a donation of NT$100,000 (US$3,125) from Royal Philips Electronics.

Mich was discovered by a Taiwanese medical team when it visited Cambodia in April to provide free medical services. (By Hau Hsue-chin and Deborah Kuo)

Davik fundraising dinner draws 350 people

Davik Teng gets a hug from Chantha Bob, who helped bring her to the U.S. from Cambodia, as she and her mother, Sin Chhon, thank pediatric cardiologist Dr. Mark Sklansky during a fundraiser for Hearts Without Boundaries in Long Beach. (Jeff Gritchen/Staff Photographer)

04/27/2008
By Greg Mellen, Staff Writer
Long Beach Press Telegram (California, USA)

LONG BEACH - A full house of 350 residents and supporters filled Hak Heang Restaurant in Long Beach for a fundraising dinner to celebrate Davik Teng, a 9-year-old girl from a remote village in Cambodia who is recovering from open-heart surgery.

An emotional Peter Chhun, who organized Friday's event and is the founder of the nonprofit that sponsored Davik's journey to the United States, thanked the community for the outpouring of support, which will go to the child's continued care.

"From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your hearts to help me give Davik a new heart," Chhun told the crowd.

"Two-and-a-half months ago I cried," Chhun said of his emotions when he first saw Davik's impoverished village. "Two-and-a-half months later, I still cry."

Davik, who underwent the surgery a month ago, beamed as she circulated among tables in a traditional green Cambodian dress. Posing for pictures and steepling her fingers and bowing in the traditional Cambodian greeting, Davik showed no ill effects from the surgery that repaired a large hole in her heart known as a ventricular septal defect.

Dr. Mark Sklansky, the cardiologist from Childrens Hospital Los Angeles who has been treating Davik, was one of the guests in attendance and was presented with a plaque from Davik and Chhun. Previously Sklansky has said although Davik's recovery has gone very well, her heart still needs to become stronger.

As a result, Davik remains under a regimen of heart medications and is expected to remain in the United States until August, when her six-month visa expires.

In addition to dinner, guests were treated to dances presented by the Khmer Arts Academy. Alex Ouklore, Reachny Tan and Khannia Ok, performed a blessing dance and Nicky Ouklore did a monkey dance.

There was also a video presentation and music.

Among the guests were City Councilman Dee Andrews and Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal.

Lowenthal described the discovery and the saving of Davik as a miracle and said it provided a challenge to the community.

"The city's duty is to replicate the miracle," Lowenthal said. "We should think of ways to mend a heart and mend the world."

greg.mellen@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1291