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We have a policy against taking in adult residents... but sometimes we decide to ignore it, especially when there is a sick child involved. Three year old Chay needed to be started on Anti-Retro-Viral drugs but his mother was also sick with Tuberculosis and so they asked us to take in both mother and child. I was hesitant at first but finally gave in.
Yeang Lab appears older then her 29 years... but Tuberculosis often has that effect on people. She was quiet when she first came to us but appeared relieved to finally have a place to stay, even if it was just a bed and a cabinet to keep their clothes in. Chay never wondered far from his mothers skirts and for the first few weeks the two were inseparable. |
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Thirteen year old Jane is the oldest of four siblings. Their mother died 3 months ago and so she took over being mother to her eight month old baby sister Srey Peak. Her father was also sick and so she dropped out of school to care for them. Because Srey Peak is HIV-Positive and in need of Anti-Retro-Viral drugs they were referred to us. We decided to take in Jane and her sister but could not at that time take in the other two. The baby is improving some but is far from being healthy. Jane is now studying in our school on campus, and depending on a decision in a few days on keeping them permanently, will begin public school soon. Already there is talk of us taking in the other two siblings as well. |
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Three year old Virak is another newcomer to our community.
Unable to walk when he first came to us a few weeks ago he is now trying his best to be like the other children and today he walked nearly ten meters on his own. |
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Seven year old Rith came to us with a swollen knee and was also unable to walk... but now we can not keep him down. Rith has also started first grade this year and is really doing good. He came to us because he failed the first line of medicines and needed to be started out on a new medicine that requires refrigeration, which is not available in most of the houses of Cambodia’s countryside. |
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Fifteen year old Sambaht and his Twelve year old brother Sayha were living in Phnom Penh with their older brother. Their parents died a couple of years ago and they were trying to make it on their own but without disciplining the two younger boys were not doing well in school and so the elder brother asked if they could come to stay in our Community. It is conditional but they have both made a good start and are going to school in the mornings and getting tutoring by our teachers in the afternoon. |
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Nine year old Pharoth is every bit as mischievous as he looks. To much for his Grandmother to handle and failing on first line Anti-Retro-Viral medicines, he was given no other choice then to live in our community. It wasn’t easy for him and even harder on us but with some controls now in place he is beginning to fit in and actually has days… well more like hours, of lovability. |
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These are just a few of the newer faces you will see in our Community. Our children now number 70 and we have more on the way. We are very grateful to the many people who have helped us by giving of their time, their talents, and their hard earned cash to get us to this point. May your lives be Blessed because of it.
Wayne Dale Matthysse Co-Founder / Advisor Partners in Compassion / Cambodia
The Wat Opot Children’s Community
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