Nathakorn “Nong Game” Sae-Chua’s
parents say a heartfelt thank you for the recent help they’ve been receiving.
Patcharapol Panrak
Children’s Day was a happy one for two Sattahip kids stricken
with hydrocephalus, one of whom not only received toys and cash, but donations
of Type “O” blood for a much-needed operation.
About 200 Sattahip-area residents put out their arm at
Chonburi Hospital to give blood following a Jan. 11 appeal by the parents of
Nathakorn “Nong Game” Sae-Chua. The donations replenished a blood-bank dried up
by New Year’s holiday accidents and allowed surgeons to move ahead with plans to
drill a hole in the skull of the 16-month-old boy to drain excess cerebrospinal
fluid.
Nathakorn was hospitalized after the intervention of Sattahip
District officials who implored hospitals to re-admit the area’s second child
suffering from “elephant man” syndrome after they sent the child away because
the parents were too poor to pay. Suffering from hydrocephalus since birth, the
toddler’s 68 cm. skull had become infected with pressure ulcers, which have now
been treated.
While not agreeing to perform the complex surgery that could
restore Nathakorn to near-normal health, Chonburi Hospital had agreed to the
crude hole-drilling that will drain the CSF externally. A second Sattahip child
suffering from hydrocephalus was lucky enough to find a sponsor for the standard
surgical procedure, which implants internal cerebral shunts to drain the fluid
internally.
The stories of Nathakorn and 31-month old Napakorn
Oumprasert, who was sponsored by American doctor Howard Resnick for medical care
at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, have captured the imagination of the Eastern
Seaboard with many reaching out to the boys for Children’s Day.
Members of the Khet Udomsak governing council - for whom
Napakorn’s father works - visited “Nong Kaan” at his parents’ Sukhumvit Soi 12
apartment bearing gifts of toys and cash.
Councilman Nathachai Saengsri presented dolls, gifts and
3,000 baht to Napakorn’s mother Amporn. He said the council lamented that the
boy, with a cranial circumference of 92 cm, cannot participate in organized
Children’s Day activities and wanted to show the local government cared about
his plight.
