A family of five people all stricken with severe health problems and facing eviction were given a new place to stay and about 5,000 baht in donations after their troubles were first published in late February.
A month after the plight of Shalan, 80, his 76-year-old wife Waeth Narinthorn, daughters Thongsuk Narinthorn, 55, Nuaree Sakolyuth, 45, and Oradee Sakolyuth, 25, came to light, the Big-Hearted Pattaya Club scrounged together 5,050 baht to give to the family March 29. While a heart-felt gift, the family indicated earlier they needed much larger handouts.
The Big Hearted Pattaya Club held a party on 24th March, which raised 5,050 baht to help the family.
Shalan is paralyzed from the waist down and suffers from kidney disease. Waeth is a stroke victim, Thongsuk has arthritis and Nuaree has lung cancer. Even the youngest, Oradee, has cystic fibrosis. If they can work at all, they earn money picking up trash to recycle, selling second-hand goods or in a low-paying waitress job.
The family members say they don’t have enough money from government welfare and minimal employment to make ends meet. Making matters worse, Oradee borrowed money off a loan shark she cannot repay and the family faced exorbitant interest charges after she went into hiding.
The family’s landlord decided he’d had enough and last month gave the group two months to get out.
An unnamed landowner near Nongket Yai came to their aid, offering land to rent at 15,000 baht per month, below market value due to the property being dirty and dilapidated. The family graciously accepted, but said they still had to borrow money to live there, as their earnings each month are only about 8,000 baht.
Thongsuk said earlier she had hatched a new plan to raise funds by selling lottery tickets. However, she said, getting started is expensive and she needs money to buy her initial allotments. Thus the family still has their hands out. If anyone is interested, they can contact Oradee at 087-160-8271.
