Written by Thea, our medical coordinator.

Mr. Trop is 35 years old and lives with his wife and 1½-year-old daughter.   They live in the village of L’berk and barely support themselves by growing rice on their small plot of land and running a small shop at the front of their house, selling basic everyday provisions to other villagers.

Mr Trop suffered with painful kidney stones for a very long time but he could not afford the necessary medical help.  He fell into debt when he borrowed money from his neighbors for medical costs.  He had visited the Provincial Hospital in Siem Reap but simply could not afford to pay the amount they asked for so returned home without getting any treatment.

The L’berk village leader contacted me and told me about Mr Trop and that he was in agonizing pain and asked if I could come to see him.

I went to visit Mr Trop and saw that he did need urgent help.  I arranged for him to visit the Polyclinic* the very next day.  But that night I received and urgent call from the village leader who told me that Mr Trop had become much worse.  I immediately drove out to the village to collect Mr Trop (on my motorbike – someone sat behind him to hold him on the bike) and took him to the Polyclinic.  Initially he was given painkillers and IV fluids to reduce his pain.   Surgery was then performed to remove the kidney stones.  Mr Trop was in the clinic for three weeks.

Mr Trop has now made a full recovery.  He is very happy to be able to get on with his life and get back to working as normal.  He says THANK YOU to Helping Hands for trying so hard to help him and for saving his life.

*The Polyclinic is the medical clinic we use for most of our general patients.