This story report has been written by our medical co-ordinator, Thea, with the help of a volunteer.

The story of Mr Soun is a very sad one.   Mr Soun is 30 years old and has a wife named Vo Trop and two children named Soin Bona, a 4 year old boy, and Soin Manut, a 1 year old girl.

In February 2010 Mr Soun had a major operation on his ear and the surrounding area due to stenosis, a stricture (narrowing) of the ear canal, which had become infected and was life threatening (due to the infection reaching the brain.)

It is a sad story because he has had this condition for four years.  To add to his troubles, other members of his own family blamed bad spirits that they perceived were living in his house for this, and for other ill health conditions in the family, and this resulted in them burning his house down.

Fortunately, Mr Soun heard about our ear clinic.  Once the All Ears Cambodia staff realized the gravity of Mr Soun’s condition they suggested that Thea take him to another NGO  medical unit in Siem Reap called Metakarona (operated by the Jesuits).

This is where he received the specific diagnoses of stenosis.  Thea was told of Mr Soun’s possible death if he did not get specialist treatment and suggested that he be taken to the small city of Battambang (around 180kms away) where such treatment was available.  This was in October 2009.  At this point the doctors decided not to operate until they could get the infection under control and after observing him for some days sent him back to his village with medicine to treat the infection.

In February he was finally ready for surgery, which was successful.

Through all of this Thea was able to help Mr Soun overcome his fears and concerns.  It was a very traumatic time for him and his young family as they worried if he would survive the surgery. 

Because of his ill health Mr Soun was unable to work (he normally works as a laborer on construction sites in Siem Reap) which caused additional financial hardship to his family.  Helping Hands has been helping out by supplying the family with rice and canned fish.

Mr Soun is now resting up – he has been told he is not to go back to work for several months.  He has to attend the Metakarona every week for observation and follow up.  Helping Hands is about to rebuild a small home for him and his family.  In line with our policy of not giving charity where possible (we believe that charity does not promote dignity) Mr Soun will “earn” his house by working as an assistant for Thea when he is teaching health, hygiene and sanitation to the villagers.

Mr Soun's house has now been completed.  It cost around $300 usd in total.