This week we received the sad news that 13-year-old Ped (born in 2011) had passed away. She was a disabled girl who had been part of our program for years. She passed away after years of severe weakness.
Ped lived with her grandmother Long (born 1963) in Mukdahan, in northeastern Thailand. Her mother had mental health issues and was therefore unable (or unwilling) to care for her daughter. Sadly, our team recently discovered that her mother now has a new family and still lives in the same neighborhood as her daughter. Her father left Ped and her mother when she was only 3 months old, so her grandmother cared for her all those years. Unfortunately, this wasn't a happy ending.
Grandpa in prison
Omdat Ped zoveel aandacht nodig heeft, kon oma niet werken. Pad, de oom van Ped, was daarom verantwoordelijk voor het inkomen van het gezin. Hij is pas 17 jaar oud (zie foto hierboven). Ped’s grootvader leeft nog, maar heeft het grootste deel van Ped’s leven in de gevangenis gezeten.
Not able to walk or communicatie
Ped was mentally and physically disabled. She couldn't walk independently; even moving without assistance was a major challenge. She also suffered from epilepsy and therefore had to visit the doctor monthly for medical treatment. She also couldn't communicate and was severely malnourished. Grandma never quite understood how to care for Ped, and the hospital often didn't keep her care appointments. As a result, Ped remained thin and weak for all those years.
Tube feeding and counseling
We, as Siam-Care, visited Ped regularly to feed her, wash her, and change her bedding. We recently arranged for a new bed because her old mattress, which was lying on the floor, was infested with itchy bugs. We also arranged tube feeding and counseled Grandma.
Thankful
Sadly, Ped has passed away after years of frailty. We are saddened, but also grateful that with your support, we were able to make her life a little more bearable. May she rest in peace.