LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. USA - Three year-old Bunlak Song is comforted by his sister, Bunkek Song, after arriving at Los Angeles International Airport of Cambodia on March 6, 2011. Bunlak Song was brought to the United States by Hearts Without Boundaries, a Long Beach, Calif.-based non-profit group, to help repair his heart. Photo by Jeff Gritchen / Long Beach Press-Telegram (Jeff Gritchen)
By Greg Mellen,
Press-Telegram Staff Writer
Posted: 07/15/2011
LONG BEACH — Peter Chhun hadn't shaken off the jet lag from his trip back from Cambodia when he received a message that made him wonder if he was still dreaming.
Dr. Shaun Grady, whom Chhun had met only recently at a fundraiser, sent an email to say that more than $40,000 would be on its way to Children's Hospital Los Angeles to pay for open-heart surgery for an impoverished boy Chhun has sponsored.
Although negotiations are ongoing and some issues remain to be worked out, it is good news for a young boy who was fast running out of options.
"This is fantastic news," said Chhun, whose nonprofit Hearts Without Boundaries helps impoverished Cambodian children receive heart treatment unavailable in their home country. "This is beyond belief."
Bunlak Song is a 3-year- old who was orphaned at birth and is in desperate need of surgery to repair a hole in his heart and several other complications before his condition becomes irreversible.
Chhun brought the child to the United States with hopes he could be operated on at Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach.
However, doctors there became alarmed by the level of damage already done to the boy's lungs and other complications and decided not to operate.
Negotiations with several other hospitals also fell through, and the last hope appeared to be having the operation performed in Honduras by doctors from the International Children's Heart Fund, who saved another of Chhun's client.
While Chhun was working on that, Grady was quietly brokering a deal of his own.
An obstetrician from Pasadena, Grady met Chhun at a fundraiser for Bunlak in Long Beach.
"I was impressed by his story and his commitment," Grady said of Chhun. "And Bunlak was running around."
The doctor was smitten.
Grady said he realizes there are millions of children worldwide in similar circumstances. But here was one right in front of him.
Grady said he felt he was in a position to help, andso he did.
First a private fundraiser was scheduled at Grady's Pasadena home.
Through his brother, a pediatric cardiologist, Grady was able to get in touch with Dr. Vaughn Starnes, a renowned surgeon at
Children's Hospital who operated on Davik Teng, the first child Hearts Without Boundaries brought to the United States in 2008.
Grady invited Starnes to his event. The doctors began talking, and in pretty quick order Grady was able to get Starnes and others to donate their services and brokered a special rate with the hospital of about $41,000.
Although details still need to be remain to beworked out, the signs finally seem positive for Bunlak, who has run into nothing but impediments thus far.
"You just need to have patience," said Chhun, who is keeping the Honduras option open just in case.
The private fundraiser is scheduled for Sunday, and Grady said he will cover any shortfall to Children's Hospital.
Chhun is still somewhat in disbelief at the way things seem to be coming together, when a few months ago they appeared to be unraveling.
"We just met not long ago," Chhun said of Grady, "and he commits to help Bunlak. This is wonderful generosity.
"I can't describe in words. This is the greatest news for our organization."
Of course, Chhun isn't getting a complete free ride.
Grady reminded Chhun to bring a check to the fundraiser to pay for the staff that would be serving food.
greg.mellen@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1291
By Greg Mellen,
Press-Telegram Staff Writer
Posted: 07/15/2011
LONG BEACH — Peter Chhun hadn't shaken off the jet lag from his trip back from Cambodia when he received a message that made him wonder if he was still dreaming.
Dr. Shaun Grady, whom Chhun had met only recently at a fundraiser, sent an email to say that more than $40,000 would be on its way to Children's Hospital Los Angeles to pay for open-heart surgery for an impoverished boy Chhun has sponsored.
Although negotiations are ongoing and some issues remain to be worked out, it is good news for a young boy who was fast running out of options.
"This is fantastic news," said Chhun, whose nonprofit Hearts Without Boundaries helps impoverished Cambodian children receive heart treatment unavailable in their home country. "This is beyond belief."
Bunlak Song is a 3-year- old who was orphaned at birth and is in desperate need of surgery to repair a hole in his heart and several other complications before his condition becomes irreversible.
Chhun brought the child to the United States with hopes he could be operated on at Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach.
However, doctors there became alarmed by the level of damage already done to the boy's lungs and other complications and decided not to operate.
Negotiations with several other hospitals also fell through, and the last hope appeared to be having the operation performed in Honduras by doctors from the International Children's Heart Fund, who saved another of Chhun's client.
While Chhun was working on that, Grady was quietly brokering a deal of his own.
An obstetrician from Pasadena, Grady met Chhun at a fundraiser for Bunlak in Long Beach.
"I was impressed by his story and his commitment," Grady said of Chhun. "And Bunlak was running around."
The doctor was smitten.
Grady said he realizes there are millions of children worldwide in similar circumstances. But here was one right in front of him.
Grady said he felt he was in a position to help, andso he did.
First a private fundraiser was scheduled at Grady's Pasadena home.
Through his brother, a pediatric cardiologist, Grady was able to get in touch with Dr. Vaughn Starnes, a renowned surgeon at
Children's Hospital who operated on Davik Teng, the first child Hearts Without Boundaries brought to the United States in 2008.
Grady invited Starnes to his event. The doctors began talking, and in pretty quick order Grady was able to get Starnes and others to donate their services and brokered a special rate with the hospital of about $41,000.
Although details still need to be remain to beworked out, the signs finally seem positive for Bunlak, who has run into nothing but impediments thus far.
"You just need to have patience," said Chhun, who is keeping the Honduras option open just in case.
The private fundraiser is scheduled for Sunday, and Grady said he will cover any shortfall to Children's Hospital.
Chhun is still somewhat in disbelief at the way things seem to be coming together, when a few months ago they appeared to be unraveling.
"We just met not long ago," Chhun said of Grady, "and he commits to help Bunlak. This is wonderful generosity.
"I can't describe in words. This is the greatest news for our organization."
Of course, Chhun isn't getting a complete free ride.
Grady reminded Chhun to bring a check to the fundraiser to pay for the staff that would be serving food.
greg.mellen@presstelegram.com, 562-499-1291
No comments:
Post a Comment