Veasna's new clothes

We have had a most lovely young guy with us this week. Veasna came to care for his mum who has come to us with still undiagnosed throat and chest pains.

Veasna has pains of a different kind - a big cloud of rejection and sadness hanging over him. He has just 'outline sight' in one of his eyes and he lost his dad four years ago. As a 14-year-old, life has been very sad.

For three days, Veasna would not speak at all, even when he was spoken to by our staff. He would smile and nod but he was so shy and withdrawn he just would not respond. Susie decided that he needed some individual attention; some caring that told him that he was loved and special.

Sue noted that he only had one set of clothes. We got Sopheap to take him shopping for two new sets of clothing - whatever he wanted. You can hardly imagine the transformation in this little guy when he came back in the most colourful gear to be found in the market! Such a small gesture of kindness has such an enormous individual impact.

Veasna in his new gear

These last three days, he has worn these clothes day and - I suspect - night. The second set of clothing he got was actually school clothing - a long-sleeved white shirt and some good looking longs. When it came time to go today, he got out the school clothing and put it on - over the trendy new shorts and t-shirt.

Getting dressed for the return home.

It is common for us to see patients arrive with next to no clothing. The poor are very, very poor. It is possible to buy used clothing by the pile here - as in a 1.6 metre high bale of clothing for US$150. We thought this was maybe just too much clothing to handle, so looked to option two - 400 pieces of clothing for much less. Our friend Michelle (a fine Aussie nurse who is here for six weeks yet again, working with Donnie into the provinces) heard of our plans and gave a bunch of clothes to us for this purpose.

Healing Home op shop - Sue, Bonna, Sreymom and Touch happily sorting through the clothing pile given to us today. Thank you, Michelle!!