Hospital Experiences

Each week brings a new experience, but sometimes there are ones we wish we did not have to go through. Earlier in the week, Rick had to assist someone to the local clinic that most foreigners go to when ill. The American doctor was on vacation, but was great to come on in and help. Although pain was involved and Rick was up until almost 1:00 a.m., the problem was taken care of and all is well. This past weekend the problem was more serious and so much more frustrating as we got to see what the average Khmer has to go through to get medical help. Lil Sam was adopted by Kimson and Sokha who direct the orphanage that Sam and Mary Carpenter fund and sponsor. Lil Sam was considered the first to come to the orphanage which now has twenty children. He had been experiencing abdominal pain and a couple weeks ago had already been to one hospital to receive fluids since he could not hold any food. Friday night Kimson called frantically that Lil Sam was in pain and becoming dehydrated. Rick and Marie took him to the clinic I mentioned above, but the doctor said he needed a hospital and told them to start fluids immediately. Upon arriving at the hospital, they would not take Lil Sam. Communication is minimal and Kimson had no idea why they would not admit Sam. Rick then drove them to the National Pediatric Hospital. It was 12:30 a.m. and they started him on fluids with hopes to see a doctor. Then the chaos began. Marie-Claire went back up to check on progress, but it was so difficult to get information. Rick and I took food and water to them at 5:00 and they still did not have a diagnosis from doctors. We feel the Lord was truly watching over Sam because the medical staff was not very organized. At 8:00 p.m., the head surgeon thought it best to operate because he felt like there was some type of blockage. Thankfully the doctor was right. His small intestine was twisted and they removed 10 cm. Rick and I left at midnight after the surgery, but Marie-Claire stayed to help Kimson. There was relief after frustration, but I came home and cried thinking about the poor health care and most people just suffer and/or die. I think I needed this jolt of reality. This is the capital where the best medical services are suppose to be. We will be in the provinces where there is little of nothing.