"Special Andy"

Special Andee Written by SEDA Founder/Practitioner Ms. Souly QuachAngkham Edited by Rebecca Carnevale

Andee is a very special girl who was born an orphan. Her birth mother is Laotian and her birth father is Caucasian –it is not known exactly where he is from. The minute Andee was born her birth mother gave her up to a poor family. In Laos, there are no orphanages. Andee has been living with her step family ever since and she is now 12 years old. Why should we care about her story? Andee was born a perfectly healthy child and was living with a caring family. After six months, Andee became sick and her step parents took her to the hospital after hospital. Twelve years ago the hospitals in Laos provided very slow service and it took a long time for Andee to get a diagnosis and proper medicine. By the time the doctor prescribed her medication, it was too late and, in fact, an overdose was prescribed. As a result of her illness Andee has never been able to walk. Even after her sickness went into remission it turned out that she was paralyzed and her step parents took her to local hospitals again. Unfortunately, the family came across an unscrupulous doctor who did not successfully treat Andee’s illness and drained her already struggling family of their money. Her parents raised grants from international donors – however the local hospitals took the grants, and continued to provide less than adequate care. Her parents could not continue to take her to the hospital as they had no money left.

I had spotted Andee's house on a walk one day - it was the beautiful flowers in her family’s garden that caught my eye. My colleague suggested we ask the family if we can pick some flowers. We knocked at the door and began to speak with Andee’s step parents about the garden. While we were waiting at the front door, I spotted Andee lying in a chair (one of the plastic stackable kinds) that was obviously not providing her with the comfort or support she needs. Her body was covered with an old towel instead of a blanket. I am the Founder and Bio- Medicine Practitioner for SEDA, so I asked her parents about her medical history and tried to find out if we could help her. Her parents told us that they has tried everything and had given up searching for help. I told them about SEDA’s Rehabilitation Treatment Center (RTC) and the treatments we offer using herbal plants. I explained to them that each patient at the RTC receives an individual assessment to determine a treatment plan. SEDA's mission is to assist the poor in rural areas. As Andee was living in the city, I had to make a special request to the board members to help her. As she was born an orphan and living with a low income family the board agreed SEDA should help her.

Andee can communicate and wants this treatment. The treatments began on July 14, 2008 and each day we have to find a herbal plants for her since the herbs for her treatment are not cultivated. It is therefore quite difficult to help Andee. Her treatments will include the use of three different types of herbs. She will follow a diet of herbal juice, herbal tea, and nutritious food. She will also undergo physical therapy three times a day. We are hoping that with the combination of the herbal treatment, special diet, and physical therapy Andee will be able to walk on her own. I visited Andee July 20 at her home for her physical therapy sessions. She did a very good job and she is gaining strength and control of her fingers and hands. This is a very good sign. Andee has also learned how to count numbers with me. She can understand our communication, but cannot speak. Her step family is very happy to see her learning and hopes that with her exercises/ physical therapy will continue to improve her condition She is very excited to about the treatment. We are hoping that the treatment will last about six months.

While SEDA is helping her, there are some items that Andee needs and her parents cannot afford. She needs powdered milk, diapers, cloths, and a special bed that she can exercise on her own. I can tell she is a fighter from the time I have spent with her. She is very young and needs our support to help her walk. Donations to help buy her personal supplies and bed will help her very much. Each year, her personal and medical expenses are around$4500-5000. Please consider donating to help this brave young girl! Please donate through global giving. For more information please contact SEDA at souly@seda-laos.org or info@seda-laos.org .