Panya’s Post Cancer Predicament

Panya Sos spent her 17th birthday on September 23 in a hospital bed. When she was finally discharged in October, her bill amounted to more than $6,000 dollars (220,000 baht).

Thanks to the generosity of donors via this site and privately, we exceeded the fund-raising target, enabling her hospital bill to be fully paid and for funds to be set aside for ongoing treatment into the new year, when Panya hopes to learn she's in complete remission from cancer and has overcome the worst side-effects incurred by the chemotherapy treatment that killed off the disease.

While the cytomegalovirus, known as CMV, that hospitalized her most recently will always remain in her body, the gradual strengthening of her immune system will make her increasingly less susceptible to the raging infection caused by this virus related to Chickenpox, herpes simplex and mononeuclesis that threatened her life last time around.

As a Cambodian national residing in Thailand, Panya continues to have no access to medical insurance or state hospital subsidies and her mother continues as a day-wage earner without the means to help her. We're hopeful, however, that in the course of the year -- and before she turns 18, Panya will be able to take steps to improve her status and gain greater means to support herself.

That’s why your generosity in supporting the campaign to cover Panya’s medical expenses was so important. Not only have we helped Panya along the road to regaining her health, she and her mother are relieved of a massive financial burden and able to pursue pathways to Panya's successful future.

It's almost four years since Panya was diagnosed with t-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia., a disease that she battled with a courage and patience beyond her years. She's made it this far thanks to the generous support of people such as you and I.

Panya continues her interests in art and photography, and is very talented. You can see her work here: http://panyasosart.tumblr.com She also learns English with Rosetta Stone and has made great progress in conversation as well as the written language, along with her established proficiency in Thai and, of course, her native Khmer.

See the ‘’Panya is Fighting Cancer’’ Facebook page for a detailed history of how she overcame that illness. Now as she moves into a new post-cancer chapter, supported by her Heroes, Panya thanks those friends, acquaintances, and anyone who have dug deep to help her out of her predicament and regain her health

We thank you wholeheartedly for your support. We believe in Panya and are thankful that you honored our trust in her.