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Sunday, January 07, 2007

Bright Little Moon



This is Lah Poh Say (translates to Bright Little Moon) and his father Saw Taw Dee. We met them on the frontline in Mon Township. Because we could do nothing to help him in the jungle we asked if they could come with us back to Thailand for treatment of the boys tumor. So they walked with us for over a week and then onto a camp for transfer to a hospital. I was deeply impressed by the father's care and patience with the boy. The boy was very uncomfortable and irritable and the father was more patient and caring that I have ever seen anyone for and extended amount of time. He carried the boy probably 150 miles. Yesterday I found them in a Chiang Mai hospital. We were happy to see eachother. His condition is being investigated and after tests it will be determined if operation is possible. Cancer has not yet been ruled out and is considered likely. Please pray for Lah Poh Say and his father. Thank you.

4 comments:

FCB said...

when I first glanced at Bright Little Moon, I thought how appropriate his name, his little face is fairly shines with moonbeams. When I think of his father carrying him for 150 miles it just makes me consider my love a paltry thing. If I have to indulge an inconvenience for half an hour I'm prickly all over.
What have we become?
Great post.

Matt said...

I was almost in tears the first time I met Lah Poh Say. I was filming and he came into the bamboo house the medics were working out of, my focus immediatly turned to him first with the camera and then without trying to find out if we could help him. He was crying then and it was incredibly difficult to witness. When I saw him in Chiang Mai he looked at me in the eyes and I think we felt some kind of bond of trust. He must wonder why I keep turning up.

Anonymous said...

It's heartbreaking to see that little children are the ones who are ravaged by the policies of the Burmese military, which was founded under principles that run contrary to the acts military personnel commit today. It is rather unfortunate that the government turns its eyes away from the humanitarian crisis, thanking China and Russia for vetoing a UN resolution that would shed light into Burma's problems.

Matt said...

Yes, unfortunatley as long as China and Russia have something to gain they will likely continue their stance against a free Burma. And I want to add that the policies of the current regime target not only one ethnic group but all people in Burma. And until all people in Burma commit to working together the dictators will continue to capitalize on the countries diversity for the worse. I urge all people of Burma to work together whether they are Burman, Karen, Shan, Kachin, Chin, Arakan or otherwise. Even if the outside world does their best, which they have yet to do, Burma needs some sort of unity within.