Would You Travel 8 Hours on a Bus to Seek Treatment?

When she was just 14, Sokky Chuum ran and played with her friends in Kong PongThom province when she fell and hurt her hip. At the time, she just took some medicine and carried on with life with her family – four siblings and her parents.

Six (6) years later, she had to drop out of school to join the entire family as they moved to Ratanakiri Province, in the far northeast of Phnom Penh, to look for work on the rubber plantations in the area. It is hard work that requires considerable walking from tree to tree to harvest the sap used to make automotive parts. The family lived in company housing. All four children were working alongside their parents. "I want to go to school like other boys and girls. I love studying; I don't want to drop off school, but I must move with my family,"said Sokky.

Chuum Sokky struggled with pain in her hip for a long time but didn't talk about it much for fear of losing her job. She spent much money on traditional medicine. Then pain increased to the point where she went to the local Hospital for treatment, spending funds allotted to food. Her condition worsened as she couldn't walk and was unable to work.

Sokky's family was so worried that they scraped together bus fare for Sokky and her mother to travel. They heard from a neighbor about a hospital that could help – they were desperate and willing to try. The pair took the 8-hour bus ride to the Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope (SHCH). Sokky was barely able to move, and her mother was distraught.

Once delivered to Sihanouk Hospital Center of Hope (SHCH), Sokky was examined, tested and x-rayed. She was diagnosed with inflammation in the hip bone and treated with various anti-inflammatory medications that reduced the pain and swelling. She was discharged before the end of the day and feeling much better.

"I felt better when I got the medicine from the doctor, and now I feel very relieved," Sokky said. "I am so thankful to the doctor, nurse and the staff at the Hospital. They dedicated their time and talent to help me, and now I am cured."