Jenny the Nurse from NZ update on Khampheng

Khampheng update: 18th June.

Since I last wrote about Khampheng he is still continually having skin grafting done over many parts of his body on a regular basis. This has been going on now for 6 months. Some areas are improving slowly while others are still being hampered by infection.

Unfortunately in Laos the techniques are far from ideal so hence there is a lot of permanent scarring from some of the donor sites due to the thickness they have taken for grafting.
He is still unable to walk due to the lack of care for several months initially with his feet so now he has severe foot drop and lack of movement in his ankles and feet.

The grafts done last Monday were to his eyes once again and shoulders. They are still trying to make eye lids for him to protect what little light he has coming into his right eye.
It has been a very long and hard battle over these past six months battling with the medical system here trying to get a ‘suitable level of care’ for him and many times it has been very inhumane.

All of his surgery done of course has been extremely painful for Khampheng to say the least as there is not such thing as pain medication used only what I can obtain through my sources which is still very inadequate for his level of pain. I am constantly in awe at how Khampheng and his father who never leaves his side, copes with this situation; of course there have been many occasions where he has just cried all night due to the pain but yet his heart remains so beautiful and humble.

He never once has complained about anything. Certainly a lesson in it for each of us.
I know that the girls from the skill centre that came out with me every Sunday to sing and pr with him were totally inspired and touched by him. They did not want to miss a Sunday seeing him. They loved singing with him and were also making cakes for him. Khampheng would always ask for more songs he too loves to sing with us which is so special. These are songs he has learnt from the tapes we have taken him.

Now that the course has finished and many of the girls have full time jobs they are unable to see him as often but still try to make the effort to come out when they can to see him.
The other area of real blessing is provision of funds for him. I continue to thank G for the awesome way he provides funds for Khampheng’s ongoing needs. It is around $600US a month to pay for is treatment, medicine, hospital room and food but each month these needs to date have been met. So thank you to all who have contributed towards his provision.

I must be honest in saying that many times I have pr’ed for G to relieve Khampheng of his pain and take him home but still he fights on and I can see why and that is because G still has a plan and purpose for his life and I see that in the way he is touching so many people from many countries now and how he is inspiring and blessing others through his life. So thankfully G is far greater and sees the bigger picture all we can do is continually support him in pr, provision of funds and make sure we continue to share with others, of the transformation of this young man’s life in knowing and following G, and how G chooses to use each of us in different ways to serve him for his kingdom and glory.

Warm regards

Jenny Ewing