Italy: one week to go...

The countdown is on! In just one week, Thien Nhan will fly to Bologna, Italy, to undergo the most important surgery of his young life.

Dr. Roberto DeCastro, one of the world's leading experts in genital reconstruction, will rebuild an age-appropriate sized penis and scrotum and insert prosthetic testicles. Because some nerves in Thien Nhan's groin are undamaged, the penis should have sensation, and should continue to grow as he matures.

This complex surgery will take seven to nine hours. Recovery time is estimated at 14 to 20 days. All being well, this is the most difficult surgery that Thien Nhan, who's now four years old, will have to endure.

After a sizeable discount the surgery will cost US$45,000. Travel and three weeks' accomodation in Italy will add around another US$20,000.

Luckily, Thien Nhan's champion, Singaporean cartoonist CC Lee http://chewonitcomics.blogspot.com/, has come through yet again. From May to December 2010, CC Lee raised an astounding US$13,755 towards Thien Nhan's medical care. As usual, he topped up the donations with his own money and handed over US$14,000.

In all, CC Lee, his readers and colleagues have donated US$77, 600 to help Thien Nhan. We are overwhelmed by the generosity of CC Lee and his fellow Singaporeans!

Thank you, Singapore!

[Photo shows Thien Nhan and his schoolmates doing their morning exercises].

Thanks again Singapore!

Thien Nhan, his mum and two brothers spent three nights in Singapore, where Thien Nhan had an appointment with Professor Prabhakaran at National University Hospital (NUH). Dr. Prabha was very optimistic about Thien Nhan's case, and advocates doing major genital surgery in Singapore this summer.

Not only did Thien Nhan's check up go well, but he also finally got to meet his "Uncle Lee" -- Singapore Straits Times cartoonist CC Lee, and Mr. Lee's colleagues and fellow cartoonists. Without CC Lee's - and other Singaporeans' generous support - Thien Nhan's past and future surgeries would not be possible.


Special thanks to CC Lee, David and Lina, Adarsh and Ms. Latta, and Stella and May Lian. And thanks to everyone who has donated so generously to this special little boy!

[photo: Minh (in black) and Thien Nhan waiting for Thien Nhan's ultrasound at NUH]

Birthday Boy!

Thien Nhan joined his brothers, mom Mai Anh and aunt Elka for pizza to celebrate his third birthday. While Thien Nhan loved the spicy sausage pizza, his brother Big Minh, 9, preferred the veggie spaghetti -- he managed to eat almost two plates full! Thien Nhan, meanwhile, ate his dinner with a knife and fork. He is very grown up now!

After dinner, Nhan jumped around the restaurant on one foot, amazing diners and staff with his balance, agility and energy.

Singaporean cartoonist CC Lee-- http://chewonitcomics.blogspot.com/ -- who has to date raised and donated around US$50,000 towards Thien Nhan's surgery and rehab -- sent in an additional US$1,700 on the tot's birthday-- $1,501 donated from his readers and colleagues and $199 from his own pocket. Thank you CC Lee and thank you Singapore

YET AGAIN, OUR MIRACLE BABY BEATS THE ODDS

Once again, Thien Nhan has proven that he deserves the title of “Miracle Baby”. While it was believed that the tot's testicles had been severed in a wild animal attack that destroyed much of his penis and severed his right leg, recent tests performed by Thai specialists at Bangkok’s Medic Complex revealed that the toddler, who is almost 3, has retained two undescended testicles.

This condition, in which the testicles are tucked up inside the body, exists in only about 3-4 percent of male babies at birth. Had Thien Nhan’s testicles descended normally, he would have lost them during the mauling.

“When we found out that he still had his testicles we could hardly believe it. We all cried a lot,” says Thien Nhan’s mom, Mai Anh. “It was like God knew ahead of time that he would be bitten by wild animals and hid them inside his body.”

Despite the good news, various doctors have advised the family to consider gender reassignment. While plastic surgeons can create a penis that looks normal, they warn that the reconstructed organ will have 90 percent less sensation than normal. “We cannot accept turning him into a girl,” says Mai Anh. “Thien Nhan’s character and way of thinking and behaving are very obviously male. If we changed him into a female and then found that in 20 years he couldn’t accept it, we would all feel terrible.”

Next month, the tot will return to Bangkok for more tests in preparation for surgery to create a scrotum and bring down his testicles. “We hope that if we can raise enough money and gain the support of pioneering doctors, Thien Nhan will one day become a fully functioning man,” says his mom. “Medical techniques keep improving with new research in tissue regeneration and organ transplants. He has defied the odds so far so why not continue to hope for the best?”

Many thanks to Greig Craft for organizing and supporting Thien Nhan's latest medical mission; to Dr. Preecha Tiewtranon and the team of experts at Bangkok Medic Complex who examined Thien Nhan; the Sofitel Bangkok Hotel for granting the family 2 free nights' stay and the use of the hotel's van; and Singaporean cartoonist and fundraiser extraordinaire CC Lee for funding travel costs via his personal donations.

Generous Hearts

We can hardly believe it but -- thanks to your generosity -- the Thien Nhan Fund has now received over US$100,000 in donations! People all over the world have chipped in to help this brave toddler, with special thanks due to Singapore, home of our champion fundraiser cartoonist CC Lee.

(http://chewonitcomics.blogspot.com/)

Individual donations have ranged from VND50,000 (about $3) to US$5,000. Upon hearing of Thien Nhan's plight, many people who have little to spare have given him as much (or more) than they could afford. Elderly war widows, weary construction workers and struggling young parents have all opened their hearts to little Nhan.

We cannot thank all of you good people enough for working so hard to provide Thien Nhan with a decent chance in life!

Cam On Singapore!

Thien Nhan's most devoted supporter, Singaporean comic CC Lee, keeps coming through for the tot. In the last month alone, CC Lee -- creator of the Singapore Straits Times comic strip "Chew On It!" -- has raised US$5,641 from his readers and colleagues in Singapore, and added another $369 of his own money, for donations totalling US$6,010 for Thien Nhan! Check out CC Lee's artwork at http://chewonitcomics.blogspot.com/

Largely thanks to Singaporeans' generosity, we are nearing the US$70,000 mark for donations -- almost half way to our goal. Cam on CC Lee and Singapore!

Chew Love

Singaporean comic artist CC Lee http://chewonitcomics.blogspot.com/ has done it again, pulling in another US$2,112 (S$3,107) of donations for Thien Nhan from the kind people of Singapore! Lee then chipped in a lucky $88 to bring the sum up to $2,200. So far, this amazing cartoonist--who has yet to meet Thien Nhan--has raised close to US$17,000 for the tot from his fans and colleagues, plus chipped in over US$1,200 of his own cash. Thanks to CC Lee's and Singapore's continued support, Thien Nhan has lots to smile about!

Funny Money

A big THANK YOU to Singaporean comic artist CC Lee and to his many generous friends, colleagues and readers! Since hearing about Thien Nhan's plight in the Singapore Straits Times newspaper, CC Lee has collected US$14,803 for the tot from the kind people of Singapore, plus donated more than US$1,100 of his own money. CC Lee's latest collection drive raised S$2,080, or US$1,463, to which Lee then added US$237 to round the figure up to US$1,700. Special thanks to all monthly and repeat donors for their continued love and support for Thien Nhan! To see some more of CC Lee's comics, go to http://chewonitcomics.blogspot.com/

Thien Nhan Turns Two!

Happy Birthday Thien Nhan! The resilient toddler turns two years old today and his friends and family around the world are helping him to celebrate. Luke from Singapore sent Thien Nhan the special birthday drawing at left, while cartoonist CC Lee, also of Singapore, sent in the latest donations he collected from his readers and colleagues --US$2,176, plus an extra $324 from Lee. That's an amazing birthday present! Tonight, Thien Nhan will enjoy his first-ever birthday party.

$12,000-plus

Thien Nhan's second birthday will be a lot brighter thanks to comic artist CC Lee and his generous supporters in Singapore.

To date, Lee has raised US$12,022 from his readers and colleagues, AND has chipped in more than $600 of his own money, not to mention his time and talent. We hope that one day Thien Nhan will get to meet his Uncle Lee and say "cam on" in person. Thank you Singapore!

Thanks CC Lee & Singapore

After raising another S$2,035 (US$1,489) from his readers and colleagues, Singaporean comic artist CC Lee threw in an extra US$111 to bring the figure up to a nice round US$1,600. So far, CC Lee and his wonderful readers and co-workers in Singapore have donated an astounding S$14,128 -- that's US$10,338 -- towards helping Thien Nhan! Special thanks to repeat and monthly donors, and of course to CC Lee.

More "Funny Money"

Singaporean comic artist CC Lee just sent in another US$2,333--money he raised through sales of his t-shirts and comic books and donations made by his kind readers and colleagues. To date, CC Lee has raised an astounding US$7,430 (S$10,103) for Thien Nhan. Thanks for adopting Thien Nhan's cause, Lee! And thank you Singapore!

The Unstoppable CC Lee

This time round, readers and colleagues of Singaporean comic artist CC Lee sent in S$1,947, or US$1,423 to help Thien Nhan! As well as donating all proceeds from the sales of his books and t-shirts to the tot, plus footing shipping costs, Mr. Lee threw in US$177 to bring his latest Pay Pal transfer up to US$1,600. To date, this wonderful man has helped to raise S$6,643 (almost US$5,000) for Thien Nhan. Check out Lee's comics at http://chewonitcomics.blogspot.com/

Thanks again Singapore!