WHERE TO DONATE

At the end of October, three Italian specialists in genital reconstruction will travel to Vietnam to perform genital surgery on 32 little boys. Thanks to these surgeons, who are waiving their fees, and other volunteers, these difficult procedures will cost just $1,500 per child.

While this is an extraordinarily great deal, it still adds up to US$50,000 for the first set of 32 little boys. Another 63 boys are on a waiting list for future surgeries. We are desperate for donations to ensure that as many kids as possible can undergo this life-changing surgery. If you are able to support this worthy cause, funds can be sent to these bank accounts:

Account name: Tran Mai Anh & Greig Craft for Thien Nhan surgery

Account number: 5690849

ANZ Bank - 14 Ly Thai To, Hanoi

Bank name: Citibank N.A, HCMC Branch

Address: 115 Nguyen Hue Blvd, Dist 1, HCMC

A/c name: Asia Injury Prevention Foundation

A/c #: 0-300411-002 (USD)

0-300411-029 (VND)

Please write "DONATION FOR DR.DECASTRO GENITAL SURGERY" in the subject line.

Thank you!

Then and Now

Four years ago, shortly after birth, Thien Nhan was abandoned on the edge of a forest in Central Vietnam. He lay in the open for three days and was badly mauled by wild animals. Found by passerby, the horrifically injured baby was transported 2.5 hours by motorbike to the nearest hospital, where doctors performed life-saving surgery. Unfortunately, the child's right leg was lost and his genitals were badly damaged.

Last week, Thien Nhan, now 4, underwent another life-changing surgery in Bologne, Italy. Surgeons worked for more than 8 hours to rebuild the boy's penis and insert prosthetic testes. "The surgeons say everything went well and he is recovering," reports Thien Nhan's relieved mum, Mai Anh. Full recovery is expected to take three months.

[Top left photo: Thien Nhan recovering from surgery in Bologne, Italy. Top right photo: Thien Nhan in Intensive Care as a newborn in Central Vietnam.]

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].

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

Singaporean Generosity

On January 3rd, the Singapore Straits Times ran a follow-up story by Judith Tan about Thien Nhan and the amazing help that the tot has received from Straits Times cartoonist Lee Chee Chew, whose blog "Chew On It!", is devoted to raising funds for little Nhan.

Since the story ran, Mr. Lee - who's never even met Thien Nhan - has raised another US$31,013 from readers, fans, colleagues (and out of his own pocket). The comic artist also donates all proceeds from the sales of his first two books towards Thien Nhan's rehab. To date, Mr. Lee has raised a whopping US$51,292. Thank you Singapore!

The SST story and Mr. Lee's blog may be found at: ttp://chewonitcomics.blogspot.com/2009/01/thien-nhan-on-print.html

To view the list of donors who have supported Thien Nhan via Mr. Lee, please scroll to the bottom of this blog. Our thanks to all of you!

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!

Thanks Saigon Rugby!

A big thanks to the Saigon Rugby Club for their donation of US$500 towards Thien Nhan's rehabilitation. Let's hope that in the future Thien Nhan will be able to get out on the field and run with his prosthetic leg!

This money was raised during the club's Jon Ellwood Memorial Trophy - an annual tournament held in memory of Jon Ellwood, a club member killed in the 2002 Bali bombings. This year's charitable tournament, held in mid-November, was a great success, drawing a dozen teams made up of expat and local players.

Anyone in Saigon eager to play rugby should check out http://www.saigonrfc.com/
Touch rugby takes place every Saturday from 4 to 6p.m. at RMIT University sports ground, 702 Nguyen Van Linh Boulevard, Tan Phong Ward. District 7.

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!

Thank You Pacific Star Group Singapore!

The staff of Singapore-based global real estate investment firm Pacific Star Group has contributed a sum of US$8,300 towards Thien Nhan’s US trip and medical costs. This is in addition to a personal donation of US$5,000 from Pacific Star’s Group President, Mr. Jeff Tay .
Mr. Tay wrote: “Beyond money, may God bless Thien Nhan with a life full of abundance after such an unfortunate start in life. I believe Thien Nhan will grow up with forgiveness in his heart through the grace of those who have shown care and love in providing him a 2nd chance in life.”
Pacific Star Group’s Vice President of Administration, Agnes Sebastian, adds: “It is really heartwarming to see us steadily reaching our goal in helping Thien Nhan stay a strong, free-spirited and bubbly boy. I believe our donations, in addition to Mr Jeff Tay ’s personal donation would amply provide for his trip and medical costs and will help bring relief Thien Nhan. We wish Thien Nhan all the best and success for his surgery in USA .”

Sweet Moments

Not only did Thien Nhan spend yesterday afternoon in the company of Miss Vietnam, he also got to share the beauty queen's birthday cake! Ms. Mai Phuong Thuy celebrated her 20th birthday with Thien Nhan and other fans at a book signing in Hanoi. A successful model, Ms. Phuong Thuy is donating proceeds from the sales of her new photo book and DVD towards Thien Nhan's medical expenses.

Kids Without Borders

Thanks to the hard work of Greig Craft and Hoang Na Huong of the Hanoi-based Asia Injury Prevention Foundation, Thien Nhan and his parents received their USA entry visas yesterday, and will fly from Hanoi to Seattle on August 14th.

The family's air tickets were donated by Son Michael and Judy Pham, who run Kids Without Borders, a 100% volunteer-driven non-profit organization based in Seattle. Many thanks to Son Michael and to Judy for their generous support! To learn more about their long-running good works in Vietnam and elsewhere, check out the Kids Without Borders website at http://www.kidswithnoborders.org/Home.asp or email them at info@kidswithnoborders.org Their organization encourages schoolchildren to help other kids in need, thereby encouraging a lifelong commitment to volunteer work. (The photo shows a group of volunteers with some of KWB's beneficiaries on the steps of Saigon's Opera House.)

Thien Nhan, Mai Anh and Nghinh will spend a few days with the Phams in Seattle recovering from jetlag and meeting people involved in local charities. They will then will fly to New Hampshire on August 17th.

Thanks AIPF & Protec Hanoi!

The Hanoi staff of the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation (AIPF) and Protec, a non-profit firm that manufactures motorbike safety helmets, teamed up to raise money for Thien Nhan. Last Saturday the staff from AIPF and Protec presented Mai Anh with VND10 million (US$625), which the two organizations then matched to bring the total donation up to VND20 million. Mai Anh, Nghinh, Thien Nhan and his brothers Big Minh and Little Minh all visited AIPF's Hanoi office to learn more about their good work to reduce injuries on Vietnam's dangerous roads. Thank you everyone at Protec and AIPF!

Gambling Proceeds

One of Thien Nhan's supporters in Saigon has pledged to donate all of his golf gambling wins over the next year towards helping Thien Nhan. In the past month this guy's bets have netted the tot US$300. Luckily Thien Nhan doesn't have to pay when he loses!

Creative Giving

The support from people across Vietnam and around the world for Thien Nhan has been remarkable. Last week a construction worker in very old, dusty clothes stopped by Mai Anh's home to give Thien Nhan VND100,000 (US$6). "I hated to think how long he had to work in the sun and rain to earn that money," said Mai Anh.

Meanwhile, grade 1 kids from Doan Thi Diem School in Hanoi stopped by the Dan Tri newspaper office to hand over VND1m that they'd raised for Thien Nhan. Another creative fundraising effort is coming via http://chodientu.vn/ (Electronics Market), an online retailer of electronics and household items. During the month of May, Cho Dien Tu has promised to give 10% of online sales to Thien Nhan.

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!

Thanks VOV!

On May 9th, Hoang Minh Nguyet, director of Voice of Vietnam radio, presented Thien Nhan and his family with a cheque for VND50 million (US$3,125), donated by the staff and listeners of VOV, where Thien Nhan's new dad works as a radio journalist. A giant CAM ON to everyone at VOV!

US$14,77 and counting

Comic artist CC Lee's fundraising efforts in Singapore have brought our total donations up to US$14,577 -- and recent donations via War Legacies in the USA remain uncounted. The lady in charge of War Legacies is currently on a work trip in Central Vietnam, so we'll update the donations to Thien Nhan that went via War Legacies as soon as we can.

Please scroll to the bottom of the page for our (incomplete) list of donators.

Thanks so much to all of you!

$10,500 and counting...

A GIANT thanks to all of you who've donated to giving Thien Nhan a brighter future. As of one week ago he had received over US$10,500! For details, please scroll to the bottom - and note that the list is already outdated and incomplete... We'll update it asap!