A Happy Visit

Some days ago, Thien Nhan and his family got a visit from their great friend Son Michael Pham of Seattle-based Kids Without Borders. This 100% volunteer-run charity supports a range of programs that aid needy kids in Vietnam, including the Go Vap orphanage in Saigon.

"It was great to see Son Michael," said Mai Anh. "The kids always remember him."

Along with Hanoi-based philanthropist Greig Craft, Son Michael Pham was instrumental in arranging Thien Nhan's urethral surgery in the USA last August. He even accompanied the family on part of their trip.

Plans are currently being put in place for Thien Nhan's second (and more extensive) genital surgery, expected to take place this autumn in the USA. Surgeons will attempt to reconstruct a scrotum, bring down Thien Nhan's undescended testicles, and extract his penis, which is now hidden beneath his skin.

Son Michael reported that Thien Nhan was very well. "He can move so quickly on one leg and has amazing balance," he said. "He is incredibly strong."

To view more photos from Son Michael's July 2009 mission to Vietnam go to:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39932570@N06/

[Photo: Thien Nhan (up), Nghinh, Little Minh, Big Minh, Mai Anh, Son Michael]

A Beautiful Visit

Miss Vietnam Mai Phuong Thuy stopped by Thien Nhan's house in Hanoi for a surprise visit yesterday. Miss Phuong Thuy had first met Thien Nhan on August 8th, a few days before the toddler left Vietnam to have surgery in the US. On that occasion the beauty queen had shared her birthday cake with Thien Nhan, cheering him up after a round of medical tests.

This time, the 20-year-old Miss chatted and played with Thien Nhan and his big brother, Little Minh, 3, who recently got five stitches in his forehead after crashing into a table. Miss Phuong Thuy reported being pleased to find Thien Nhan healthy, happy and getting bigger.

Special Guests

Last week Thien Nhan enjoyed a visit from Adarsh Bala and his dad Mr. Balasubramanian, both from Singapore. A friend of cartoonist CC Lee's, Adarsh was in Hanoi for business and stopped by to visit Thien Nhan and his family, bearing well-wishes and toys for the three kids.

Upon returning home, Adarsh wrote the following note to Thien Nhan's family:

My Dad and I already miss Thien Nhan greatly. We had a very enjoyable time playing with him in your home. I will definitely be back in Hanoi before the end of this year to see Thien Nhan again. Please give my love and regards to your husband, little Minh and big Minh, your mother-in-law and your cousin and her friends, and of course, last but not least, my darling little Thien Nhan.

Lots of love,

Adarsh

International Children's Day

Today, June 1st, is International Children's Day, and Thien Nhan received dozens of well-wishers bearing toys, food and clothes. Many families brought their kids over to play with Thien Nhan and his brothers Big Minh and Little Minh. "There are toys all over the house," reports Mai Anh. "It is very messy but the kids had so much fun." Thien Nhan, who loves cars, was especially thrilled with the toy vehicles.

Visitors for Thien Nhan

Thien Nhan had a busy Saturday morning. Sue from War Legacies, a US-based non-profit group that does a lot of great work with Agent Orange victims and disabled people in Vietnam, stopped by to meet Thien Nhan and Mai Anh for the first time. They also met Simmone, an Australian physiotherapist and businesswoman who came by to examine his leg stump and review his leg exercises. Both Sue and Simmone were both amazed by how fast Thien Nhan can move without his prosthetic limb--nobody can keep up with his one-legged crawling!