Surgery for Mounthip

Mounthip (Moon-teep) is a 10 year old girl from Vientiane, Laos who was born with hydrocephalus.  I met her mother (Souy) and father (Sisaath) in 2006 when I taught English at the University of Laos.  When Mounthip was born, the doctors and nurses at the hospital in Laos were unable or unwilling to provide treatment for her, believing that she probably had a dark spirit surrounding her.  She was left for weeks suffering with the pain of all that fluid on her brain, unable to even close her eyes or drink properly.  Eventually, we were able to raise enough money to take her to Thailand to get a shunt placed so that the water could drain.  Since that time, Souy and Sisaath have done everything they can to help give their daughter a happy life.  She loves to sing and talk and has even learned some English.  This little ray of sunshine is anything but dark.  Now, Mounthip is getting to the point where she needs her shunt replaced/repaired.  She's getting so big that her parents are unable to lift her to her wheelchair or to the toilet.  The money we raise from this site will help us get her the needed surgery and a lift chair-system for her house so that she can continue to live with her family.