November 3, 2007
Dear CCAM Partners and Friends,
This is our second report about the progress being made researching medical treatment for Buntheep. The MRI machine has finally been repaired, and today Buntheep got her MRI scans done. Praise the Lord! These new scans seem to indicate that the tumor is growing out of her pituitary gland. This type of tumor is called a pituitary adenoma (macro-prolactinoma). Since the drug Cabergoline is often used to treat such tumors, Dr. Guglielmetti has decided to give it to Buntheep to stop further growth and damage to the optic nerve, while also shrinking the tumor in preparation for surgical removal. Here in Phnom Penh, this medicine costs $78.00 for 8 tablets! Praise the Lord that 6 tablets (and only 6) have been found and purchased with a donation from Christians in Germany! Pray that more medicine will be available for purchase when needed and that there will be donations to cover the cost.
Following are the main hospital/physician options still being researched (none definite yet):
- U.S.A.
- St. Jude's Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee - a physician with personal contacts is continuing to pursue this option
- Wyler's Children's Hospital, Knoxville, Tennessee?
- St. Louis Children's Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri?
- Children's Medical Center, Dallas, Texas?
- Baptist Hospital, Pensacola, Florida?
- Chicago? California?
- Singapore
- Singapore General Hospital?
- Gleneagle Hospital?
- Germany?
Following are U.S. medical funding organizations being researched:
- Healing the Children - Spokane, Washington?
- Mending Kids International?
Please let us know if you have any medical or funding connections in these or other places. Also please let us know if you would be able to offer us food, lodging, and local transportation, should we come to your area. A physician with USAid (who also has connections to the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh) is now assisting with the process of expediting Buntheep's visa to the United States. Praise the Lord for His answers to our prayers so far! And please continue to pray that our Lord Jesus Christ will miraculously heal Buntheep according to His perfect will.
Many blessings,
Gioia and Noren
for Buntheep and the CCAM Family