Hope for a little fighter

This one question has burrowed deep into her heart: “Why did my son get cancer?” Mao Ngogun blames herself—because such an innocent little creature cannot suddenly suffer so much without reason. What did she do wrong? Was the food she gave her child bad? “At first, I lost all hope and cried a lot,” she says, putting her arms around the boy sitting next to her on the hospital bed.

The first signs that something was wrong appeared a few months earlier. Two-year-old Chivorn Sereyvuth had a fever and night sweats, he was losing weight rapidly, and a hard lump had formed on his neck. At our children's hospital in Phnom Penh, the team of doctors performed a biopsy and discovered that the boy had aggressive lymph node cancer. Intensive chemotherapy began immediately, with six cycles of 21 days each.

During the three-week treatment, Chivorn Sereyvuth and his mother had to stay in the cancer ward. This is because chemotherapy weakens children's immune systems, making the journey home too difficult. That is why the isolated ward has a play area with toys, books to look at, and pens for drawing. “After four cycles, I could hardly believe our luck,” says Mao Ngogun. The tumor has shrunk and is no longer visible on MRI images.

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Since the cancer ward opened in fall 2023, our team in Phnom Penh has treated a total of 124 children with solid tumors, initiated 108 chemotherapy treatments, and completed 53 treatments. Unfortunately, we were unable to cure ten patients and could only accompany them as they passed away. “Our tasks also include supporting the parents and explaining to them that they are not to blame,” says Dr. Sovath Sovannara, head of the ward. Since May 2025, there has also been a similar facility at our hospital in Siem Reap, where 19 girls and boys have been treated since then.

Chivorn Sereyvuth is now back home with his parents and sister. The boy is doing well, but he will have to return to the hospital regularly for check-ups in the coming years. Thank you for making such success stories possible. Every dollar helps to heal, save, and prevent. It goes without saying that we use your donations efficiently: over the past three years, we have spent only 3.78 percent of our income on administration, accounting, and marketing.

Thank you very much for your loyalty and valuable support.