An unimagined transformation
Arunny’s transformation is like a miracle.
Arunny lives in rural Cambodia, where the majority of people are burdened by poverty. For Arunny and her mother Chantou, every day has been a challenge.
When Arunny was born she weighed just 2.5 kilograms.
At six weeks, Arunny started to have seizures. Chantou knew something was terribly wrong, and rushed her baby to a health care centre.
Arunny was diagnosed with tetanus. When treatments failed, Chantou was told Arunny had epilepsy.
But, as the months passed, Chantou noticed Arunny wasn’t developing like her three siblings had.
Eventually, doctors determined Arunny had an intellectual disability and cerebral palsy.
Early struggles
In Cambodia, life for people with intellectual disabilities can be especially difficult. There is widespread misunderstanding and a lack of information, which can lead to exclusion and discrimination.
From the moment she was born, Arunny required round-the-clock care and, as the years passed, she remained dependent on her mother for everything.
At four, Arunny couldn’t talk and used basic gestures to communicate her needs. Her feet were very weak, and she could only walk short distances with bad balance. Severe spasticity in her hands made it impossible for her to feed or care for herself.
Chantou was devoted to her daughter but without support she didn’t have the skills to teach Arunny how to develop independence.
Then, everything changed.
Enhancing life
In 2014, the outreach team of Jesuit Mission’s local partner Karuna Battambang Organisation (KBO) met Arunny.
Through the ‘Enhancing the Life of People with Intellectual Disabilities’ program, KBO aims to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, reduce discrimination and empower families of children with intellectual disabilities.
The program offers supports and services including:
- Special education for people living with an intellectual disability
- Individualised healthcare and physical development programs
- Skill-building for children and parents
- Access to proper sanitation, hygiene and clean water
- Family education and support groups
- Emergency support – and more.
Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Arunny has been receiving home-based care services through KBO since 2014.
Progress toward a fuller life
Arunny’s progress has been nothing short of a miracle.
Individualised healthcare and physical development programs strengthen Arunny's physical capacity.
She’s reached wonderful levels of independence, learning how to communicate, how to use utensils, and take care of herself.
Through special education classes, Arunny can now recognise objects, use money and recognise numbers and letters. And, through physiotherapy, her physical condition and walking have dramatically improved.
Chantou has also learned invaluable skills to support her daughter, and the family has received additional support through the program, including new sanitation and hygiene facilities for their home.
With schools recently reopened in Cambodia, Arunny walks to the local primary school with friends, where she studies in Grade 1 classes.
Now with friends in the neighbourhood and new independence growing every day, Arunny is enjoying a fuller life, and Chantou and her husband could not be prouder of their daughter.
They now see a brighter future for Arunny – one they’d never dared to imagine before.
Arunny’s story featured in our Christmas Appeal 2021.
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