Phuket Call To Save 7 Month Old 'Tuptim'

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Phuket call to save 'Tuptim'

Baby Tuptim’s only chance for survival is an urgent liver transplant

from one of her parents.

PHUKET: -- “Tuptim” is only seven months old, but has a condition that requires an urgent liver transplant or she will die within weeks.

She is the daughter of Rattanachai “Kru Nai” Jadngooluem, a well known trainer at Tiger Muay Thai (TMT) in Chalong and a former World Muay Thai world champion.

Mr Rattanachai, “Nit”, the child’s mother, and Phuket’s muay thai community now face the fight of their lives as they look to raise the US$50,000 needed for Tuptim’s life-saving surgery.

At three months old, Tuptim was diagnosed with biliary obstruction, which means there is a blockage in the tubes that carry bile from the liver to the gallbladder and small intestine.

She was this week admitted to the intensive care unit of Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok after suffering internal bleeding. She remains in critical but stable condition.

Doctors at the hospital believe without adequate and immediate medical attention Tuptim will not survive to see the new year.

The only option to save her life is a parental donor liver transplant – a complicated 10-hour procedure where a portion of the parent’s liver is removed and placed inside their child.

If the operation goes ahead it will be carried out by world-renowned Bangkok based specialist, Dr Sumate Teeraratkul.

Grainne Farrell, managing partner of Lotus Medical International, is heading up the fund-raising team.

“I was asked a while ago by a wealthy benefactor to find out if there was any medical treatment that could save Tuptim. At that stage Tuptim had been told...that she basically had to wait to die. They could operate on her but there was only a 30% chance of survival,” said Ms Farrell.

“I decided to ask my friends for help. I train at TMT and within less than 24 hours I had a group of people willing to help. The work that they have done in less than 24 hours is totally amazing,” she added.

Some of Thailand’s most famous muay thai fighters are donating signed memorabilia for an online auction.

People can donate to help save Tuptim through the website SaveTupTim.yolasite.com

The Yoonique bar in Nai Harn is to host a special party on December 24 to raise funds and TMT has organized a BBQ for December 25 at their training camp in Chalong.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-12-18

[Lannatyne]

Hope that the family of Rhino can assist with the admin and organisation for these 2 Thai parents.

[Chris Lawrence]

My prayers for the child.

Edited December 18, 2010 by Chris Lawrence

[sirchai]

Hope that the family of Rhino can assist with the admin and organisation for these 2 Thai parents.

Doctors at the hospital believe without adequate and immediate medical attention Tuptim will not survive to see the new year.

The only option to save her life is a parental donor liver transplant – a complicated 10-hour procedure where a portion of the parent's liver is removed and placed inside their child.

If the operation goes ahead it will be carried out by world-renowned Bangkok based specialist, Dr Sumate Teeraratkul.

Grainne Farrell, managing partner of Lotus Medical International, is heading up the fund-raising team.

"I was asked a while ago by a wealthy benefactor to find out if there was any medical treatment that could save Tuptim. At that stage Tuptim had been told...that she basically had to wait to die. They could operate on her but there was only a 30% chance of survival," said Ms Farrell.

"I decided to ask my friends for help. I train at TMT and within less than 24 hours I had a group of people willing to help. The work that they have done in less than 24 hours is totally amazing," she added.

Some of Thailand's most famous muay thai fighters are donating signed memorabilia for an online auction.

Is there anything advertised for Thais to help this little girl to survive? My point being is that even a "Superstar" like a Muay Thai fighter can't get enough sympathy from his own fellows, nor a free surgery from a well- known hospital?

In the end, it's a complicated operation, but with enough good-will, wouldn't it be possible for some rich guys to pay the bill? Doctors could do the job for free, don't they have sweare to save lives, when they become doctors?

Living in a country where you can't even stop to help people after an accident because afterward it might have been you who caused the accident, it's hard to believe that there's no institution to help formless to keep this little girl alive.

I know that life doesn't count much here, but money shouldn't be an issue in this case. I'll donate money, but will it really come to the right address? Is there anybody out there who's got more information about this case?

There were some foreigners, where others donated money to pay their hospital bills, flights back to their countries, and later it appeared that different Thai organizations had sampled money and a lot of cash disappeared in some people's pocket. I hope she'll be well soon. Hai reo reo dek jing. :jap:

Edited December 18, 2010 by sirchai

[sirchai]

Good Luck for her.

Edited December 18, 2010 by sirchai

[Keeow]

Hope that the family of Rhino can assist with the admin and organisation for these 2 Thai parents.

Doctors at the hospital believe without adequate and immediate medical attention Tuptim will not survive to see the new year.

The only option to save her life is a parental donor liver transplant – a complicated 10-hour procedure where a portion of the parent's liver is removed and placed inside their child.

If the operation goes ahead it will be carried out by world-renowned Bangkok based specialist, Dr Sumate Teeraratkul.

Grainne Farrell, managing partner of Lotus Medical International, is heading up the fund-raising team.

"I was asked a while ago by a wealthy benefactor to find out if there was any medical treatment that could save Tuptim. At that stage Tuptim had been told...that she basically had to wait to die. They could operate on her but there was only a 30% chance of survival," said Ms Farrell.

"I decided to ask my friends for help. I train at TMT and within less than 24 hours I had a group of people willing to help. The work that they have done in less than 24 hours is totally amazing," she added.

Some of Thailand's most famous muay thai fighters are donating signed memorabilia for an online auction.

Is there anything advertised for Thais to help this little girl to survive? My point being is that even a "Superstar" like a Muay Thai fighter can't get enough sympathy from his own fellows, nor a free surgery from a well- known hospital?

In the end, it's a complicated operation, but with enough good-will, wouldn't it be possible for some rich guys to pay the bill? Doctors could do the job for free, don't they have sweare to save lives, when they become doctors?

Living in a country where you can't even stop to help people after an accident because afterward it might have been you who caused the accident, it's hard to believe that there's no institution to help formless to keep this little girl alive.

I know that life doesn't count much here, but money shouldn't be an issue in this case. I'll donate money, but will it really come to the right address? Is there anybody out there who's got more information about this case?

There were some foreigners, where others donated money to pay their hospital bills, flights back to their countries, and later it appeared that different Thai organizations had sampled money and a lot of cash disappeared in some people's pocket. I hope she'll be well soon. Hai reo reo dek jing. :jap:

I am a student at TMT And Nai is one of my instructors. The Muay Thai trainers here only make about 9000B a month. And then whatever they can get from private lessons. Nai also works as a taxi driver by night and is doing everything he possibly can for his daughter. He is the nicest most genuine man I've met and honest to God if there is anything anyone can do to help out. Even the smallest donation would help. If you need more information about it I'll be happy to do whatever I can.

If you want to make sure you are donating to somewhere that actually gets to him and his family, you can even send it to Tiger Muay Thai. The address is 7/6 Moo 5 Soi Tadied Ao Chalong Muang Phuket Thailand 83100 Phone number 076367071. Everyone here is aware of the situation. And it might help you feel more comfortable about it if you spoke to someone actually here on campus. This family does not deserve to lose their child. Everyone here is praying for her. But if you would like to help out, it might be more effective to talk to someone here at Tiger. You can also email the staff at //removed//

Edited December 19, 2010 by Tywais
e-mail removed as per forum rules

[InTransit]

How sad, lets hope enough funds can be raised in time, bless her.

[Rimmer]

A dying little girl’s Thai Smile rallies a Martial

Tiger Muay Thai Camp in Phuket is well known for it’s high class Muay Thai training, but now it will be famous for its community who have joined forces together to save a little girl’s life.

Phuket , 19 December 2010, Kru Nai (Mr. Rattanachai Jadngooluem) is one of the Muay Thai trainers at the camp and is no stranger to a challenge. Kru Nai has an impressive fighting record of 3 X Lumpinee Champion wins at 3 weight classes and also a World Muay Thai Champion title. However this time Kru Nai has a fight for life that he just can’t win on his own.

His 7-month old daughter, Tuptim, has been diagnosed with a Bilary Obstruction. Without adequate medical assistance from sadly overrun government hospitals, the condition has now been diagnosed as critical. The only option for Tuptim is a liver transplant as the liver has been damaged beyond repair. Tuptim has now been admitted into ICU as she is bleeding internally. Doctors are worried that she will die before the New Year without immediate medical attention.

The problem is the price. The costs are high starting at 1.5 million Thai Baht or around $50,000. Other costs are involved after the surgery due to the immunosuppressant drugs that each child needs for many years to follow. The bill for drugs for just one year runs in to tens of thousands of dollars. This means that this type of surgery is just not possible for the majority of Thai people. The average salary is somewhere between $150 and $300 per month.

Dr. Sumat and his medical team provide the only access in the country to what is called Parental Donor Liver Transplant. This is a pioneering type of medicine that is not yet a standard procedure and can’t be carried out by most surgeons. During this operation part of the parent’s liver is removed and placed in to the baby. The liver is the only organ in the body that can regenerate which is what makes this type of surgery feasible.

Tiger Muay Thai camp has called an emergency meeting to help fundraise immediately for little Tuptim. Part of the team is Grainne Farrell, MD for Lotus Medical International. Along with the General Manager of Tiger Muay Camp, Will Elliott, Fundraising Leader Zena Ellaz and her team, Grainne will be charging ahead to fundraise the money required for this urgent operation.

“This is something very close to all of our hearts,” Grainne mentioned, “The family have now been told that Tuptim needs to be operated on within the month as her case is now critical. I guess we don’t have much time to get the ball rolling. It may not be an easy task to raise $50,000 plus in four weeks but I am sure that we can do it, we just need your help.”

The full story is HERE

PATTAYA DAILY NEWS

--2010-12-19

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UFC’s Dana White steps in to save Phuket babe

UFC President Dana White. Photo: Justin Moore

PHUKET: Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White has agreed to cover the cost of a liver transplant for Phuket baby Tuptim Jadngooluem.

Ray Elbe, who runs the mixed martial arts (MMA) program at the camp, said, “ Just received confirmation that Dana White is the reason for the season.

“Monday morning he will have his assistant contact Grainne Farrell of [Phuket-based medical toursim company] Lotus Medical to make arrangements for the payment of the liver transplant operation.

“Thailand is a beautiful country and this story is an amazing example of how good things happen for good people. Rattanachai deserved to have someone step up in his time of need,” he added.

Frantic fund raising has been underway to cover the cost of the life-saving operation for seven-month-old Tuptim (click here for our previous story).

Over US$10,000 has been raised to date. The total cost of the operation is around US$50,000, but now Mr White and the UFC are to step in to make up the difference.

Several top UFC fighters, including Jon Fitch, Jake Shields and Phil Baroni, have trained at Tiger Muay Thai in Chalong, where the girl’s father, former World Muay Thai world champion Rattanachai Jadngooluem, is an instructor.

The training camp’s connection with UFC also includes Elbe appearing on The Ultimate Fighter, a reality TV series run by the UFC.

-- Phuket Gazette 2010-12-20

[random]

Fair play to Dana, its probably pocket money for the likes of him but the fact that he is prepared to help speaks volumes.