10-year-old Thai boy sole provider for bedridden parents

[webfact]

10-Year-Old Boy Sole Provider for Bedridden Parents
By Khaosod English


10-year-old Geng is the sole provider for both of his parents, who have been bedridden for years.

SUKHOTHAI — Before going to school every morning, ten-year-old Geng cooks, feeds, and bathes his parents, who have not been unable to leave their beds for years. He also sweeps and cleans his family’s one-story house, washes the dishes, does the laundry, and empties his parents’ bedpans.

And this is just the beginning of his day. As the only child left at home, Geng has assumed full responsibility for taking care of his parents, who have been bedridden for almost a decade. Geng’s 52-year-old mother was paralyzed from the waist-down after a car accident in 2007, and his father, 47, developed full-scale paralysis after a having a seizure ten ago.

Geng, whose full name is Chanatip Soiphrai, hurries home from school every lunch break to feed his parents. He also takes up menial jobs after school and on the weekends.

"If there is some money left, he gives 20 baht or 30 baht to me for keeping," said Geng's mother Nid Srimueang. "I feel so sorry for my son for having to bear so much burden at his age. But I don't know what else I can do."

Geng’s mother is still able to move her upper body and speak freely, but his father, Noppadol Soiphrai, can only move and communicate with his hands.

"I can only give my moral support to my son," Mrs. Nid said. "I want him to be strong and grow up to be a good man."

Despite this extraordinary burden, Geng said he is not tired by his duties or sad about not being able to play with friends after school.

Asked what he wants to be when he grows up, Geng replied cheerfully, "I want to be a soldier, so I can protect the people and the country."

The director of Geng's school, Prasertsri Tepanwong, described Geng as a bright student and said the school administration is well aware of his family's plight. The school has helped buy lunches and school supplies for Geng, as well as provide him with small jobs for pay, she said.

Ms. Prasertsri added that the school administration has opened a bank account in Geng's name to help raise money for his family. Those who wish to donate to Geng should contact his homeroom teacher at 087-204-4727.

Source: http://en.khaosod.co.th/detail.php?newsid=1401870293


-- Khaosod English 2014-06-04

[Costas2008]

I'm left in tears.

How hard life can be......how strong this little boy is.

I will definitely ask the wife to ring the number provided.

Others, please, help, also.

[bkkbarbara]

Since the school administration has opened a bank account in Geng's name to help raise money for his family, could they just provide the account details rather than asking that we ring the teacher?

[neverdie]

I'm left in tears.

How hard life can be......how strong this little boy is.

I will definitely ask the wife to ring the number provided.

Others, please, help, also.

Maybe you could post the bank details here, after making the call.

[isanbirder]

While this is an extreme case, this is not so uncommon in Thailand as we would like to think.

I came across several cases in the Phitsanulok area when I was running a scholarship scheme there. Very often, even the teachers did not find out until the situation had been going on for some time.

Just one case.... a boy in M.6 who was working in the evenings to provide for himself and his insane uncle. The boy managed to get a university place notwithstanding. He never told his teachers (face, I suppose).

Another... a boy who worked all hours and all trades to pay for his father's dialysis treatment (this was before the 30 baht scheme). His home was empty; everything had been sold to pay for the treatment.

There are many fine people, just ordinary people, in this country where we have made our homes, and it sickens me to see the scumbags who never have anything good to say for things Thai.

Edited June 4, 2014 by isanbirder

[wvavin]

Hi mates, I suggest everybody chip in a little to assist this little boy. Its absolutely tough for him or his family. Lets do it mates!

[pigeonjake]

perhaps they could make a donation from thai visa?

[Seastallion]

I think the biggest gift we could give the family is a wheelchair for the mum. This would make her mobile and able to do things rather than just lie in bed. Perhaps a wheelchair cum commode so she is independent of her sons administrations,.

[weegee]

perhaps they could make a donation from thai visa?

Thats a good idea...and Thai Visa can open the bank account themselves. They can control where the money goes and how much.

Imagine if this happened, and members who play the stock exchange, could assist with turning the money into more, completely controlled by TV Admin, of course..

Someone belonging to TVF must live near or close by, and could see that the welfare gets directly to the family

Do something like that....and I am in.

[Costas2008]

I'm left in tears.

How hard life can be......how strong this little boy is.

I will definitely ask the wife to ring the number provided.

Others, please, help, also.

Maybe you could post the bank details here, after making the call.

Wife tried to ring many times but there is no answer.

She got the Bank details from Khaosod thai side.

As follows

Agricultural Bank ( in Thai) ธนาคารเพื่อการเกษตรและสหกรณ์

Account no.020036549718

Accont name (sorry in Thai)

กองทุนเพื่อช่วยเหลือครอบครัว เด็กชาย ชนาธิป สร้อยพราย

Before I send any money, I want to get in contact with them

Probably tomorrow morning.

Regards

Costas

[pigeonjake]

i think weegees idea is a good one,

also about the wheel chair, lots of people in wheel chairs fend for themselfs,,

jake

[Mirth]

Don't mean to sound un-supportive but, boy has been fending for himself since age 3?

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[Seastallion]

i think weegees idea is a good one,

also about the wheel chair, lots of people in wheel chairs fend for themselfs,,

jake

Yes, Weegee is right. We will raise and do a lot more if we have someone on the ground actually seeing the results. An article from Khaosod does not inspire a lot of confidence, but if a kind TV member who is near can actually witness and perhaps deliver personally, more people will chip in.

[Seastallion]

Don't mean to sound un-supportive but, boy has been fending for himself since age 3?

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

Read carefully...it said he is the remaining child, ie there were others around previously.

[neverdie]

I'm left in tears.

How hard life can be......how strong this little boy is.

I will definitely ask the wife to ring the number provided.

Others, please, help, also.

Maybe you could post the bank details here, after making the call.

Wife tried to ring many times but there is no answer.

She got the Bank details from Khaosod thai side.

As follows

Agricultural Bank ( in Thai) ธนาคารเพื่อการเกษตรและสหกรณ์

Account no.020036549718

Accont name (sorry in Thai)

กองทุนเพื่อช่วยเหลือครอบครัว เด็กชาย ชนาธิป สร้อยพราย

Before I send any money, I want to get in contact with them

Probably tomorrow morning.

Regards

Costas

THANKYOU, we are O/S at the moment but can do bank transfer. Cheers !

[pigeonjake]

this boy since the age of 3 as the other poster says has been doing this,?

no other family what so ever?

ill put in but i want confermation this is going on,

look at it this way, if you took the boy out of the picture and put an 18yr old girl there,,

90% would be shouting SCAM

dont want to p! s s on anyones rainbow, you know im not a thai basher,, but this is thailand

[Costas2008]

Don't mean to sound un-supportive but, boy has been fending for himself since age 3?

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

He has an older sister and an older brother.

Both left the house, living somewhere else.

No support to the family.

Probably he is in this situation for the last 1 or 2 years.

[Mudcrab]

Don't mean to sound un-supportive but, boy has been fending for himself since age 3?

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

He has an older sister and an older brother.

Both left the house, living somewhere else.

No support to the family.

Probably he is in this situation for the last 1 or 2 years.

Where are all the thai rouge supporters.....surely this should be something they would be on to straight away...helping the downtrodden poor?

Let me know how I can help Costas-I'm in

[krisb]

perhaps they could make a donation from thai visa?

Hoping mods show some heart and let this run it's course.

They have closed these before based on rallying members.

I would send some if anyone can think of a way to get cash there without me getting slugged 50 bucks int. transfer fee. Id rather the kid get the money.

[neverdie]

this boy since the age of 3 as the other poster says has been doing this,?

no other family what so ever?

ill put in but i want confermation this is going on,

look at it this way, if you took the boy out of the picture and put an 18yr old girl there,,

90% would be shouting SCAM

dont want to p! s s on anyones rainbow, you know im not a thai basher,, but this is thailand

I understand what you are saying and there has been all sorts of scams around the place, however if someone can confirm this case is genuine, then it would be nice to help a little, wouldn't you say.

[weegee]

Yes, Genuine it has to be....thats for sure.

Think about it....1200 posts nearly in only a bit over 3 hours, and if everyone of those who read the topic gave just 1 dollar US, that kid would have enough to kick off with....36,000baht....

But he and the money would need to be protected, from the other Brother and sister coming home for a share....

[DLock]

I would provide 10,000 baht if I was 100% sure it would go to the boy and his family.

If Thaivisa can take responsibility for collecting and ensuring that it would go to the family, I would have no hesitation.

Great kid.

[pigeonjake]

this boy since the age of 3 as the other poster says has been doing this,?

no other family what so ever?

ill put in but i want confermation this is going on,

look at it this way, if you took the boy out of the picture and put an 18yr old girl there,,

90% would be shouting SCAM

dont want to p! s s on anyones rainbow, you know im not a thai basher,, but this is thailand

I understand what you are saying and there has been all sorts of scams around the place, however if someone can confirm this case is genuine, then it would be nice to help a little, wouldn't you say.

if you read my post i said i was in but i wanted confirmation it was reel

[Costas2008]

Don't mean to sound un-supportive but, boy has been fending for himself since age 3?

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

He has an older sister and an older brother.

Both left the house, living somewhere else.

No support to the family.

Probably he is in this situation for the last 1 or 2 years.

Where are all the thai rouge supporters.....surely this should be something they would be on to straight away...helping the downtrodden poor?

Let me know how I can help Costas-I'm in

Let me ring tomorrow morning to the number provided in OP.

Then I will let you know and you can make a donation to the account I provided to Neverdie as I will do.

Don't know if this is the Bank telephone number or the school one.

I'll let you know tomorrow.

[weegee]

I would provide 10,000 baht if I was 100% sure it would go to the boy and his family.

If Thaivisa can take responsibility for collecting and ensuring that it would go to the family, I would have no hesitation.

Great kid.

I will commit 10,000 baht also.....if controlled by Thai Visa.....

[pigeonjake]

Yes, Genuine it has to be....thats for sure.

Think about it....1200 posts nearly in only a bit over 3 hours, and if everyone of those who read the topic gave just 1 dollar US, that kid would have enough to kick off with....36,000baht....

But he and the money would need to be protected, from the other Brother and sister coming home for a share....

weegee my pal i agree with you again,

if there is money coming in you can garantee the brother and sister would suddenly want to be the carer,,

[Costas2008]

perhaps they could make a donation from thai visa?

Hoping mods show some heart and let this run it's course.

They have closed these before based on rallying members.

I would send some if anyone can think of a way to get cash there without me getting slugged 50 bucks int. transfer fee. Id rather the kid get the money.

Kris, I can put the money on your behalf and you give it to me when in Thailand.

So you have no excuse to meet me this time.

[neverdie]

I would provide 10,000 baht if I was 100% sure it would go to the boy and his family.

If Thaivisa can take responsibility for collecting and ensuring that it would go to the family, I would have no hesitation.

Great kid.

I'm out of likes, so I say good on you.

Some time ago I read about another story like this in the paper. I was moved by it and made some enquiries about it. I assisted and it felt good to make a difference to someone's life. Some time later the person we helped passed on, but the money they received from so many made the last days, weeks, months of her life much nicer.

A few baht by many hands would make a big difference, but I also understand peoples reservations.

[DLock]

I would provide 10,000 baht if I was 100% sure it would go to the boy and his family.

If Thaivisa can take responsibility for collecting and ensuring that it would go to the family, I would have no hesitation.

Great kid.

I will commit 10,000 baht also.....if controlled by Thai Visa.....

Nice one Weegee.

I hope TV can take responsibility and give people the confidence that the money will go to the right place and will be used in the best way...and that other family members do not suddenly appear on the doorstep.

Wouldn't it be amazing if we could make a difference for this little boy and his parents lives.

[weegee]

Yes, Genuine it has to be....thats for sure.

Think about it....1200 posts nearly in only a bit over 3 hours, and if everyone of those who read the topic gave just 1 dollar US, that kid would have enough to kick off with....36,000baht....

But he and the money would need to be protected, from the other Brother and sister coming home for a share....

weegee my pal i agree with you again,

if there is money coming in you can garantee the brother and sister would suddenly want to be the carer,,

NO WAY.....Through Thai Visa, to the kid, a bit at a time.....No one else.