25-year-old Soksan gave birth to a beautiful baby boy in June 2024. It’d been a difficult few months — Soksan had suffered a divorce and was scared to raise her son on her own. But after little Phirun was born, it felt like maybe the hard part was over.
Then, at just 45 days old, Phirun began getting very sick. He developed a fever, a bad cough and red spots all over his body. Soon, he was having trouble breathing.
“When I first noticed Phirun getting sick, I was terrified. The fear of losing my son was overwhelming. I felt so alone.”
Soksan, Phirun’s mother
Soksan brought Phirun to a local health centre. But Phirun was still constantly crying, coughing and struggling to breathe three days later. Desperate for her son’s recovery, Soksan’s cousin recommended going to AHC — 3 hours away from their home in Battambang Province.
Once at AHC, our respiratory doctors got to work. Phirun’s symptoms were consistent with cytomegalovirus — an infection from the herpes virus. They ran a series of tests, none of which were sufficient to confirm any diagnosis. Without a bronchoscope, they can’t determine exactly what’s causing Phirun’s illness.
After discussing the situation with their overseas respiratory mentor, the team decided to proceed with giving Phirun anti-cytomegalovirus medication. After a month-long stay in our in-patient unit to monitor his health, the team finally felt confident discharging Phirun.
But less than a month later, Phirun was back with the same symptoms. The respiratory team ran more tests, but once again, they were inconclusive without the help of the bronchoscope. Once again, they discussed potential approaches with their overseas mentor and our microbiology team. Without a confirmed diagnosis, they all agreed they had to prescribe Phirun multiple medications to cover a broad range of potential illnesses.
Phirun is now returning to AHC every few weeks with respiratory distress. While our doctors will continue doing their best to manage Phirum’s condition, ward off more illnesses and minimise further damage to his lungs and body, Phirun’s chronic condition requires specialised support that our team is currently unable to give without the help of a bronchoscope. The longer he goes without proper diagnosis and treatment, the more permanent damage will likely be done to his lungs, increasing the risks of more severe illnesses in the future.
“My experience at AHC has been wonderful. The care provided by AHC makes a remarkable difference in his health every time we come. The staff are gentle and kind, and I truly appreciate the compassionate care they give my baby. I believe AHC will continue treating him well and help him recover soon. Their consistent care and dedication give me great reassurance and have shown me that he’s in good hands.”
Soksan, Phirun’s mother