DE PEL – Bear Attack

De Pel has now completed his surgery to restore his face after being attacked by a bear in Burma. They

grafted skin from his arm and legs onto his face to cover the wound and created a nose. He says he no longer

has any pain, just some numbness.

De Pel and his wife were very excited about their trip home, they very much missed their children, especially

the youngest which is just 2 years old. Their grandmother has been looking after the children. Their eldest son

who is 18 years old is helping on the farm while his father is getting treatment. De Pel's wife expressed a little

concern that they may have to sell some animals if they do not have enough food this year.

He and his wife are very happy about the treatment they received. After the bear attack they thought he was

going to die. During our conversation she kept repeating "I didn't think it was going to be like this." Expressing

how grateful she is that De Pel is alive. They are further excited that not only did he survive, but he has been

given a new face and a nose with nostrils and still has his sense of smell. He is also working on improving his

ability to speak and eat.

They said everyone at the Hospital were very nice. People came and gave them food and makeup. Although

they couldn't understand the nurses and medical staff they could tell by their tone that they cared. They were

very positive about their experience in Chiang Mai.

Del Pel and his wife arrived back at the clinic on 9 July for a follow-up in Chiang Mai. They said that their

children were happy to have them home. He looks and feels great and despite not having top teeth and an

upper pallet he has been able to figure out how to communicate. He currently can only eat liquid or very soft

food. They came to the clinic with a large bag of gifts; including Karen jam and freshly picked orchids to give

to the staff to show their gratitude.

They wanted to thank everyone who helped them and tell them that they are grateful. They said if they ever

get the opportunity to return the favor they will. In fact De Pel's wife, while in Chiang Mai took care of a 12-

year-old girl who is going through treatment for leukemia as she had no parents to watch her. This meant that

such a large building before, the process of navigating the hospital was a bit overwhelming at first.

After the follow up in Chiang Mai De Pel and his wife can return home to a normal life with their children. They

will keep in contact with the clinic and if there are any infections, they will return immediately. Thanks to the

donors, De Pel now has the opportunity to see his children grow old and continue to support his family.

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