The Hydrocephalus Ward At Go Vap Orphanage

I call this the the 'waiting room' which is the Hydrocephalus ward at Go Vap orphanage for the terminally ill children. For these little ones it's too late as an operation is too expensive & complicated. However, if they are operated on early and provided with shunts for the procedure they have a chance of survival & a normal existance. Hospitals in the UK & US throw away expired shunts, but the Dr's have been using them over here and the operations are successful. When I return to the UK, I will do more research & will contact hospitals & manufacturers to see if they will donate any expired shunts.

15.08.2010 Update: Since I took this video, little Phuc passed away in 2008.... I am so sad of Phuc's passing but know there will be no more pain for the little one...

Treatment to remove water on the brain (hydrocephalus) can now be done without a shunt, however diagnosing the hydrocephalus condition in time still needs to be improved. If you are a Doctor or a nurse & would like to volunteer in Vietnam, please contact me.
For the children where it is too late to operate on, they need love & care too. The staff do all they can to feed & keep the kids clean, however we are also looking for volunteers who will spend some time with these children before they die, gently massaging, caring & talking to them. All children should have the right to be loved & cared for before they die. Your help is sorely needed!

Kim Nguyen Browne
Founder
Vietnam Volunteer Network
knb@vietnamvolunteernetwork.com
http://www.vietnamvolunteernetwork.com/

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[theasiancountries]

Im going to this Orphanage tomorrow. Is there anyone out there who knows what is the cost of a shunt operation? We do need to do a needs analysis to find whats the best way to use whatever funds we've raised as students.

[KimDreamVietnam]

@theasiancountries Hi, That is very sweet of you. My organisation is able to get an operation for hydrocephalus done for free via a French NPO/NGO called ADM Vietnam. The majority of kids are in the late stages so can not be operated on & recently a newborn has been operated on. Perhaps you should ask the Director of Go Vap orphanage what else she would prefer donations to be spent on. Love & Vietnam Volunteer Network.

[alanaahx]

THIS VIDEO SHOULD NOT BA ALLOWED ON YOUTUBE ! ITS HEARTBREAKING AND I FEEL FOR THESE POOR ANGELS. BUT IS THERE ANY NEED TO PUT THEM ON YOUTUBE? THESE KIDS ARE DYING WHY ON EARTH WOULD U WANT TO SHOW A VIDEO THIS TRAUMATISING? IM A MOTHER OF A CHILD WITH HYDRO, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I WANT TO SEE, THANK YOU ! & IM PRETY SURE OTHERS WILL AGREE.. ITS WRONG AND SAD TO POST THESE VIDEOS !

[KimDreamVietnam]

@alanaahx Dear Alanaahx, I am sorry this is distressing for you to watch. However these videos have helped me to raise awareness about hydrocephalus, find the right organisations to help the children in Vietnam who will operate for free to prevent these late stages & has also brought on average 3 volunteers per month to this orphanage. The staff do a good job of cleaning feeding these children, however my volunteers give these kids love & care before they die. Kind regards, Kim

[KSitz77]

Question: If these kids would have gotten the operation and its not too late can they learn to sit up and/or walk etc? I ask because I know a mom with a toddler who is 3 and has had the operation but is still lying flat. Also no vocabulary yet. Thanks for any insight.

[KimDreamVietnam]

@KSitz77 Hi & in answer to your question yes they can lead normal lives after a successful operation. Check out this video I took of a little boy at Go Vap who was operated on without a shunt 'Caution: Volunteering In Vietnam At Go Vap Orphanage Can Touch Your Heart & Help Others Too!'

[Stephie2007]

those poor kids. I too have this condition (thankfully, i was given a shunt operation) this video just goes to show me if I had gone untreated, I wouldn't be here typing this. good job and God Bless

[KimDreamVietnam]

I'd rather you look at the children & not me! Btw, I'm not a nurse. I volunteer at the orphanage once a year.

[Koekie0812]

I put this on my channel to raise awareness! I know how much this hurts....We can not even image how much these kids suffer!

[purpleninjalove22]

I have hydrocephalus, thankfully it was found before I was even born, and then treated. I'm working on spreading awareness of hydrocephalus and seeing this video is going to make me work even harder to get it out there! No one deserves to go untreated like these kids. I'm only 16 but I know I can make a difference. I honestly hope that more awareness will be spread very soon because no one deserves to die from something that can be so easily fixed by a surgery that is a daily occurrence here in

[purpleninjalove22]

I have hydrocephalus, thankfully it was found before I was even born, and then treated. I'm working on spreading awareness of hydrocephalus and seeing this video is going to make me work even harder to get it out there! No one deserves to go untreated like these kids. I'm only 16 but I know I can make a difference. I honestly hope that more awareness will be spread very soon because no one deserves to die from something that can be so easily fixed by a surgery that is a daily occurrence here in

[chrisbuffoni]

I wish I could go volunteer at your hospital and just sit with the kids and at least try to make them feel better. So sad. I hope the best for your hospital and that you find someone to donate, no kid should be left untreated, no matter where they are, how much money they have, or what their condition is. We're all human! Maybe if I get deployed somewhere near there I'll stop by :)

[bdennis3137]

God bless you and your work....Know that you are a special angel in these children's lives!

[BoricuaMamii621]

i have a question and i hope it brings no offence and doesn't sound ignorant but is hydrocephalus common in people of asian decent ? because i have seen a few other parents whom are asian and their kids have had it and in this video the amount of kids there is a big number to me i hope this really doesnt sound ignorant i am asking out of curiosity i really feel terrible for these kids and want to learn more about this orphanage