Volunteer of the Week for March 23rd, 2007

Sorn Soth - May 15, 2007*

 

On Dr. John's different Walks in Cambodia, Sorn Soth was a special volunteer who helped guide Dr. John through the poverty stricken neighborhoods in and around Phnom Penh. Originally, a professional dancer for the Royal Court when he was younger, he discovered he had HIV. The two men first met in the late 1990s while Sorn Soth and other young people with AIDS were living in an abandoned home because of the discrimination against PLWHA (people living with HIV/AIDS). A number of the youth have been active volunteers in the TeenAIDS' campaign to reach teens and some have since died. TeenAIDS assisted Sorn Soth in getting him a bike so he could more easily make his rounds. He has lived longer than doctors expected because of the hard-to-get medicines and his indomitable spirit. Until now.

In March 2007, Dr. John received this message from Nareach Sinyatkan, a mutual friend and PeerCorps volunteer. It read:

"He miss you so much and he want to say hello to you. Now his healthy is not good, he have alot of disease. He feel that, he can't live or he can't live along time more. He only want to say hello to for the end of his life Tomorrow or next week or next year he want to say good bye forever to u. Lovely from Sorn Soth!"

Dr. John and all of the PeerCorps family pray for Sorn Soth.

Our best friend, Sorn Soth has passed away on 15 May 2007 at 12:30noon, at the Chronic Care Facility of Center of HOPE. Before he die, he had well prepared for himself. He told everyone in the Support Group he was going to die soon. He encouraged everyone to fight against HIV, don't be afraid to die. He shared alot talk about you, 'John's great examples.' He remembered you as great friend and told me to email you that he bye bye you forever. He mentioned that he did not want to die but because of his liver toxicity, he must eccepted it. He was so painful before dying. Many PLHAs and his family were at the funeral. Everyone so sad to lose him. He was the man who fought to live for ten years with AIDS. He showed up to public and educated thousand about prevention AIDS.

Will send you a picture, Chhavelith

*Dr. John received the sad news from TeenAIDS Advisory Council member for Cambodia, Chhavelith Vathadna. Chhavelith, Sorn Soth and Nareach worked closely with Dr. John on his AIDS Attacks throughout Phnom Penh and the countryside on John's visits to Cambodia.