In visiting and getting to know P'Witoon and his sustainable agriculture work last week, I also got to know his family. P'Witoon and his extended family are quite close and share many resources. While P'Witoon has two 'traditional' bamboo houses in his field, he also lives/shares a house with his parents and sister in the village. His nephew also lives with the family because his parents are currently working abroad. One of P'Witoon's childhood friends also lives with them.
His story really hit close to home. I never got the full story, but Jonathan tried to fill in some details. Apparently P'Witoon's friend as a serious kidney disease and has for a few years now. He was originally told that he only live a couple of months, but it's been about 2 years. His wife left him since he was no longer able to work enough to provide for them ... working as hard as he used to was just too painful.
As a result, P'Witoon took him in. He helps out around the farm as he is able and in return P'Witoon and his family feed him and help him pay for his many medications.
Still, it's a hard place for him to be. It seems like he could really use a kidney transplant. But here in Thailand, organ donations aren't as common because of dominant Buddhists beliefs. In Buddhism, when you die you are reincarnated based on the life you live. If you lead a good life, your next life will be easier as you continue on your journey towards total enlightenment. If you don't lead a good life, your next life might be more difficult ... it all depends on the merit or karma you've received in your current situation. Because of reincarnation, people aren't too keen to give up body parts.
Basically, Witoon's friend is just waiting to die, which was painful to see. Almost every day he made some sort of comment ... how he was in so much pain, how he wish he could enjoy the spicy food, how he was surprised that he woke up that day, how sad he was that there's just no hope for him. He wasn't able to go sightseeing with us on Tuesday because he had to filter fluid through his body. I was amazed that he was able to do it out where we were. I know that being able to filter makes a quite difference, but after seeing my brother's system, his set up seemed so rudimentary.
I just wish there was something I was able to do to give him hope! My brother and family have been so blessed through my brother's battle with his kidney disease and we are confident he'll be able to find a kidney match and have a successful transplant ... maybe even as soon as this summer! The progress my brother made and care he received has been such an encouragement to our family even though it's been a difficult situation to deal with. P'Witoon's friend doesn't have this encouragement and I wish there was a way he could be encouraged and comforted through the uncertainty each day brings. I keep thinking, if the roles were reversed, if my brother had renal failure here ... I'd definitely feel hopeless for his situation. I'm so thankful for the care he is able to receive.
If you're praying for my brother as he's dealing with his kidney disease, please pray for P'Witoon's friend as well ... that he can find hope in God and that he doesn't suffer from too much pain. To learn more about my brother's kidney disease and how you can sign up to be a potential donor, check out his blog here.
Thanks for your prayers and support
Hannah
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