Hearts Without Boundaries

A SURPRISE THROUGH THE SMOKE Just before HWB's Chantha Bob (Bobby) departed the other day for Long Beach, California, I took him to visit Socheat Nha and her family. Socheat is, as always, a very smart little girl and Bobby especially wanted to see her before he left. Her heart now is very healthy, allowing her to play with her friends like regular kids in the shadow of her parents who are working very hard, selling and grilling BBQ at a street-side stall. ... The family had moved to Phnom Penh from Takeo province to give Socheat a better education. The HWB team and Socheat and her parents forever thank our friend Tom Herndon for support-ing her school costs. As we got out of the car, Socheat looked at us through the smoke rising from the grill. Then, she rushed up and hugged Bobby hard. She said, Uncle Bobby! Her father, Phin, and her mother were also surprised to see him. His presence comforted the family. After a few minutes Socheat excused herself so that she could continue to play with her friends. Kids are always kids. Her story and those of other kids for whom the HWB team helped arrange life-saving surgery will continue to shape our lives forever. The HWB team profoundly thanks donors, past, present and future. Your generosity helps Make A Difference. What a reunion! Peter Chhun and HWB team.

UNDER THE MISSING LEAVES: REMEMBERING LOST FAMILY AND FRIENDS As the sun’s rays shone through the trees near the Angkor Wat temples in Siem Reap, Cambodia, John Futch and I were joined by Tuon Iem’s sons, Chantha Bob and Chanly Bob. They had traveled from the U.S. to join their siblings to celebrate their late, soft-spoken mother under the missing leaves. She was 86. ... In 1979, she was able to lead her four children through heavy mined fields to refugee camps along the border with Thailand as Cambodia collapsed in a bloody civil war. In 1982 they arrived the United States, but she left four children behind. A moment to remember! A few years back, I visited her and said, Let’s go dancing. After a short pause, she replied, I rather pick the leaves. We all laughed. After her funeral, Chantha and I had a little time to pay respects to our dearest friend, Steve Wegrzyn. He was a solid stone behind Hearts Without Boundaries’ cause. Steve always wanted to visit Cambodia and see the Angkor temples, but unfortunately, he never could fulfill his dream. Instead, we brought his ashes to Angkor Wat. Chantha and I will forever appreciate the kindness of the monks who accepted Steve’s urn. That urn rests among the stones that will remain amid the pillars under the canopy of Angkor temples forever. RIP-Mrs. Tuon Iem and Mr. Steve Wegrzyn. With much respect to all friends, supporters and donors, Peter Chhun and HWB team.

Ho Ho Ho, and best wishes to our dear donors, friends and supporters, Christmas arrives around the world and in Cambodia the festive season can be found all over as many Cambodians celebrate Christmas in their homes, at their churches, with their families, or even from hospital beds. During a recent medical mission at Calmette Hospital in Christmas of 2013, our Santa Claus was able to put a big smile across the face of the little girl our Mending Kids International friends ca...lled Dora and other 13 faces of destitute children, still in the hospital, who received the same life-saving open-heart surgery. As we told you back then, one mother whispered to me, We have never seen a man in red cloth and red head in our village. She said, Thank you, thank you. My little girl is so happy. These 14 children remained under medical observation after twelve left the hospital with their healthy hearts. In that five day-mission, our team from the Philippine Heart Center, with the support of Mending Kids International, repaired 27 little hearts. Thousands more destitute Khmer children with congenital heart defects await a miracle. One of the holiday pictures here is a surprise visit from another Santa Claus on Christmas 2015. Tom Herndon, who came from Bangkok for the holiday in Phnom Penh, sponsors Socheat Nga’s education and he got together with Socheat and her parents on Christmas Eve. Socheat is sweet and smart, as always. Your support for Hearts Without Boundaries allows us to continue aiding desperate Cambodian children suffering from heart defects. , Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year from Cambodia! With much respect, HWB team, Peter Chhun, Chantha Bob and John Futch

Apologies for taking so long to get this posted but wanted to let friends of Hearts Without Boundaries stalwart Chantha Bob -- Bobby -- about his loss. His mother was remarkable. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Know it sounds as if I have been roaming about doing my hide-from-the-world birthday, but this is, as Paul Harvey would have said, the rest of the story.... Iem Thuon was the 86-year-old mother and grande dame of a remarkable Khmer family, among them my wonderful friends Chantha Bob (Hearts Without Boundaries' beloved Bobby), Chanly Bob and Roum Bob. Her story of strength and courage and survival is epic as she somehow kept her family together during the unspeakable trials of the Khmer Rouge holocaust while losing their father to the murdering throng, time and again putting her life on the line to protect her little ones. She finally got them out of the clutches of the Khmer Rouge and out of Cambodia after a harrowing overland flight to the Thai border. They wound up in America, where they grew and prospered and finally she had the time to retire and play grandma to a brood of kids. A few years ago she returned to live with relatives on the outskirts of Siem Reap and settled into a pleasant routine, making her signature hangout the beautiful gazebo built for her at the corner of her nephew Los' property. But last week she started peacefully slipping away and now she is gone and the family is in mourning, grieving the loss of a woman of great heart and love. And for the last week I have been privileged to share in that time and those memories. Iem Thuon, Mom, was a great treasure to us all.

Tours, Sightseeing and Activities continue A decision: After celebrating my friend John Futch’s birthday we decided to watch sunrise over Angkor Wat temple the next morning. It was John's first time and the second time for me. My first came in 2002 when I was asked to organize and led a group from the NBC Today Show to do a live broadcast from this exact location. The show, Where In The World Is Matt Lauer, received great reviews. Show highlight: The Ministry of Tour...ism profusely thanked the NBC Today Show for showing the world the Khmer culture. And six months later the minister informed me that the volume of tourists had increased 50 percent. I responded with the humble words, It’s good for the economy and the Cambodian people will have more jobs. Back to the sunrise: With my eyes still half closed, my phone was ringing. it was John reminding me, It’s 4:30 am. Our tuk-tuk driver and I are waiting for you. I threw on some clothes and rushed out to meet them. It was pitch black and the sliver of the moon had already disappeared allowing us to see the stars that guide the way. We took the road that leads us to the temple. I felt a bit of a chill. Reaching the entrance of the Kingdom’s most famed temple, we hopped out of the tuk-tuk. Our driver lighted the way with his flashlight and John had one, too. We walked down the stone path and through the ancient gates along with hundreds of visitors, most of them from China. We found a spot to watch the magic unfold. And we waited, and waited. What a morning to remember! Just before 7 a.m. the Angkor temple revealed its secrets. The tourists and locals alike reacted with muffled voices, Ooohhh, wooow, as the sun continued to burst through from behind the ancient stones. A promise: I will be back and I thank my ancestors for allowing me to express my feeling and vision and to learn about their legacy. Peter