A new pink cast for Thao

This is a long overdue update on Thao. We've received a number of inquires about what has happen to Thao over the past year. As you can imagine a lot has happen, but for now I will give you a summary.

In late 2009 Thao moved from here home in California to a new home in Minnesota, where she has remained ever since. HSCV is very grateful for the support she receive during her 2 years in CA. During that time she lived with 3 host families, attended 3 schools and made countless friends. We are especially thankful for the support of Hanh, David and Minister Philip.

For the past year Thao has been living the HSCV's founders Chuck and Patty. She has been taken in as one their own. She easily fits in the family who have adopted internationally 3 times with their youngest from China. The stability and overwhelming support from the Prior Lake community has helped Thao gain self-confidence and find her fighting spirit. She is currently receiving a scholarship from an anonymous donor to attend a local private school, where she can feel comfortable among a small group of classmates.


Since relocating to MN HSCV Team members have been working diligently to find treatment alternatives for both her hands and her face. In 2010 she was accepted for treatment at the Shriner's Hospital in St. Paul. Her treatment was delayed a few months as they fought a staph infection in her eyes. After many months and a slew of medication the infection finally subsided.


The doctors will work on both her hands and her face. They will start with her hands and once that has healed they will begin working on her face. For her face they will once again insert an expander under skin. In California this process was done 3 times. The first time the expander was placed under her skin, where the newly formed skin was pulled up over the bottom half of her face and scarred tissue was removed. The second expander was placed on the back of her neck. This allowed the doctors to close scar tissue on her scalp. The third expander was once again placed under her chin. Unfortunately this time the expander became infected and had to be removed. Thao moved to Minnesota shortly after this happen.


This month Thao had her first surgery in over a year. Thao decided to have surgery on her right hand. When she was burned she lost the top half of all of her fingers and only a small part of her thumb remains. In addition, as her hand healed her fingers fused together, preventing any separation. The surgery was scheduled to take 2 hours, but doctors decided to do more than planned and the surgery lasted for 4 hours. The doctors used skin grafts from her legs to replace the scar tissue.



Thao spent that night in the hospital, and Patty slept by her side. The surgery has reported gone well, but we won't know the full extent of the results until the cast is removed and Thao begins physical therapy. She is in a bit of pain, and most of the pain is where the skin was removed. The doctors say that this is normal.

Thao returned to school on Monday to find her locker decorated and classmates standing by to help her with heavy book bag.

Photos:
1. Thao and Annetta reunite for Christmas 2009
2. Thao ready for the HSCV Walk Run of 2010
3. Thao ready for some trick-or-treating, 2010
4. Thao a few days after surgery in January 2011
5. Thao having fun with Antonio (Chuck and Patty's grandson)