Background
This project has its origins in my visit to the village of Nong Tong in November 2007 where I stayed for four weeks. I have been increasingly drawn back to Thailand since m first visit in august 2006 with a group of therapists from Ireland to Chiang Mai . . .
Case Study
This young mans name is Atapha and he is about 27 years old. He was born a normal child but when very young he contacted a fever and . . .
Atapha
Early on in my say in Nong Tong while walking through the village one day I came across a young man lying on the side of the road. I stopped and said hello to him. What I got in return was a smile as he is unable to talk. Through a series of meetings with either Sosana or Lino interpreting I met his mother and sisters and the full story emerged.
This young mans name is Atapha and he is about 27 years old. He was born a normal child but when very young he contacted a fever and with no medicine available he lost his power of speech and the co-ordination of his limbs. While he is able to walk, he does so very slowly and not very far . Atapha`s father died about 12 years ago, leaving his mother to rear their family with very little means of income. This she has done remarkably well.
The family home is situated in a steep part of the village and the village itself is very hilly due to been located on the lower reaches of the Himalays. So its not feasible for Atapha to live at home. So he lives rough in a local rice mill, which is his life. I got to know Atapha very well and we became close friends. His living conditions are extremely bad to say the least. The rice mill is situated in a flat part of the village and his uncle has donated the site to Atapha so I can proceed fairly quickly with the construction of his home.
