The Big Hearted Pattaya Club held a party on
24th March, which raised 5,050 baht to help the family.
Manoon Makpol
A family of five people all stricken with severe
health problems and facing eviction were given a new place to stay and
about 5,000 baht in donations after their troubles were first published
in late February.
A month after the plight of Shalan, 80, his
76-year-old wife Waeth Narinthorn, daughters Thongsuk Narinthorn, 55,
Nuaree Sakolyuth, 45, and Oradee Sakolyuth, 25, came to light, the
Big-Hearted Pattaya Club scrounged together 5,050 baht to give to the
family March 29. While a heart-felt gift, the family indicated earlier
they needed much larger handouts.
Shalan is paralyzed from the waist down and suffers
from kidney disease. Waeth is a stroke victim, Thongsuk has arthritis
and Nuaree has lung cancer. Even the youngest, Oradee, has cystic
fibrosis. If they can work at all, they earn money picking up trash to
recycle, selling second-hand goods or in a low-paying waitress job.
The family members say they don’t have enough money
from government welfare and minimal employment to make ends meet. Making
matters worse, Oradee borrowed money off a loan shark she cannot repay
and the family faced exorbitant interest charges after she went into
hiding.
The family’s landlord decided he’d had enough and
last month gave the group two months to get out.
An unnamed landowner near Nongket Yai came to their
aid, offering land to rent at 15,000 baht per month, below market value
due to the property being dirty and dilapidated. The family graciously
accepted, but said they still had to borrow money to live there, as
their earnings each month are only about 8,000 baht.
Thongsuk said earlier she had hatched a new plan to
raise funds by selling lottery tickets. However, she said, getting
started is expensive and she needs money to buy her initial allotments.
Thus the family still has their hands out. If anyone is interested, they
can contact Oradee at 087-160-8271.
