G'day, my name is Paul. Several years ago I visited Cambodia due to my interest in pottery and discovered a village where they make remarkable traditional pottery using a unique and intriguing technique. I wanted to share this discovery with the world and help raise the profile of this village so its people could afford better education for their kids and health outcomes for their families. During the making of a documentary showing the skills of these craftspeople, I met a remarkable lady who was interested in helping me raise the village profile. We decided to build a centre where tourists could come to stay, immersing themselves in the village life, observing and learning from the local people. However, just as we completed the villa and pottery workshop, the lady, Sovan, who had helped me so much and who, over time, became my life partner as well, fell ill. She was suffering chest and back pains and had been erroneously diagnosed with a heart condition. I knew she had a difficult life, having lived through Pol Pot's reign of terror, her father killed by a mine left by the Americans, finally marrying a man who beat her incessantly and finally shot her multiple times in a fit of rage. Miraculously, she survived, raised her single daughter while establishing a cleaning business until she was able to afford to buy and sell land while she educated herself after her education had been truncated by Pol Pot's regime. She did business courses and social work courses while providing assistance to women and children who were victims of domestic violence. When I met this lady, she was putting her grandchildren through school and college, the eldest having just graduated in engineering and architecture. In fact, as a student he designed our villa and supervised its construction. 15 years ago at the age of 45, Sovan contracted breast cancer and fearing if she died, her daughter was not in a position as a health worker to finish the children's education, she trained her to take over the business. Through all this, one would expect Sovan to be a sufferer of PTSD, introverted and wrapped up in her own world of demons. On the contrary, Sovan is outgoing, gregarious, generous and loving to all. Each of my updates have revealed how difficult our journey has been, but it's been quite awhile since my last update. This is due to outcomes that are both upsetting, disturbing and causing much preoccupation. How to continue my updates is in itself a daunting task. After all the medical investigations into Sovan's health, finally, an ultrasound of her liver and a CT scan of her upper body, revealed she has advanced cancer in her lungs, bones & liver. The original source, more than likely, the breast cancer of 15 years ago. However, a treatment that would give her a better quality or even an extension of life is unlikely. Sovan wants no treatment that would prolong her suffering having been through this 15 years ago. She had an appointment with her oncologist in Thailand, but her condition has deteriorated to such an extent she has made the decision not to make the flight. Sovan still suffers pain though the morphine she is now taking gives her some relief. We are exploring other drugs to try and make what's left of her life bearable. Her fatigue and inability to eat adequately means, unless a miracle occurs, she is in the terminal stages of her life. She is in the process of wrapping up her business and affairs with her daughter, grandchildren and myself in mind. She is a remarkable woman who has done so much for her family and others and it's a privilege to be on this journey with her. The one positive that comes from Sovan's condition is that it gives time to us express our love and appreciation and to say goodbye. To all of you who have shared our journey, thank you so much. I'm leaving the LFEBridge open as not only does it help with ongoing expenses, which even here is very expensive. Its my intention to create a foundation in her name to continue the work we are doing in our village, Andong Reussey. In conjunction with a local College, the Bright Hope Institute, we intend to bring solar power to rural villages, starting with our village in Kampong Chhnang which we hope will become a model for villages throughout Cambodia. I hope you will stay with us on this journey and continue to contribute. In repayment for your generosity I can provide free accommodation and free Tours of the village for every $50 donated to the cause. For every $5, I can provide backpacker accommodation too. Stay with us. Your presence is a comfort, particularly for me, as though the people of Cambodia have been wonderful to me, I feel very much alone already despite my lady still being here with me.
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