Single mother in Buriram struggles to care for bedridden son

A single mother in Buriram has been left with no option but to leave her job to care for her bedridden son, leading to severe financial hardship. The local community has tried to help but the situation has become untenable, prompting calls for external assistance.

A family in Thai Charoen village, Pakham district, Buriram province, is facing extreme poverty due to the need to care for a bedridden 23 year old son. The mother, 42 year old Wanpen Kodpratum, has been struggling to provide for her two children after her husband’s death, which left her as a single parent. The family’s plight came to light when residents informed reporters about their dire situation.

Reporters visited the family’s home and found 23 year old Thanadol Kodpratum suffering from multiple ailments including diabetes, a single kidney, and severe muscle atrophy that has left him bedridden. Wanpen explained that she has another child, a 12 year old daughter currently in sixth grade. After her husband passed away when Thanadol was young, Wanpen moved to Bangkok to work as a housekeeper, taking her children with her.

Thanadol’s health began to deteriorate, leading to a diagnosis of diabetes. Further complications required surgery, revealing he had only one kidney, which necessitated regular dialysis. About a year ago, Thanadol’s condition worsened significantly, rendering him unable to walk due to muscle atrophy. This forced Wanpen to leave her job and return to their hometown in Buriram to care for her children.

The family’s financial situation has become increasingly desperate. Wanpen can no longer work as she needs to provide constant care for Thanadol, who requires daily diapers costing 300 to 400 baht. This amount does not include other expenses, such as her daughter’s school fees.

Despite the community’s efforts to assist, their resources are limited. Wanpen receives a disability allowance of 800 baht per month for her son, which is insufficient to cover their needs.

Village head

The village head of Thai Charoen, 56 year old Somboon Plobutsri acknowledged the efforts made by the local government officials and the Thai Red Cross, who have provided short-term assistance, including hospital transport. However, these measures are not sustainable in the long run.

The village head highlighted the community’s attempts to pool money to purchase diapers but recognised that this is not a viable long-term solution. He expressed concern that the family is reaching a breaking point, using 15 to 20 diapers daily without a steady income, reported KhaoSod.

Somboon appealed for compassionate individuals to help the family in any way possible. Those willing to assist can contact Wanpen directly at 092-8070429 or Somboon at 062-4292528.

Donations can also be made to the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), account number 020183862432, under the name Wanpen Kodpratum.