2019-2020 Mission

In 2009, while running our Clinic mission in Chong Dong village, we were struggling to maintain a clinic that was run down and working with staff that spoke a foreign language. Then, a man named Sok Chorn entered the picture. Chorn showed up every morning to the clinic, painting walls, cleaning beds, providing care, and acting as our translator. Chorn wasn’t motivated by money. He was helping his people, and that’s all he cared about. He became not just a staff member of STHC, but a dear friend to all. Chorn remained on our board of trustees as a translator, helping with minor missions from 2010-2019. In February of 2020, Sok Chorn’s family contacted us, explaining that Chorn had been involved in an accident while working on his father’s roof. Chorn suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and was near death. STHC contacted several of the international doctors, with whom we were affiliated, and we were able to arrange an emergency craniotomy to reduce pressure. This is a difficult procedure anywhere, but Chorn survived. Although his prognosis was grim, to everyone’s shock, Chorn began to recover and was taken off a ventilator two weeks later. He started to breath on his own, as well as open his eyes and move his arms. His family could not afford for him to stay at Calmette Hospital, and STHC was able to arrange a transfer to a mid-level hospital near his home. STHC had worked with the staff at Baray Santouk Hospital in the past, and, once CEO James Garcia arrived in Cambodia from the United States, he borrowed their ambulance to transfer him closer to home,

Sok Chorn has continued to slowly recover. He cannot speak, but is moving both sides now, and follows simple commands.

“We pray that Chorn will survive and recover, and one day be back by my side as we work together to help the poor. He will always be my friend and inspiration.”

-James Garcia, CEO