Fight for Vanny Koh

As many of you may already know our beautiful, strong, supportive, and selfless mom Vanny Koh suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm while camping with her children and grandchildren over Mother's Day weekend. She was rushed down the mountain and life flighted to Intermountain Medical Center where she has undergone 3 brain surgeries in two weeks. While the little bit of daily progress she has made may not seem like a lot to others it has been the reassurance her family has needed after they decided to give her the chance to continue fighting. She has proven throughout her entire life that she is indeed a fighter. She has faced impossible odds from the beginning of her story while living in Cambodia as a young child in the center of a genocide. After all she has been through, we know that this is not the end of her story.

      Vanny, or as her grandchildren and their friends lovingly call her, Yay Yay, has made some progress. The doctor's removed part of her skull in her second surgery to relieve the pressure and swelling on her brain. We cheered and cried when she began to raise her eyebrows or point her fingers to express 'yes' or 'no'. Eventually she began to shake her head. Since the third surgery which was done to place the shunt in her brain down to her abdomen, she has been more tired. Her body has been through so much and we have hope that she just needs rest after everything she has been through. As she was getting ready to be discharged from the ICU we were faced with the decision of what skilled nursing facility we should send her too. We were given a list of facilities none of which felt right. We finally decided on Logan Regional Transition Center, but then were informed a week later that she was denied because they did not feel like they could treat her. Her condition was too severe for a skilled nursing facility and not severe enough for a long-term care facility. We felt like our hands were tied and we were being forced to place her somewhere that would not be able to provide her with the care she so desperately needs to rehabilitate and come back to us. The insurance issues and her needed care seemed to constantly be clashing. Her middle child, Jessica, took matters into her own hands and started researching and calling facilities. Jessica found the University of Utah Brain Rehabilitation Hospital where they treat brain injury patients in a minimally conscious state. There was a slight catch. We were informed that if her insurance will agree to pay for double level assisted living which this facility is considered there is a chance that when discharged she may have to go home instead of another nursing facility. As a family, we would have to care for her at home until her next surgery. If that is the case they are willing to train us on any level of care she may need, but this will inevitably create a financial burden on all to be available and able to assist her husband in providing the possibly constant care needed. This facility felt like an answer to our prayers and the only option where she will be given a fighting chance to come back to us. We had to try and Vanny was accepted in as a patient and was moved there on June 11, 2021. Since then, the staff at U of U have went above and beyond to provide her with the care needed. She has been participating in physical therapy 3 times a day. Even if she’s not fully awake they are steadfast in pushing her and working her muscles.

     She does have a long, long road ahead of her. Her husband, Sakhon, has been by her side since the incident in the mountains. We are concerned for his health as well as he has been in cancer remission for one year now and has his own health concerns that can take a turn for the worst if he doesn't monitor his own needs. The financial burden has been a huge stressor on him as you can imagine. He is newly retired and on a fixed income. Their plan was for Vanny to continue working until she could also qualify for her full retirement benefits. Due to this horrific experience, she does qualify for disability, but it isn't comparable to what she was bringing in while working full-time. He has been staying in Salt Lake for over a month and their children and siblings have traveled back and forth from Logan, UT to support both Vanny and Sakhon. Vanny’s sister, Chenda, has opened her home to the family to come and go as needed. Chenda and her partner Jed have gone above and beyond to provide food and buy air mattresses and toys for the kids to make their home comfortable and welcoming for all.

     We fully acknowledge that this year has been so hard on the whole world and what we are asking is not without sacrifice. We are asking for help in giving our mom, wife, sister, daughter, friend and Yay Yay a chance to keep fighting. One of our dear friends reminded us that 'Cambodians are resilient and are strong fighters.' Our Yay Yay is no exception to this statement.

     If you have the financial means, please help her to continue that fight. If you do not have the financial means, please help her to continue that fight with prayers and positive thoughts and energy. As a family we would like to thank you in advance for any and all help offered.