Neonatal sepsis, a bacterial bloodstream infection, is the most common diagnosis in newborns admitted to the Neonatal Unit. Many babies may also have specific infections … Read more
Immediately after baby Sonesiphone was born at a hospital in Oudomxay Province, his parents saw that something was seriously wrong. They feared that their newborn … Read more
Beriberi is quite common in northern Laos and can be life-threatening for infants. Last month, LFHC doctors saved the lives of two critically ill babies … Read more
Soon after Kazu Thongsy was born, doctors at a provincial hospital pronounced her dead. What they failed to realize is that the infant, born 12 … Read more
Social distancing requirements sparked by the Covid-19 pandemic forced Friends Without A Border to cancel its annual New York Gala and all of its other … Read more
When a little girl name Mone arrived at Lao Friends Hospital for Children a few years ago, she was feverish, extremely weak and unable to … Read more
An infant born in late May at a district hospital was rushed to LFHC with a severe form of gastroschisis, a malformation in which the … Read more
Six-year-old Joy Thapphalao was riding on a motorcycle with his family one day in April when they were involved in a traffic accident. Joy survived, … Read more
Three LFHC doctors report that they are gaining valuable insights and experience as participants in the Pediatric Residency Program in Vientiane, a national three-year training … Read more
During the past few months, the LFHC team has faced an extraordinary challenge: caring for two of the smallest infants ever admitted to the Neonatal … Read more
The hospital’s vegetable garden project started six months ago with the goal of providing food assistance to select patients and their families. Some families travel … Read more
World Blood Donor Day is observed on 14 June every year to raise awareness about the global need for safe blood and to thank blood … Read more
When 15-month-old Noy* arrived at LFHC, doctors thought she was another case of sepsis, a bacterial infection that overwhelms the body. Sepsis is a potentially … Read more
Attempting to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Laos followed lockdown restrictions during April and it wasn’t until May 4 that some of those restrictions were … Read more
Charity Navigator, an independent watchdog of U.S.-based charities, has given its highest rating to Friends Without A Border. Charity Navigator awarded Friends a 4-star rating … Read more
The national lockdown imposed by Lao PDR in response to the pandemic has affected operations at LFHC, but it hasn’t quashed its role as a … Read more
Ana Phonesavath is a brave little girl afflicted with thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder. In fact, she has homozygous Beta 0 thalassemia, which is the … Read more
Being crowned Miss Luang Prabang is the dream of many young Lao women. So when Mila Douangmixay realized her dream, she decided to become very … Read more
Just as it has throughout the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted life at Lao Friends Hospital for Children and the finances of Friends … Read more
Marg Froude first heard of Lao Friends Hospital for Children in 2015 when she met a woman who conducted English classes there for Lao doctors … Read more
Lab technicians at Lao Friends Hospital for Children have upgraded the technology that helps our medical teams diagnose and treat sick and injured children — … Read more
One day in mid-December, 6-year-old Xiasee strayed too close to a cooking fire at her home in Bokeo Province and the flames ignited her clothes. … Read more
Hospital staff members have begun using an upgraded medical record-keeping system that is designed to improve clinical decision-making. Twenty-six doctors and 55 nurses have been … Read more
An unconscious toddler suffering seizures was rushed to the LFHC Emergency Room on Dec. 10. The ER staff didn’t know the name or age of … Read more
Representatives of the Lao PDR government joined Friends Without A Border board members and supporters on Jan. 23 to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the … Read more
From its inception, LFHC has had a tradition of providing continuous education for its medical staff, both in classrooms and during every clinical shift, ably … Read more
As 2019 came to an end, Lao Friends Hospital for Children reached a milestone: The hospital has now provided more than 100,000 medical treatments to … Read more
Fourteen-year-old Khamsouk first visited Lao Friends Hospital for Children after developing unusual skin rashes. He typically responded to treatment, but the rashes eventually reappeared. In … Read more
LFHC recently provided training for 10 nurses and medical assistants from health centers in Phonxay District, Luang Prabang. The two-week training session, titled “Right Diagnosis, … Read more
A newborn infant admitted to our Neonatal Unit typically spends less than a week there. However, some babies cannot survive without a lengthier stay. Airnoy … Read more
More than 150 people gathered on Oct. 18 at the Pullman Hotel in Luang Prabang for the Lao Friends Third Annual Gala Dinner. The event, … Read more
Roughly 1,800 runners participated in the 2019 Run for the Children Luang Prabang Half Marathon — exceeding last year’s race by about 200 participants. The … Read more
Friends of Friends New York celebrated its 20th annual fundraising event on October 12 in Manhattan. Proceeds from the event benefit Angkor Hospital for Children, … Read more
The parents of a 9-month-old child named Malisa became very concerned when she experienced bouts of vomiting for four days and had lost her appetite. … Read more
Nurse anesthetist Si Lee recently returned to LFHC after visiting the U.S. to observe anesthesia procedures at medical facilities in Pittsburgh. Si received a Warfield … Read more
Two LFHC doctors will soon begin training in the Pediatric Residency Program in Vientiane, having finished among the top candidates in a highly competitive, national … Read more
Immediately after Airnoy Khamyai was born in early June, doctors noticed he was having difficulty breathing. The delivery room summoned help from LFHC and its team quickly … Read more
Thiamine deficiency is rampant among the patients we care for at Lao Friends Hospital for Children, especially among our poorest and most rural children. We … Read more
The hospital’s process of training nurses in anesthesiology recently gained formal recognition by the International Federation of Nurse Anesthetists. Three staff members have met … Read more
The Luang Prabang community came together last month to donate blood and support Lao Friends Hospital for Children and the Lao Red Cross in raising … Read more
A motorbike accident left 14-year-old Thong unconscious and injured, so his family rushed him to nearby Nambak District Hospital, where he was treated for his … Read more
LFHC is welcoming three new staff members to its management team. Mark Gorman, who most recently served as the Interim Country Director of World Education … Read more
Six-year-old Jack Nouseng was recently struck by a car and dragged along the ground — an accident that left him unconscious with cuts on his … Read more
LFHC has taken a step “deep into the 21st century” with a new capability to store X-rays and other diagnostic images via cloud computing – … Read more
Charity Navigator, an independent watchdog of U.S.-based charities, has once again awarded four stars, its highest rating, to Friends Without A Border. This is the … Read more
More than 300 guests gathered at the Edison Ballroom in Manhattan on May 15 for the 17th Annual New York Gala, an event that honored … Read more
When little Nok Chante arrived at LFHC, he was unconscious. He had been in that condition since falling from a tree in his village 28 hours … Read more
When LFHC first opened its doors in 2015, one of its first patients was a 7-year-old boy named Bounsaweng Bouadichith, who was diagnosed with thalassemia … Read more
Guidestar, the world’s largest source of information about nonprofits, has awarded its 2019 Platinum Seal of Transparency to Friends Without A Border. Platinum is the … Read more
Monthly blood drives are a vital component of operations at Lao Friends Hospital for Children, which has seen an increase in surgeries and thalassemia patients. … Read more
The LFHC staff is ever-vigilant for signs of malnutrition in the children they see. Last year, more than 150 children were treated for severe or … Read more
A multidisciplinary team at LFHC recently saved the life of a 2-year-old boy who was suffering from an “acute abdomen,” a medical emergency often associated … Read more
Late last month, Lao staff members at LFHC trained a doctor and nurse from Nambak District Hospital in the care and treatment of thalassemia patients. … Read more
About 750 people, including Cambodian government officials, international guests and hospital staff, attended the 20th Anniversary Celebration of Angkor Hospital for Children on January 25 … Read more
The Royal Australasian College of Physicians has awarded its International Medal for 2019 to Lao Friends Hospital for Children Medical Education Director Dr. Christine Sanderson. … Read more
Friends and supporters of Lao Friends Hospital for Children gathered on January 22 to celebrate the 4th anniversary of the hospital. LFHC doctors, nurses and … Read more
The 20th Annual Friends of Friends Photography Auction proved to be a wonderful success. The Dec. 12 event, held at The Highline Loft in Manhattan, … Read more
Six-year-old Thorhua Wa was brought to LFHC last month after her parents became concerned that she wasn’t sleeping well and getting out of bed often … Read more
LFHC recently welcomed Lisa Altmann as the hospital’s new Nurse Educator. Lisa brings a wealth of knowledge and international experience to the position, having worked … Read more
Thanks to a generous donation from the Women International Group (WIG) of Laos, LFHC has taken measures to reduce the risk of nosocomial (acquired in … Read more
Airnoy Khamxaiy was born prematurely at home with no health care professional present. His family cut his umbilical cord with bamboo and upon seeing that … Read more
Kate Corrigan, whose nursing career includes service in the U.S., Haiti and Ecuador, recently started working at LFHC as the hospital’s Director of Nursing. Kate … Read more
Friends Without A Border is extremely grateful to our supporters who made the Second Annual Hong Kong Gala a wonderful success. The theme of the … Read more
After months of renovations, a newly expanded Neonatal Unit is now providing compassionate care to LFHC’s tiniest patients. The unit, located in the adjacent Luang … Read more
The 2018 Run for the Children Luang Prabang Half Marathon attracted throngs of runners from around the world, including a member of Britain’s Royal Family. … Read more
Thanks to everyone who made the Lao Friends Second Annual Gala Dinner a huge success. The fundraiser was held last weekend in Luang Prabang. Honorees … Read more
Friends Without A Border’s 3rd Annual Tokyo Gala, Making A Difference, was deemed wonderful success, having raised more than ¥16.8 million (nearly $150,000 U.S.) on … Read more
LFHC’s expanded Neonatal Unit opened on Oct. 20 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice of York. The princess, a granddaughter … Read more
Aiy Thongsy was brought to Lao Friends Hospital for Children with a condition that doctors diagnosed as Osteomyelitis of his right leg. The condition, which … Read more
Recognizing the high incidence of malnutrition in Lao PDR, administrators at LFHC are initiating a malnutrition care program that they hope will dramatically reduce the … Read more
Doctors at Luang Prabang Provincial Hospital delivered Airnoy Xong in mid-August by performing a cesarian section. His mother had been rushed to the hospital because … Read more
Six-month-old Airnoy Silivong appeared weak and listless when she arrived last month at Lao Friends Hospital for Children. Her mother said the baby girl had … Read more
Not only was August one of the rainiest months of the year in Laos, it was also the busiest month in the three-year history of … Read more
In another cooperative venture, Lao Friends Hospital for Children and the Luang Prabang Provincial Hospital are jointly deploying a new medical imaging storage system that … Read more
Kuelee Lao Faiyia has successfully completed his comprehensive examination in the LFHC Nurse Anesthesia Program. As part of the program, he administered anesthesia in more … Read more
Child Life Therapist Kongmeng Sialee has received a scholarship to spend September studying at the International School of Macau. As a participant in the school’s … Read more
Dr. Vilayvone Senkeo started working at Lao Friends Hospital for Children in 2015 shortly after it opened its doors and began treating patients. She had … Read more
While climbing a tree near his home, 5-year-old Ker Hardjorng slipped and fell roughly 12 feet to the ground. The fall rendered him unconscious, so … Read more
LFHC recently developed a new and important relationship with the Swiss Red Cross. Our hospital staff trained Red Cross health care workers from various districts … Read more
Chanmee Loa was brought to LFHC this month by her alarmed parents after she had suffered through four consecutive days of periodic vomiting. Her family … Read more
Doctors and nurses at LFHC are seeing a record number of patients every month this year. Although the number of children admitted as inpatients is … Read more
Doctors and nurses working in the Outpatient Department and Emergency Room at Lao Friends Hospital for Children treated a record number of patients during the … Read more
Anabella Coria Zavala has joined the staff at LFHC as the hospital’s director of external relations. Anabella has worked for non-governmental organizations in Latin America … Read more
In early May, Kongmeng Sialee, the first and only Child Life Therapist at LFHC, was awarded one of five international scholarships by the Association of … Read more
Charity Navigator and GuideStar, two organizations that assess the financial performance of nonprofits, have each given their highest rating to Friends Without A Border. Charity … Read more
Admissions to our Neonatal Unit have exceeded expectations. LFHC opened the unit in an area that provided space for 6-8 beds. Hospital administrators anticipated that … Read more
Our heartfelt thanks goes out to the more than 300 people who filled the Edison Ballroom in Manhattan last night (April 5) for the 16th … Read more
Our Neonatal doctors and nurses not only treat a growing number of newborn infants, but also handle extremely complex cases. Consider the case of Airnoy … Read more
Until now, LFHC could do little to help children born with cleft lips and cleft palates. Last month, however, 13 children came to the hospital … Read more
The November 2017 issue of the Hong Kong Tattler published a profile of Kenro Izu prior to our inaugural Hong Kong Gala. Click here to … Read more
Donors like you made our Giving Tuesday campaign a success. Every dollar helps Friends Without A Border change the medical landscape of Southeast Asia. Thanks … Read more
Moving Child, a nonprofit in Germany that provides education and health-care resources to disadvantaged children worldwide, has been instrumental in supporting the creation of … Read more
Thalassemia is a serious problem in Northern Laos that until now hasn’t been a focus of the country’s health care system. Friends Without A Border … Read more
Airnoy Thongsy was born 12 weeks premature to a critically ill mother at the region’s Provincial Hospital. She was so tiny that she had an … Read more
As runners sprinted along narrow shady roads, past golden temples, toward the finish line of the Luang Prabang Half Marathon, a clear winner had … Read more
The last 12 months have been full of activity at Lao Friends Hospital for Children. Read below to learn about some of the most important … Read more
We are excited to announce that Kazumi Akao, Clinical Outreach Coordinator at LFHC and representative of our sister organization in Japan, Friends Without A … Read more
Friends Without A Border’s strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency have earned us a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent … Read more
Lao Friends Hospital for Children recently welcomed its first volunteer speech pathologist, Debbie Brady from the United States. Debbie is a certified speech pathologist in early … Read more
Since opening its doors in 2015, Lao Friends Hospital for Children (LFHC) has treated over 25,000 patients from different areas of Northern Laos. On January 25th, … Read more
Friends Without A Border, in association with MAISON 10, is delighted to invite you to an exclusive auction of photographic art works! All proceeds from the sale … Read more
Two of our LFHC staff, Dr. Dorkmai and Dr. Vilayvone, together with the Medical Education Director, Dr. Chris Sanderson, traveled together to attend the Developing … Read more
Friends is excited to share a new book, published by Nazraeli Press and Friends Without A Border. Experience the beauty of Laos with a hardcover, 112-page … Read more
Newborn babies require special care and in recognition of this the Lao Friends Hospital for Children (LFHC) has opened a dedicated neonatal unit. While LFHC … Read more
One Thursday in August, Lao Friends Hospital for Children was contacted by the Swiss Red Cross saying that one of their midwives had found a … Read more
Lao Friends Hospital for Children (LFHC), located on the campus of Luang Prabang Provincial Hospital (LPPH), opened its own Operating Theater (OT) on July 26, … Read more
Grammy Award-winning cellist and virtuoso Yo-Yo Ma has been announced as a Goodwill Ambassador for Friends Without A Border (Friends) as part of the nonprofit’s … Read more
We are proud to share that our new Emergency Room has opened at Lao Friends Hospital for Children! The ER will have a great impact … Read more
LFHC has welcomed its first Inpatient, a 9-year old Hmong girl named Yong Wa. One of 21 children, she came to the hospital from a … Read more
Friends Without A Border opened a new pediatric hospital during a Grand Opening ceremony in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR. Lao Friends Hospital for Children (LFHC) … Read more
We are excited to announce that Friends Without A Border founder Kenro Izu has been named the 2014 World of Children Award Health Honoree! Since … Read more
To ensure the future doctors and nurses of Lao Friends Hospital for Children (LFHC) are providing the best care possible, Friends Without A Border is … Read more
Friends staff and the Luang Prabang community in Laos came together to celebrate the ground breaking ceremony of Lao Friends Hospital for Children (LFHC) on … Read more
