A Dangerous Fall From A Tree
Yeng Xee’s story of survival and path to recovery after a traumatic brain injury. A healthy and adventurous nine-year-old boy, Yeng Xee loved climbing trees. When he saw a towering jackfruit tree, he sets his eye on a ripe fruit high above.
As he reached for it, the heavy jackfruit snapped loose, striking his head with such force and in an instant, he lost his grip and plummeted to the ground.
His friends found him lying motionless under the tree. Terrified, they ran to get help. When the adults arrived, they immediately knew something was very wrong. Yeng Xee wasn't responding to their voices or touch. His parents called for the provincial ambulance, beginning a tense four-hour journey to reach medical care in Luang Prabang.
He was rushed first to a private hospital in Luang Prabang where a CT scan revealed the something serious: a bleeding inside the skull, an intracranial hemorrhage. The hospital staff knew he needed specialized care beyond what they could provide so they immediately referred him to Lao Friends Hospital for Children.
Emergency Care and Critical Days in ICU
When the ambulance reached LFHC, the trauma team was ready. They quickly assessed Yeng Xee’s condition, stabilized his breathing, and started fluids and medication. Monitoring his vital signs closely, they confirmed from the CT scan that he had a dangerous brain bleed. He needed intensive level care.
In the ICU, nurses and doctors watched Yeng Xee around the clock and carefully adjusted treatment to control the brain swelling. For three tense nights, his family waited, fearing the worst. Thanks to the team’s constant vigilance, Yeng Xee stayed stable.
Small Steps Forward To Recovery with a Multi-Disciplinary team
He was transferred to the general ward soon after, but the boy who once scrambled up trees now lay quiet in his bed. He could not speak. His left side hung heavy and still. He needed help with even the smallest movements. Yet, his family was filled with gratitude. Their son was alive and this meant hope. Over the next sixteen days, LFHC’s team of therapists and specialists helped him regain strength, movement, and speech while guiding his parents in supporting his recovery at home.
The path to Yeng Xee’s recovery continues at home, supported by regular follow-up visits at LFHC’s Outpatient Development Clinic which also provides ongoing guidance for his parent on how to care for him at home
He still has weakness on his left side, affecting both his arm and leg. His parents noticed that he’s had some behavioral and emotional changes which can be typical in post-traumatic brain injury patients. At each session, LFHC’s development team tracks his progress and teaches his family exercises to strengthen his movement, coordination, and speech.
Today, Yeng Xee continues to improve. Every week brings new progress, whether it's better balance, clearer speech, or stronger movement on his left side. The LFHC development team remains committed to his care, providing regular follow-up appointments to track his recovery and adjust his therapy as needed.
His story reflects the vital role of specialized pediatric care in Laos — care that gives children like him a second chance to recover, grow, and return to a healthy, happy childhood.
