Another child of hope comes to SoCal

Chantha Bob, left, hugs Davik Teng as he greets her and Phin Ken with his 3-year-old daughter, Socheat Nha, after arriving at Los Angeles International Airport on February 20, 2010. Socheat Nha and Phin Ken came to the U.S. with the help of Hearts Without Boundaries to repair two holes in her heart. The organization helped Davik get a quarter-sized hole in her heart repaired in 2008. (Jeff Gritchen / Press-Telegram)

Susan Grossfeld, left, holds the hand of 3-year-old Socheat Nha as her father, Phin Ken, holds the other after arriving at Los Angeles International Airport from Cambodia on February 20, 2010. Socheat Nha and Phin Ken came tot he U.S. with the help of Hearts Without Boundaries to repair two holes in her heart. (Jeff Gritchen / Press-Telegram)

And, Davik Teng, the original symbol of the Long Beach charity, visits again

02/20/2010
By Greg Mellen, Staff Writer
Long Beach Press-Telegram

LOS ANGELES --The past and present of a local nonprofit came together Saturday at Los Angeles International Airport.

Peter Chhun, the founder of Hearts Without Boundaries, the group he formed for destitute Cambodian children with heart ailments to get treatment unavailable in their country, returned to the United States with his newest (third overall) patient and, as a surprise, the girl who helped launch Chhun's nonprofit.

Davik Teng, now 11, was the first patient Chhun brought to the U.S. for life-altering surgery to repair the quarter-sized hole in her heart, called a ventricular septal defect. Davik captured the admiration of many Long Beach residents who followed her journey to the United States from a one-room hut in rural Cambodia to surgery and recovery.

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