A 7-year-old Cambodian boy who received surgery for kidney cancer at a hospital in Okayama spoke of his dream of training to becoming a doctor as he was discharged Tuesday.
"I want to become a doctor in Japan," Soun Makara told reporters as he left hospital, making a peace sign with his hand and waving to doctors and nurses, after completing drug treatment for cancer for nearly a month. His visit to Japan was funded by a charitable organization.
The boy had his right kidney and a tumor of around 850 grams removed during an operation at the National Hospital Organization's Okayama Medical Center on June 17, after he was diagnosed by a Japanese doctor in April as having only a few months to live.
Soun Makara was initially diagnosed with cancer in Cambodia in February but was unable to have surgery due to his family's economic circumstances and local medical capabilities.
The boy's treatment in Japan was arranged by Tokyo-based International Medical Volunteers Japan Heart, which also raised funds for his travel. The nonprofit group offers free health care in Myanmar and Cambodia.
Soun Makara, who was scheduled to leave for Cambodia on Wednesday with his father, said: "I want to study in school and play with my friends back home."
