BLESSINGS … Six children who underwent open-heart surgery at the Penang Adventist Hospital recently received blessings from a monk at a Buddhist temple in Penang yesterday.

The children, accompanied by their mothers, a Cambodian doctor and nurse, visited the Dhammikarana Burmese Buddhist Temple to offer prayers in conjunction with the "Seong Ban Festival" – the Cambodian Thanksgiving and Worship day.

The children – Vanak, one; Sophea, five; Pasy, 11; Ry Dith, Kruen Kun and Sarak, all six – offered prayers for their successful surgeries.

The six are among 45 Cambodian children brought to Penang for corrective heart surgery at PAH under the Gift Of Life programme, said Adventist public relations and marketing officer Frances Lai.

Under the programme, Rotary International contributed US$ 2,000 (RM 7,600) towards the cost of each operation with the rest raised by public donation.

Royal Air Cambodge provided US$ 100,000 worth of air tickets to fly the children and their parents to Malaysia.

Dr Say Vuthy and nurse Chea Phal from the Angkor Hospital for Children and the mothers thanked Malaysian for their contribution.

Those who would like to donate can send crossed cheques made payable to: "Heart Patients’ Fund", Penang Adventist Hospital, 465, Jalan Burmah, 10350 Penang.

For details, contact Heart Patients Fund chairperson, Lim Chooi Eng (04-2261133 ext 1265 or 012-4931726) or Development Coordinator Rachel Phoon (ext 1259).