Article Lansing State Journal:
Sophath Heak a 14 year old Cambodian refugee who came to Mason less than three years ago,learned to love the Mason Middle School.
The outgoing seventh grader was remembered fondly by fellow students and teachers at a memorial service Tuesday.
Sophath died Friday, less than three weeks after being diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a disease that can be caused by exposure to toxic chemicals. The disease stops the bone marrow's ability to produce blood.
Sophath escaped Cambodia at the age of 4 and lived in the Galaan Refugee Camp in Indonesia with her adoptive mother until coming to Mason.
Aplastic anemia is usually caused by exposure to a drug or chemical, although exact causes are rarely found according to Lansing Hemotologist Dr. Francis Breen.
The disease could have been caused by Agent Orange along the Ho Chi MIn Trail during the Vietnam War.
Sophath who died at Sparrow hospital had been ill for three weeks prior to her death.
She was a very outgoing and active person, said Ilona Vitosh her teacher at Mason Middle School.
Born in Battenban, Cambodia, she was brought to Mason with her adoptive mother, by MERCI group a effort by local churches to locate Cambodian refugees in Mason.
She had no living relatives that we know of , they were all killed in Cambodia in the early 1970s, said Mason Mayor Gene Goodman, who coordinated Sophaphs arrival for Merci. She is survived by Sohkay Kuy, her adoptive mother and many friend.
Sophath Heak a 14 year old Cambodian refugee who came to Mason less than three years ago,learned to love the Mason Middle School.
The outgoing seventh grader was remembered fondly by fellow students and teachers at a memorial service Tuesday.
Sophath died Friday, less than three weeks after being diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a disease that can be caused by exposure to toxic chemicals. The disease stops the bone marrow's ability to produce blood.
Sophath escaped Cambodia at the age of 4 and lived in the Galaan Refugee Camp in Indonesia with her adoptive mother until coming to Mason.
Aplastic anemia is usually caused by exposure to a drug or chemical, although exact causes are rarely found according to Lansing Hemotologist Dr. Francis Breen.
The disease could have been caused by Agent Orange along the Ho Chi MIn Trail during the Vietnam War.
Sophath who died at Sparrow hospital had been ill for three weeks prior to her death.
She was a very outgoing and active person, said Ilona Vitosh her teacher at Mason Middle School.
Born in Battenban, Cambodia, she was brought to Mason with her adoptive mother, by MERCI group a effort by local churches to locate Cambodian refugees in Mason.
She had no living relatives that we know of , they were all killed in Cambodia in the early 1970s, said Mason Mayor Gene Goodman, who coordinated Sophaphs arrival for Merci. She is survived by Sohkay Kuy, her adoptive mother and many friend.
Article Lansing State Journal:
Sophath Heak a 14 year old Cambodian refugee who came to Mason less than three years ago,learned to love the Mason Middle School.
The outgoing seventh grader was remembered fondly by fellow students and teachers at a memorial service Tuesday.
Sophath died Friday, less than three weeks after being diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a disease that can be caused by exposure to toxic chemicals. The disease stops the bone marrow's ability to produce blood.
Sophath escaped Cambodia at the age of 4 and lived in the Galaan Refugee Camp in Indonesia with her adoptive mother until coming to Mason.
Aplastic anemia is usually caused by exposure to a drug or chemical, although exact causes are rarely found according to Lansing Hemotologist Dr. Francis Breen.
The disease could have been caused by Agent Orange along the Ho Chi MIn Trail during the Vietnam War.
Sophath who died at Sparrow hospital had been ill for three weeks prior to her death.
She was a very outgoing and active person, said Ilona Vitosh her teacher at Mason Middle School.
Born in Battenban, Cambodia, she was brought to Mason with her adoptive mother, by MERCI group a effort by local churches to locate Cambodian refugees in Mason.
She had no living relatives that we know of , they were all killed in Cambodia in the early 1970s, said Mason Mayor Gene Goodman, who coordinated Sophaphs arrival for Merci. She is survived by Sohkay Kuy, her adoptive mother and many friend.
Sophath Heak a 14 year old Cambodian refugee who came to Mason less than three years ago,learned to love the Mason Middle School.
The outgoing seventh grader was remembered fondly by fellow students and teachers at a memorial service Tuesday.
Sophath died Friday, less than three weeks after being diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a disease that can be caused by exposure to toxic chemicals. The disease stops the bone marrow's ability to produce blood.
Sophath escaped Cambodia at the age of 4 and lived in the Galaan Refugee Camp in Indonesia with her adoptive mother until coming to Mason.
Aplastic anemia is usually caused by exposure to a drug or chemical, although exact causes are rarely found according to Lansing Hemotologist Dr. Francis Breen.
The disease could have been caused by Agent Orange along the Ho Chi MIn Trail during the Vietnam War.
Sophath who died at Sparrow hospital had been ill for three weeks prior to her death.
She was a very outgoing and active person, said Ilona Vitosh her teacher at Mason Middle School.
Born in Battenban, Cambodia, she was brought to Mason with her adoptive mother, by MERCI group a effort by local churches to locate Cambodian refugees in Mason.
She had no living relatives that we know of , they were all killed in Cambodia in the early 1970s, said Mason Mayor Gene Goodman, who coordinated Sophaphs arrival for Merci. She is survived by Sohkay Kuy, her adoptive mother and many friend.
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