Cambodia’s Miracle-Performing Baby

Ah! Life is a mystery and a miracle all at the same time. Such as, how you manage to spiral down out of cyberspace, narrowly miss the coffee urn and land right next to the tray of virtual treats. Wonderful to see you, it is. Fill your mug; load up your plate. It's Sunday so go ahead... be a devil. Throw the cat another goldfish. Don't let the SPCA people hear me say that. Speaking of miracles...

Kong Keng, a 2-year-old kid from Khnor village in Cambodia, is being hailed as a miracle baby with special healing powers. Thousands of people are traveling from as far as Laos and Vietnam, believing that even a glimpse of Kong will help cure them of their ailments. He appears to be the last ray of hope in a nation that doesn’t exactly have the world’s best healthcare system.

The toddler’s healing powers were discovered by an accidental healing ‘miracle’ that occurred a few months ago. “The miracle happened to my brother,” said Sung Bahn, Kong’s uncle. “He was paralyzed from the waist down after a motorcycle accident. Doctors couldn’t cure him and neither could the Kru Khmers (traditional Cambodian healers).”

Hundreds of people throng outside Kong’s single-room wooden home every single day. It’s a motley crowd of handicapped people in wheelchairs, and ailing, dying patients on stretchers. Phat Soen, Kong’s 21-year-old mother, brings the boy out and places a row of eucalyptus balm bottles in front of him. She then guides his hand over each bottle – his touch is believed to transfer healing powers to the balm.

Phat Soen said the boy is now personally treating only the sickest visitors because of the crowds. Others are given magic sticks or leaves blessed by the toddler. 

The family charges about $1 for the boy's blessing. Neighbours are also making money by selling food and, in one case, plastic toys described as good presents for Kong Keng.

I wonder if he'd mind passing his hand over my lottery ticket. I'd even be willing to pay for his education from Kindergarten to Doctorate...if I won that is!

See ya, eh!

Bob