CHIANG MAI -- Five-year-old Amue would love to enjoy Children's Day this Saturday the same way most children do, but she's been paralysed since her drugged out father shattered her spine with a shotgun blast last year.
While other children frolick, the young Karen girl will be going through the daily grind of physical therapy and being trained for a life that will largely be spent in a wheelchair. The shot from her 32-year-old father's gun destroyed her nervous system from the waist down.
Amue is being treated at Sarapee Boworn Pattana Hospital in Saraphi district of Chiang Mai. She gets a daily 20-minute therapy session, along with training that will enable her to climb into a wheelchair, and very hopefully use a walker in the future.
She receives close care from her 23-year-old mother, Thidarat Lomanopakorn, and hospital staff, and a group of donors are helping with the costs of treatment and equipment.
Recalling that terrible day, Mrs Thidarat said on June 29 last year her husband Boonrab Prawinphrai had been under the influence of drugs when he fired his shotgun at her and her daughter, who was then aged four. She had been five months pregnant at the time. Fortunately, she did not lose the baby.
She said she and Amue had both been shot in the back. Some of the pellets lodged in Amue's spine. The girl was still unaware she faces lifelong paralysis, Mrs Thidarat said. She is also dependant on enemas and urine bags, in addition to her medication.
Mrs Thidarat said she would do her best to raise her family, but admits it will be tough. Her husband had shot himself dead after firing at her and her daughter - and destroying Amue's future.