THE generosity of a Mandurah man has made international news after organising a prosthetic leg for a virtual stranger.
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Derek Clarkson, a regular visitor to Thailand, first met Wilaiwan Damnui on the streets of Phuket four or five years ago.
At first Mr Clarkson tried to give her money, to ensure the 33-year-old cigarette vendor had enough money to eat and put a roof over her head.
With Ms Damnai not wanting to take the money from a complete stranger, Mr Clarkson would roll his money up so she couldn’t see what he was giving her every time he bought gum.
“She didn’t want to beg,” Mr Clarkson said.
“She is so independent and would work every night on Bangala Road.”
Ms Damnui was born with a deformed leg and no hands and had to manage after her plaster leg broke, not long after she received it in 1999.
“The plaster cast was awful,” Mr Clarkson said.
“Not only was it heavy but it was awful looking.”
After returning a couple years ago he decided he could do better than just give her money, deciding instead to buy her a prosthetic leg.
“At least then she could stand up and get around easier,” Mr Clarkson.
“And I made it clear I didn’t want anything in return.”
But it wasn’t an easy journey, with language the biggest barrier for Mr Clarkson.
Not fluent in Thai, he had trouble finding a translator who knew the technical terms for the information he required to get the plan into action.
It wasn’t until the local newspaper got involved with Mr Clarkson’s mission that the Mandurah resident made some progress.
“After that everything happened,” he said.
“All we had to do was wait for the response from the medical centre.”
That was when the Phuket Governor heard about the plight, speeding up what should have been a three-month process to a three-week one.
Ms Damnai has now been approved to recieve an artificial leg as part of a program which turns recycled aluminium into prosthetics.
She expects to receive the leg later this month and Mr Clarkson said he looks forward to seeing her walking around on his next visit.
“That will be really good,” he said.
“I’m inclined to help people who have nothing.
“You can’t build up if you have nothing.
“And she deserves it; she really does.”
