Sergey Butenko, a Year 3 student at BCIS International School, was rushed to the hospital on Christmas Eve last year due to an acute headache. Prior to his hospitalization on Dec 24, 2023, the seven-year-old suffered unexplained headaches, loss of energy, nausea, and vomiting. It was not until his hospital admission that doctors identified the reason as a brain cyst.
While at Bangkok Hospital Phuket and Vachira Phuket Hospital, Sergey experienced clinical death, but the doctors managed to restart his heart and bring him back to life. Sergey’s ordeal unfolded while his friends were celebrating Christmas and New Year.
An urgent medevac flight took Sergey from Phuket to Bangkok, where he was admitted to Samitivej Hospital. After two surgeries, Sergey started to recover, amazing the Thai doctors with his progress, as his mother Elena now recalls.
Last Sunday (May 19), Sergey was discharged from the hospital to recover as an outpatient, which is no longer covered by the family’s insurance. The seven-year-old should be transported to Russia as soon as his condition allows a flight. Though raised in Phuket, the boy’s Russian passport allows for treatment in his country of citizenship.
The Butenko family is waiting for the green light from Thai doctors and doing whatever they can to continue the medical miracle made by Thai doctors at Christmas and beyond.
“The doctors’ plan as well as our plan is to prepare Sergey for his flight to Russia as much as we can. He sees his doctors and receives outpatient treatment, and he is scheduled to have an MRI check in around two months,” Elena Butenko told Novosti Phuketa, The Phuket News’ sister-newspaper in the Russian language.
“After that [getting clearance from Thai doctors], we are planning to head to Moscow for Sergey’s further rehabilitation. Currently, we are learning details from several centers specializing in such conditions. As of now, all doctors are adamant that Sergey’s current medication treatment cannot be paused or altered. We will take the Thai pills with us to Russia while the physiotherapy will be provided by local professionals,” Ms Butenko explained.
During the five months of hospital treatment, only a few close friends had been aware of Sergey’s ordeal. In mid-May, the family decided to publicly appeal to the BCIS community and fellow Phuketians. The mounting expenses threaten to interrupt Sergey’s treatment and nullify what Thai medical professionals have achieved.
“At the early stage, the doctors could not expect such an improvement in Sergey’s condition. Now, the leading doctor, a medical professor, greets Sergey with amazement. The boy can sit and hold his head straight unassisted. He can focus his eyes on objects and can slightly move his legs from the knees down. He has already started to move his hands, though it is still a challenge for him. Sergey’s mother stays by his side 24/7, helping with medication and treatments,” Sergey Butenko’s support group says.
Phuket families from the BCIS community and beyond have already responded to the family’s appeal for much-needed donations. The public account will be provided soon; meanwhile, Elena Butenko warmly thanks fellow Phuketians for their support.
“My biggest ’Thank you’ for all the donations, all the kind words, and all the efforts to spread the news. First, we all – the doctors and the family – were greatly impressed by Sergey’s effort to return to life. Now we are equally amazed by the kindness of the Phuket community, all of you, Thai and foreign nationals alike. Thank you,” Ms. Butenko said to Novosti Phuket.
Those willing to support Sergey Butenko’s recovery can make a donation to the following bank account:
- Bank Name: Kasikorn (KBank)
- Account Name: Sergei Butenko
- Account Number: 0561806020
For additional information and non-monetary support, please contact Kamilla Kunashir (Facebook.com/kamillaphuket) or Anastasia Dulatova (WhatsApp: +7 965 990-10-70).