UPDATE: Setback in Kidney Surgery for Rockland Man's Son

UPDATE: Surgery has been postponed for Tony Chhim, son of Rockland businessman Timothy Chhim who started crowdfunding for expenses incurred by their friend Taylor Tragg, who had agreed to donate a kidney. The surgery was scheduled for May 25, but the doctors called it off.

"According to Taylor, the surgical teams decided in their final preparations that the chances of Tony keeping his kidney long- term would be affected with this operation and would altogether eliminate his chances of getting another kidney should he need it again down the road," Timothy Chhim told Patch.

Chhim started the YouCaring crowdfunding website on April 6.

"At this point in time, we have decided to put the funds that we have raised and will continue to raise into a "Kidney for Anthony Chhim" Fund account, which will be untouched until we find a new kidney donor. For any money unused, we pledge to donate it to the National Kidney Foundation," Timothy Chhim wrote.
"If you would like to help, please get tested to see if you are a match; Tony's blood type is "O." If your blood type is “O” and you want to be tested further, please contact me at 845-364-3232 or at timothychhim@aol.com. Any other questions can be addressed to me as well.

"Thank you everyone for your continued prayers and thoughts as our family overcome this hardship."

THIELLS, NY—A local man who has given back to the Rockland County community for years is now asking for help to save his only son's life. Thiells resident and Allstate Insurance Agency Owner Timothy Chhim is known in the area for his involvement and charity work. Now he's looking for help.

Chhim, the first Nanuet Chamber of Commerce president, is a member of the Nanuet/West Nyack Rotary Club; Napoleon Hill Foundation Certified Instructor; past chairman Brooklyn Watt Samakki Dhamikkara, Buddhist Temple; and co-author of Adversity to Advantage.

Chhim, who survived the Khmer Rogue Genocide in Cambodia, started the website KidneyForAnthonyChhim.com to tell his 31-year- old son’s story. Tony's kidneys failed in 2010, prompting Tony's mother Neang to offer one of hers. However, five years later, Tony's body rejected her kidney. Yet again, another brave person stepped up, this time, a close family friend, Taylor Tagg.

Despite finding a willing kidney donor with a matching rare blood type, the Chhims find themselves facing another hurdle.

"As happy as we are, we are not out of the woods yet. We may have a donor but we are short on funds to cover [Tony's traveling, lodging and recovery expenses," said Chhim. "We are expecting the expenses to be more than $10,000 and we are pledging that the unused money will be donated to a Kidney Foundation or a not-for- profit organization on behalf of the donor and Tony."

The money will also be used for the donor’s personal expenses — he lives in Tennessee.

More than 93,000 people are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant, according to the United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS).

Chhim started a YouCaring crowdfunding website on April 6, which has so far raised $2,8050 of the $10,000 goal.

Chhim is not a stranger to hardships in life as he survived the Khmer Rogue Genocide in Cambodia, avoiding the execution block three times. However, that experience rivals that of what he feels now over his son's chance at life.

"It devastates me to watch my son suffer," said Chhim. "Though the dialysis does the job of keeping him alive, a transplant would offer him the ability to live a longer, healthier and more normal life. It would allow him to follow his dreams, return to his passion of creating video games and to run his company Quantum Imagination Studios. A new and functional kidney would also give him time with his family and friends, something many of us take for granted."

Donations are accepted through the YouCaring crowdfunding website. Further details of the Chhims’ journey are at KidneyForAnthonyChhim.com.

Photo: Tony Chhim and his 6-month- old nephew Jace