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WHAT IF IT WAS MY KID? The thought kept running through my mind... but more on this later. First let me share how it all began.
Free Wheelchair Mission has donated thru GIBTK, a container of over $300,000 of medical equipment for the Danang Orthopedic Hospital. The majority of supplies are to help the poor for orthopedic surgeries. The thought process FWM has is to possibly help prevent the need for a wheelchair.
Innovative thinking for sure! But for GIBTK it did not stop there. Our hope is to find ways to leverage this beyond the obvious. Let's seek out those kids needing help who may never find us!
Our trip began early, leaving the hotel at 5:30 this morning! Our destination was Tien Phuoc, about 3 1/2 hours from Danang. I realized that my view of Vietnam has changed in recent times. I have become accustomed to built-up cities and although I know the countryside is different, this morning I realized I had forgotten....
It had been a long time since I was this far out of the city. It was a pleasant reminder of what the majority of Vietnam is still like! Beautiful! The one lane road was a thrill, especially when the occasional car, or worse yet, a truck would be coming directly at us in the wrong lane! .
The countryside was lush with small houses and buildings interspersed between the trees. Our mission today was a medical outreach, and team of doctors joined us from the Danang Orthopedic center.
When we arrived there were already dozens of people waiting. In their eyes I could see almost a glimmer of hope that maybe, just maybe there would be some help from these doctors from the city.
My eyes watched as parents and relatives brought kids in. I kept saying over and over, "What if this was my child? What if it was my kid?"
There were scores of adults, each coming to find some hope of relief. Just the site of this was almost overwhelming for me.
I stopped and allowed myself to try and feel what these people from Tien Phuoc must have been feeling. It brought up floods of emotions. Several times I had to walk into a separate room to regain some sense of composure. So what was this all about?
For many there were sad head shakes from the doctors and a kind of "I'm sorry". But for others, hope filled their lives.
One 3-year-old boy was found to need a heart surgery and GIBTK will definitely find funds for him! Here is a happy mom for sure.
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| Vanessa showing video of her daughter dancing to the boy needing heart surgery |
In addition we found five children who GIBTK will fund orthopedic surgeries for. One boy came over and had 2 toes connected. Dr. Thanh said that he did not suggest surgery to separate his toes.. I asked, "Why not?" He said, " The function of his foot is not hurt by this connection." I curiously asked, "But what about mentally, his self-esteem?" Dr. Thanh, smiled and nodded yes, that is affected. He agreed okay, if the boy requests. Well, even before the question was asked, this young man was pleading to have it fixed.
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| Happy to hear he will have his 2 toes separated!!! |
As I look back at first I realize I had hoped for more to come from today, then I get real. Many adults received treatment for different types of ailments, many had X-rays, and
several surgeries are scheduled. Vanessa from Free Wheelchair Mission told me at the end, it was a good day and that she was content with the first fruits of this generous donation from FWM! YEAH GOD!
Hang on because DAY 2 of this medical outreach is still to come!
I surely do not want to diminish the events which took place, lives are being changed. But what happened on our way home made my day! Okay maybe my week!
We stopped to visit Lam, who was one of the first mothers at our unwed mothers home in 2007. Some of you may remember her. She is the one who had her wedding (to the birth father), at The Father's House.
I remember at the wedding her father and 2 brothers came at me when I entered the house. I thought they were going to take me to task. But the father came to me and thanked me for doing for his daughter what he was unable to do, to help her in her time of trouble.
Okay, just picture with me a drop dead, gorgeous, countryside...it was unbelievable! (Incidentally worth every bit of time to walk to Lam's home) But what really topped it off was seeing the success of this young lady.
I was thinking, "What if there was no place of refuge for her? Would this lovely little girl be here today?" Lam showed off her 3 small plots of rice, and showed us the fruit trees around her house. (She makes about $150 a crop from her fruit).
She has planted trees near her home, which in 5 years time, she will be able to sell. And oh yeah, she has a son, AND this beautiful home. She supports her family (her husband has some medial issues) and her 2 in-laws!
Wow! Not bad for a girl who was pregnant and had no place to go! I am so proud of her!
You want hear what just really blows me away? She came to our offices and asked if she could send $10 per month to us, to save for her children's education. She now has $250 in her savings account and a GIBTK donor has pledged to match her savings!!! Good Stuff!
I LOVE GIBTK!!!!!
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