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Todays note is the first of 2 parts written by GIBYTK Historian Karla DeSimone; Karla has been part of our life since the inception of GIBTK. From the beginning she supported us in every way possible yet she insisted that she will NEVER go to Vietnam! Well this past trip was her 9th. LOL!!!
All Started With A Soccer Ball
I am often unaware of how silly my actions are at the time, but my heart overrides my brain and... well let's just say... things happen! Much more than a decade ago, a Mom, named Tam, and her seven-year-old son, named Truong, had journeyed from their village in great hopes of learning if Giving it Back to Kids would fund Troung's much needed heart surgery.
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Truong receiving his soccer ball before his surgery
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Tam and her husband are hard-working farmers, but the price of a lifesaving surgery for their child was completely unattainable on their income. At seven years old Truong weighed only about 25 pounds, so Robert reverently and gently coached Truong's Mom saying, "to ensure your son's surgery is successful, you need to take him home and feed him more than rice". While I truly just heard what Robert said to this worried Mom, I impulsively unzipped my backpack and pulled out a soccer ball and handed it to Truong. Robert in utter disbelief looked me and said... "I just told that Mom to fatten up her severely underweight child for his much needed heart surgery...and you hand this sick young boy a soccer ball...?!
God blessed Troung's surgery and when I saw him years later for the first time after his surgery, a GIBTK staff member asked Truong if he remembered who "this lady was". Funny thing is... Truong didn't respond by saying it's the lady who funded his surgery... but rather he said without hesitation, "it's the lady who gave me the soccer ball"! Today, Tu who skillfully manages the Heart Surgery program for GIBTK, was taking me to visit two of my past heart surgery recipients. Today I felt like a little kid on Christmas filled with anticipation.
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2 moms hugging; Karla hugging Truong Grateful mom
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The roads in the countryside are not easily marked so it is not uncommon for a GIBTK team to drive to spot and then wait to be "escorted" to a destination by an official or family member. As our van came to a halt, I immediately saw Troung's Mom Tam, waiting on the side of the road. I jumped out and we both hugged one another, but knowing she had to guide us to her home, she rapidly wiped the tears from her eyes and got back on her motorbike... but it would not start. Our driver went out to help her get her motorbike started and then returned to the van. Our driver told Tu that the Mom said she was so overcome with emotion that she just couldn't start the engine.
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So happy to hug a healthy and happy Truong!
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Right turns, left turns, corner turns and then finally, our van began to slow down as we were finally approaching Troung's home... and that's when I saw him running! Truong was skipping and running and smiling so happily towards me. I jumped out of the car again, this time to grab Truong and give him a huge hug.
With Tu's help translating, I met Troung's Dad and sister for the first time. Truong's Mom prepared us a lunch fit for kings! As we were about to sit down to eat Troung smiled and handed me this little "box" made of banana leaves. I opened the "box" and touched what felt like something very sticky inside. I honestly didn't know what it was.... but it reminded me not of food, but of a toy my sons used to play with when they were little called "sticky hands".
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The feast with the "jelly cake boxes on the left
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Tu informed me that it is a sweet dessert made of jellied coconut. The Vietnamese are so caring and want to feed you and while I am large, I don't eat a whole lot, so I think I often disappoint my hosts by not eating more, but today, I mustered up the courage to eat the little coconut jelly cake wrapped in the prettiest little "box" made of banana leaves that I ever saw.
Sincerely;
Karla
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