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FIRST HEART MEETING by GIBTK team member, Thuy!!!
This afternoon meeting finishing with Robert's declaration "We'll fund all of you" made me burst into tears. I couldn't continue translating what was said next, and had Nguyen help me. Tam asked me "What's wrong with you?" Nothing, just that I'm so very happy for the poor and desperate patients coming here seeking for a helping hand.
Calling the patients from different parts to come see the donors, it seems like I was the connector to bring about hope and trust to them. I let them know that there are not few people out there willing to spare time seeing them, listening to them and support them. My job today was helping the patient's families to be open to talk and share their stories and represent the patients' information with the donors.
I was more nervous than I had expected as I was afraid that if my job was not good enough, it could affect the decision of the donors. What if some of the kids would not be sponsored? I would be the one to feel guilty. I was worried that not-good-enough preparation from myself might result in someone losing the chance. So I burst into tears hearing that they would all be supported to have their heart surgeries very soon.
Some of those present at the meeting must have been surprised why I was so nervous and cried such easily. I think I had a story to tell. This morning I knew through the phone that one 22-month-old baby with heart disease had just passed away. Her mom had called me a couple of days ago to ask for help. She was having a very advanced dilated cardiomyopathy, and no fixing surgery can save her. Doctors said that she would have to either use medicine for the rest of life or have a heart transplant.
That was just yesterday, and this morning she left this world while I was trying to find ways to help. It's just something I thought I couldn't get over, that bad feelings to let a baby give up living.
It was far beyond my expectation when working for this organization. I never thought that the job gives me so much pain. Coming to the meeting, I was afraid that the parents might lose hope and the kids might miss a chance of having their poor life saved.
Eventually, what I cared about was not how good or bad my translation or performance was, I was too happy to hear Robert say YES. Their lives will be saved. What is more wonderful? At that moment I felt like I am myself a little baby with a defect in my own heart. I couldn't do anything but kept crying and felt deep gratitude to Robert and the donors. I must thank you a dozen of times.
Thuy |
