One day in Tan Yen District - Bac Giang Province

After 2 hours of going by van, we came to Tan Yen, Bac Giang. The meeting hall was tightly packed with many handicapped people and their relatives and loved ones. There was an air of great excitement and happiness on their faces! Some eyes were red – not with sorrow, but with with tears of anticipated joy! On the afternoon of January 25th 2010, eighty-nine wheelchairs arrived for so many physically challenged people. We had a chance to converse with several of these hardy souls who overcome physical adversity – every day!

We came to meet with Nguyen Ngoc Dung, 18 years old – Ngoc Ly, Tan Yen, Bac Giang.

The cold weather did not lessen the happiness of this young man. His name is Nguyen Ngoc Dung, He is in the 11th grade, studies at Tan Yen 1 High School. He said with a sad voice,

“After a long day of torrential rain, my house collapsed. I was hurt in the collapse and my spine was broken. My one leg is now paralyzed. Although my family brought me to different hospitals, like Viet Duc hospital, and Bach Mai hospital for treatment, sadly, nothing has changed. I had to leave school and now can only live with the help of my father. As a farming family, and trying to raise two children still in elementary school, I cannot move around by myself, and my poor parents are getting older. If they not help me, how can I do for myself?”

I sat near him. His heart is alive, despite his paralysis. I ask myself: Why is it that Life or is it Fate, that can be so cruel?! Then Nguyen Ngoc Dung talks continually, his voice fills happiness, rather, joy: “Having a wheelchair, then I can go out, not just be stuck in one place! I will continue to go to school with my friends in next school year. Later I want to learn about industry information, and to work to help my parents.”

Then he just smiled! This smile still remains in my memory, perhaps forever. My wish is that his dream comes true!

For only $500 you can sponsor HSCV's distribution of a container of 550 wheelchairs. This is less than $1 per wheelchair. HSCV receives our wheelchairs from Free Wheelchair Mission. They cover all expenses until the container reaches Vietnam. At that point HSCV works with a local partner to distribute the chairs. $500 will allow us to oversee the distribution of one container.

Follow this link to donate: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=5191075

Blogged by Ngo Thuy Hanh