A Valuable Gift From A Friend

In November of 2009 HSCV facilitated a medical mission to Vietnam by CardioStart International (CI). Website: cardiostart.org. As part of their mission CI shipped a cargo container of medical supplies to the hospital with whom they would work. A seventeen year old crippled girl, Dong, had been brought to our attention by Tien Truong, an HSCV board member. Dong’s parents are rice farmers living in a rural area about 300km from Ha Noi. In spite of her handicap going to school is her passion. Reportedly she consistently receives the highest grades in her class. However, getting to school was a continuing problem. Most days her father carried her on his shoulders.

To help alleviate the situation HSCV had been trying to secure an electric wheelchair for her. Jim Whelpley, a member of the CI medical team, came through. He actually secured two electric wheelchairs which were shipped to Vietnam with the medical supplies. Dong received her wheelchair in December as HSCV sent to her via the Newspaper Agency. This resulted, of course, in a vast improvement in Dong’s life but also the lives of her family members. Very reluctantly, Dong also requested that if at all possible she would like a computer. Her family’s financial situation will never allow them to buy one for her. She said a computer might very possibly enable her to earn a living after completing her education. HSCV is still working on getting her one.

In March 2010 Hanh Ngo, an HSCV staff member, came across a man selling postcards in the tourist area of Ha Noi. He was a double amputee with his legs cut off just below the knees. He is 35 years old and lost his legs in an industrial accident twenty years earlier. He had been married for one year at the time of the accident. He now has three sons; thirteen, ten and five years old. He does not live in Ha Noi but commutes here to sell postcards. He has been unable to find other employment. Due to his low earning capacity he is only able to visit his family about once a month. His wife works as a rice farmer and the family is very poor. Shortly after meeting, this man was presented with the second electric wheelchair donated by Jim Whelpley. We feel certain the added mobility the wheelchair will provide will have a dramatic effect on this man’s well being and that of his family.

HSCV wishes to express our sincere thanks to Jim Whelpley for his efforts in locating and donating these wheelchairs. Without the support of generous individuals such as Jim HSCV would be unable to provide the assistance we do for the needy in Vietnam.

Blogger by Mr. Chuck Devet