The Gift of a Wheelchair

Wheelchair Distribution Program is one of the big project that HSCV has been carrying out for a couple of years. HSCV has overseen the distribution of 16 containers of wheelchairs to needy people in the Northern Provinces of Vietnam. There are 550 wheelchairs in each container. Total wheelchairs were distributed so far is 8,800 wheelchairs.

Traveling to give each wheelchair to individual, we learn a lot about their difficulties of different lives. We would like to share with you about our experience with a light hope that we can help them more by material or spiritual. These are 2 stories written by HSCV on the trip that we traveled.

Hao Thi Nguyen, 25

Thai Nguyen, Vietnam

Dinh Hoa is a small town in the province of Thai Nguyen located in North Vietnam. It is an area that is still under develop and lacking many basic necessities. Even their roads are substandard and difficult to walk. The image of their reality made me feel very perplexed. Most of the people here are living in poverty or near poverty, yet they remain very friendly and kind. The locals welcomed us with open arms and showed their appreciation for our efforts to deliver the wheelchairs.

Ms. Hao Thi Nguyen, is one of the many impoverished and unfortunate people living with a disability. When Hao was 2 years old she got sick with the measles, but her family did not have enough money to treat her. Unfortunately time never waits for anyone. Since she didn’t get the proper treatment right away she developed complications and her sickness got worse and worse. Although her family was very poor they still did everything they could to find money to cure her. Day after day, all of their money, time and effort went into healing her; however, she did not get any better. When Hao was around 12 years old she became disabled and could not walk. Slowly she also lost her ability to understand and function normally. From then on she had to depend on her family to take care of all her needs. Mrs. Ha cared for her daughter and helped her with everything from feeding her to putting her to sleep. It was so sad to hear Mrs. Ha talk about her daughter, I was not able to hold back my tears.

It is difficult to believe that Hao has lived most of her life with a disability and without the assistance of a wheelchair. Today, Hao is receiving her first wheelchair at the age of 25. Her face brightened like a 3 year olds, filled with excitement and joy when she saw her wheelchair. The idea of getting a wheelchair was a far away dream for Mrs. Ha’s family, as farmers what they make is only enough for food and to survive, so they could never afford to get a wheelchair for Hao. Sometimes, when they don’t have a good harvest Mrs. Ha would have to borrow money for food. Receiving the wheelchair was a blessing for Mrs. Ha; from now on the wheelchair will help Mrs. Ha and make it easier for her to take care of Hao. Mrs. Ha is very touched and grateful for this gift and she would like to thank the donors for their generosity and kind hearts.

Hoang Thi Han, 72 years old

Hoang Thi Han is the second person in Dinh Hoa that I had the opportunity to speak with. Mrs. Han has been disabled for 10 years. Since her accident, Mrs. Han has not been able to move or get around so she is forced to sit in one spot at her house. Neither is she able to do things for herself so she has to rely on her children to help her. She told me, “Many times when I am home alone and I get thirsty there is nothing I can do about it because I cannot move, so I have no choice but to wait for my children to come home.” Her eyes were filled with tears as she said, “Sitting all day inside a small, cramped room is very sad and lonely. I have nothing to do and no one to talk to except stare at four walls.” Tears rolled down her cheeks as she spoke to me. I was not able to hold back my tears as I listened to her story. It has been a long time since Mrs. Han was able to go outside to visit and talk with her neighbors. I can sympathize for Mrs. Han and her situation.

Mrs. Han has four children; all but her oldest daughter is married and has a family. So she lives with her oldest daughter. Mrs. Han sighed as she said “My daughter has to do everything in the house from the smallest to largest tasks and she has to take care of me. Life was already difficult and now it is even worse. My daughter works on a farm, but she does not make enough money to feed the both of us.” Every month, Mrs. Han’s daughter has to borrow money just to get by. Her other children are not much better, and they have to take care of their own family. “Everyone has their own problems.”

Mrs. Han is turning 72 this year, an age where she should be resting. Yet she still has to worry about her basic needs such as food and clothing. If she had a wheelchair, she can move around and do things for herself to lessen the burden on her daughter. “I was always afraid to go anywhere, because it was so difficult to get around and I did not want to bother other people to help me. So, if I had a wheelchair, it would make it easier for me to get around. I would be able to do things for myself and would not need my daughter to do everything for me.” Mrs. Han wants to find some kind of work that she can do at home to make money so her daughter does not have to work so hard. With a wheelchair her life would be a lot easier.

Mrs. Han was very touched and wants to thank all the charities and donors for their kindness towards disabled people. The wheelchairs will help people with disabilities move past their initial difficulties and have hope in life.

Blogged by HSCV Team Member,

Ngo Thuy Hanh