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We are all home now. Before I get to Julian's journal about mobility allow me to share a few updates.
It's always great to be back in my own bed. Yet in me I see the needs still to be filled. This past year we were given a sizable donation for our heart program. Some said "well then we don't need to raise additional funds." BUT! There is still so many kids that need lifesaving heart surgeries. We will keep doing whatever we can to save kids lives.
It always breaks my heart when I see the fear and tears in parents eyes as they hope to find funds for a heart surgery. The families we met with this trip were, how can I say it? Poor is probably an understatement. Most made under a $100 a month! Barely enough to survive, much less save enough to give their child a chance to live a full life.
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| In red, heart patient #16, married with 2 children. In Blue had surgery 13 yrs ago, now a Uni grad, getting married and physical trainer! |
This heart meeting we had past recipient return to encourage the parents and children. One was our 16thpatient. She now married with 2 children. Another had surgery when she was 17. Now a University grad and physical trainer! And getting married soon WOW! The returning families now had tears but this time from joy.
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| Tears of Joy! Here daughter now health after heart surgery! |
Some have asked what about the 8 year old twins. Totally unbelievable! We had a pizza party. First time they ever ate pizza and rare treat of ice cream, which they had only had a few time prior! It's a long road ahead. I was beyond shock seeing a smile on the "youngest, who only few days earlier was hiding facing a corner. Blown away is an understatement when they both got up to sing Karaoke together in front of our guests and all the kids of our homes!!!
The "older" became comfortable, the other struggled, screaming at night to go home. Yet both saw and felt the love of Mary's home girls and gibtk. I guess seeing they now would have regular meals and I'm sure the beach day as well as the pizza party helped them to think maybe not such a bad thing to live here. I know one thing, we will do everything possible to help them learn to read, count and write. But even more to fell a part of GIBTK and transform their lives and their destiny!
Thank you all for being gibtk. Without your prayers, encouragement and funding gibtk would not be what it is. If led a donation can be done safely online. On our web site. www.givingitbacktokids.org.
As promised here's Julian's journal;
"There is nothing nearly as satisfying as seeing the happiness on someone's face when they receive a wheelchair. Today's wheelchair distribution through Giving it Back to Kids andFree Wheelchair Missionhad us building a wheelchair for a woman named Ms. Le Thi Phung, whose life was drastically changed when she suddenly lost the mobility in her legs due to a stroke 5 years ago.
Now, bound to a bed with only her daughter to take care of her, she was unable to perform any of her previous responsibilities such as taking care of the house and recycling. Nearly everything was more difficult after the stroke, and her daughter was forced to bathe her by placing a small bucket underneath her bed and pouring water on top. Tragically, the neighbors despised this, as they did not want the water from "a sick elderly lady" in their plants.
After hearing this story, I was motivated to assemble the wheelchair. We began to build it piece by piece, and I couldn't help but look back at Ms. Phung, who was smiling the whole time as we built the chair. The heat was harsh, and the chair gave us plenty of trouble, but each piece we attached was one step closer to drastically improving the life of the recipient. After we painstakingly assembled the chair, we were finally able to present it to Ms. Phung.
When Ms. Phung first sat into the chair, her eyes widened. The previously calm and quiet woman was now filled with happiness and excitement. She was finally freed from the bed where she spent most of the past 5 years and was now able to so much more. She excitedly told one staff member that she was finally able to visit the market, which she had not gone to in over 5 years.
Although I have never been in her position, I was filled with a sense of excitement for Ms. Phung, and every other recipient of a chair. I cannot imagine living life without leaving my bed, especially without many of the conveniences that we take for granted here in the US. We are truly blessed to have the privileges that we have, and it is the least we can do, to help those who truly need it. Luckily, organizations such as Giving it Back to Kids, and Free Wheelchair Missionare truly doing great work in Vietnam, and hopefully soon, everyone who needs one will someday have a wheelchair of their own, and will finally be able to live life to the fullest once more."
><((((º> BBlessed
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