On the remaining second week of our trip, we joined a group of people who have been coming back to VN from US every year in the past years to fulfill more than one missions including eye operations for poor people suffering from blindness due to cataract, mental and financial support for disabled and elderly people and handing gifts to patients/care givers at cancer or children hospitals and much more...
We met Bac L., an amazing leader of that cataract surgery effort whom you will never believe at first sight can carry that mission for years due to his age and health. He usually takes one month to complete the mission before going back home in US. He is someone who have been relentlessly working with a group of people in VN from Su Co Phuc Duc to a group of professionals and volunteers in VN to organize such a big medical event in continuous days while we were there. Basically Su Co broadcasted the event to different locations in the provinces not too far from Saigon. The people who can't afford the surgery costs but in serious cataract condition can sign up for the exam and proceed to the operation scheduled the next day. Chi MH who introduced us to Bac is also his right hand to help fulfill the missions. She will join the group the Monday after, also the day we fly back home.
After resting for 1 day after 'mien Tay' trip, we are recharged to get on the road on Tues, Dec 2nd to join Bac and his son to 'Nha Tinh Thuong for disabled people and elderly who have no family around and not being capable of taking care of themselves. Arrived that facility near Fatima Church in Thu Duc, we were pleasantly surprised by a group of disabled people who came out to greet us and lend us a hand to unload, unpack and distribute the food donations. These young men are to us considered disabled but still can work at their speed with such a positive attitude, huge hearts, and big smiles on their faces.
There are 3 separated buildings for elderly and disabled people for us to visit in that order, together more than 300 people. Together with volunteers and workers, we came to each room which averagely holds 10 to 12 beds to hand out the the donation portion at each bed.
They showed their togetherness and integrity with caring spirit by asking us to leave the gifts on empty beds for some who were not present a their beds. Asking few different people how they live together as community of people in the same circumstances, we got the impressions they all feel grateful that they have a place to live by even not knowing if their health conditions in the future will get better or worse. The healthier ones helps the weaker ones by many means in daily activities; all looks after one another in the same house full of compassion, by its true meaning called 'Nha Tinh Thuong'..
Everyone still looks more cheerful and happier the end of the visit..
Everyone still looks more cheerful and happier the end of the visit..
The next day, with Bac L we took it easy by visiting to the library where to produce books recorded for the blind people. We met quite a character in life who almost ended her life due to losing 2 legs but has continued to get up and walk up in her life by doing many good cause for the blind people. She is the one who invented the book recordings for blind people to improve listening and learning skills. She is quite a good example for disabled people who can live their dreams!
The next 2 days, Thursday and Friday Dec 4th and 5th, are meaningfully spent for the hospital visits to observe and help out anything possible for the cataract surgery event taken place at GTVT hospital on Tran Quoc Toan street. Day 1 is the pre-op day when all people with bad eye conditions were examined to make sure they are good candidates to proceed to the operation next day. Many of them sat on the ground waiting for their turns. It extremely impressed us how Dr and his crew can perform that many cases in a day. We were told they did straight 10 hrs a day in order to finish up for all, especially who can not afford to come back next time.
The surgeon, a young Dr. Bac L chose, successfully works with him for years to perform thousands of cases without any incidents. He put his heart and mind into it to get 100% success with a 'charity' cost so that it might help cure more people...The more, the merrier...Su So Phuc Duc who has tirelessly worked as the anchor to connect all patients in need with the Dr. to go through the entire surgery process.
We spent half a day of Friday in the operating room. Putting on the gowns and masks, we were allowed to enter the operating room where we watched the cataract operation live in our own eyes from preparing to operating stages.
We can see the gap between the poor and the rich in Vietnam is very wide. Asking few people while waiting for their turn, we learned that most of patients are just living by selling lottery tickets daily or too poor to to afford the surgery costs....
The equipment are not up to date but pretty clean and sufficient. A case only costs $35 for operation cost and $5 for food and medications in recovery stage. This year with the high spirit and support from contributors back home, thousands of cases can be funded and performed within a month.
We left feeling warm-hearted knowing that our contributions from our family and friends are worth to spend for the right people at the right place...
