Tran Van Te Story of Hop Phuong, Quang Hop, Thanh Hoa; 68 years old

Tran van Te is 68 years old. A brain malfunction caused him to suffer complete paralysis at the tender age of thirteen. I saw him with his wife and son from across the room, and was moved to speak with them. Mr. Te has been immobile for many years and can no longer talk, but his wife could help. They are getting old, they have a difficult life. They have 4 children, 2 of them who work far from home and 2 others who were paralysed from birth. His wife cried while she spoke with me. I could feel how hard she it was for her to have 3 people paralysed in one family. Mr Te’s wife not only takes care of him but 2 more children, and the entire burden rests solely on her shoulders.

She said that receiving this wheelchair will reduce the difficulties for all three of her crippled family members. The happiness was apparent on Mr. Te's face. I was really moved by their situation.

Actually there are many families like Te's family in need of the kind hearted assistance provided this day. Thank you very much to the sponsors who make these miracles happen. It is really a big gift for these disadvantaged people and helps them to overcome the difficulties of their lives.

Written by Quynh Nhu, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Tran Thi Mai Story of Thien Thang, Quang Loi, Quang Xuong, Thanh Hoa; 34 years old

Tran Thi Mai was the first wheelchair recipient I met when I came to Quang Xuong District, Thanh Hoa province. She is now 34 years old but at the age of 28 her life was transformed at the hands of a horrific traffic accident. After that fateful day she could not walk or work as she had so proficiently in her former life and she was incapable of helping to support the family unit. The entirety of this grave burden then fell on the shoulders of her younger sister.

Mai’s unjust twist of fate also left her unable to take care of her own children -a beautiful boy and girl. Her children have become the shining light for Mai, their resilience, adaptability and positivity have filled her with hope and optimism for the future and have helped Mai to accept her new situation with the grace that becomes her. Her children are always eager to lend a hand and help ease the pressure of everyday life.

Despite her difficulties, Mai still earns money to feed her children even though she must work long hours doing difficult work. She said that her children have a right to learn and live as their friends do and she will do all she can to provide this for the angels in her life.

I hold people like Mai in the utmost esteem and respect. Mai never lets her new situation get the better of her and is never pessimistic, no matter how hard her life gets sometimes.

For Mai her wheelchair has been a sublime gift, a gift the likes of which has never been received by her before. A gift which is a watershed moment. A gift that she wishes to thank her sponsors for, from the bottom of her heart.

Written by Quynh Nhu, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Quan Nhu Tan Story of Quan Xa, Thieu Hoa, Thanh Hoa; 55 years old

I met a man, a man sitting on a wheelchair with austere, hollowed and haunted eyes. I met him in the meeting-hall of the wheelchair distribution ceremony of Thieu Hoa district. He was Quan Nhu Tan, a 55 years old man, hailing from Thieu Hoa district, living with his wife and 2 children.

Five years ago while he was working on the farm, he had a devastating accident, leading to irreparable and crippling damage to his spine and spinal chord. He was left without the use of his legs, rendering him unable to undertake the labor-intensive farming that was the lifeblood of him and his family.

“Sitting all day like this makes me feel despondent and impotent - I am supposed to be the backbone of my family” he said, “Sometimes, I think that we should borrow money from people or save money to buy a wheelchair then I can help myself! I could find a job and help my wife and children. But I don’t think this would ever have been possible, as my family is very poor and my 2 children have to go to school.”

To Mr Tan his desires seemed unable to be realized but today he is a very happy man. His kind-hearted sponsors, who come from countries far from Vietnam, have provided him with the wheelchair he has dreamt of.

“I think that God heard my prayers.”

Looking into his eyes, I believed that the wheelchair truly could take away those frown lines and make them into the creases of a grateful smile.

Written by Thuy Hong, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Pham Cong Chung Story of Quang Duc, Thanh Hoa; 26 years old

Amongst the sea of distressingly young faces at the Wheelchair Ceremony in Quang Duc, Pham Cong Chung’s stood out to me. Chung is 26 years old, an age where people usually have a lot of dreams for a bright future, and the energy and commitment to bring those dreams to fruition. But Chung has not been afforded that luxury. Following a tragic traffic accident six years ago, he has lost all power in his lower body. He can not work, can not walk, and is confined to the 4 walls of his small residence. In spite of his difficulties, Chung feels a pressing guilt that he cannot do anything to help his parents; in fact the opposite is the case, as they are now required to care for him. He wants to help his family and has often dreamed of having a wheelchair to develop some level of independence, but his family is very poor. They do not have enough to guarantee the whole family a daily meal, so they certainly could never afford a wheelchair.

As was the case for so many people there, it was the first time Chung had ever tried a wheelchair. The excitement in his eyes was uplifting. This wheelchair will be the bridge that connects him with the life outside of his home. It is like being granted a second pair of legs – a second chance at life. With this wheelchair, he will try to find a job and work so his young life is not wasted. He looks forward to developing an active and productive social circle.

The simple happiness of the wheelchair recipients is reflected in our own faces – we are all privileged to be here this day.

Written by Quynh Nhu, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Story of Nguyen Thi Trang of Quang Ngat, Thanh Hoa; 11 years old

Thanh Hoa is a poor rural area. I had heard about this quite a lot before I arrived as a volunteer for the wheelchair distribution there. I often wonder if the difficulty of their situations gives these disadvantaged peoples more energy and willingness to make their dreams true. Trang and her dreams compile one story I wish to share with you.

A small, dark skinned girl was sitting, seemingly engulfed by the wheelchair she inhabited. I sat next to her and said, ‘Could I talk with you?’ She smiled innocently and agreed without hesitation. Her words were moving:

“I am Nguyen Thi Trang, and I am eleven years old. My family has 4 people, my mother, my father, my younger- brother who is 9 years old – and myself.

‘I do not know what disease I have but since I am aware of everything, I see the very big difference between me and my friends. They are walking around happily, going to school on their own, playing, while I just stay at home. I have asked my mum about my condition, but she was too sad to talk about it. People have told me that I have had this problem since birth.’

Trang loves school; the day of the ceremony was Saturday so she had a day off. The wheelchair had been kept as a surprise by her family – when her father told her they were coming to get the wheelchair that morning, she was overcome with joy.

Trang has been an excellent students for 4 years, her teacher and friends love her very much and help her as much as they can. Her eyes looked bright when she talked about her teacher, her friends and her school.

Everyday, her parents or her friends take her to school on their backs. Now she is so happy that she can go by herself:
‘Now I have my wheelchair, I will go to school by my self and go out with my friends, and I will be able to clean the house for my parents!’

Looking at Trang with her innocent smile, I felt happy for her. I leant over to her and asked, “What is your dream?”

Trang smiled and whispered in my ear: " I would like to become a teacher."

A teacher - it is a dream of many children and now a dream that Trang can make come true- a little girl who was born and raised with paralysed legs in a small and poor village has the chance to reach for her stars. I will always remember her and her dream as well.

I stood up and said goodbye to her, adding my wish that she would study well and always try her best!

She held my hand and once more whispered to me: “Today, I am very happy, you know?”

Written by Thuy Linh, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Story of Nguyen Dinh Long of Thieu Hoa, Thanh Hoa; 7 Years Old

The 7 year-old-boy is very thin, small and is sitting in front of me with melancholy eyes.

Coming from a poor family in Thieu Minh commune, in Thanh Hoa province, Nguyen Dinh Long is not a lucky boy and doesn’t have the chance to enjoy the “normal”, carefree and joyous childhood of his peers. His legs were paralysed at birth and as such, he often cannot venture into the world and is spends his time confined to his home for one long day after the other.

Long loves to go to school and implores his parents everyday to carry him there on their backs. Even on rainy days, he still asks his parents to let him to go school. Long told me eagerly “I have Trung Kien – my dearest friend at school who always plays with me and also my teacher Ms. Ha who loves me a lot".

Although going to school has lifted Long’s spirits, he is timid; he does not dare to go out but sits in the classroom to look at his friends playing in the school- yard. However this sad and needless situation is soon to be replaced with the activity and mischievous energy enjoyed by most 7 years old boys, thanks to the generous donation of a wheelchair to the family.

Long's mother said: "I was miserable for him and my family also but from now on, with this wheelchair, it will be much easier to care for and nurture Long and he can have the experiences that were once only a dream.”

Long looked at me and smiled slightly “You know, tomorrow, I will go to the school yard, by myself, on this wheelchair and play with all my dear friends”

Looking into his eyes, I understand that this wheelchair will improve his prospects immeasurably. Before saying goodbye to him and his mum, I heard the whisper from Long: "I promise to study well…" The promise of a child seems even more meaningful than the many thanks that made him unforgettable.


Written by Thuy Hong, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Story of Hoang Kim Manh of Quang Long, Thanh Hoa; 19 Years Old

Looking around me, I was stunned by the sheer numbers of people in need of wheelchairs. How does this happen in a country, in a society? I had a chance to talk with Hoang Kim Manh. He is 19 years old, and came from Long Dai, Quang Long, Thanh Hoa.

Manh also had his body paralysed at birth. Every day, his parents go to work, his younger brothers and sisters go to school, but Manh stays at home with his grandfather. The Grandfather is very old and blind. The two of them just sit next to each other all day, his grandfather holding Manh's hand very tightly and some times, they share with each other their feelings.

Manh had not sat down on the new Wheelchair yet when I was talking with him. He sat on the earth in front of us, looking from the wheelchair to his mother and back again, until finally his mum said “This is your wheelchair Manh. You sit on it, ok?” Manh looked nervous. He stammered an uncomfortable reply – but before long, the wheelchair was his new domain, and he was undoubtedly king.

Now he has a wheelchair, he will not have to crawl around his house any more, his younger siblings can take him out, he will be able to help out around the house with daily activities.

Manh's mother said to me quietly, "He looks like he likes that wheelchair very much. We have a lot to be grateful for."

Saying goodbye to Manh and his mother, a thought occurred to me – Manh is 19 – the same age as me. Yes, we all have a lot to be grateful for.

Written by Thuy Linh, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Story of Pham Thi Ha, 15 tuoi Quang Xuong Thanh Hoa

When I stepped into the meeting hall of Quang Xuong village in Thanh Hoa district, I was totally shocked by the number of small children who had come to receive wheel chairs. Looking at the faces of those small angels I could not understand why God would bring them to life, yet take away their right to live like normal people.
Pham Thi Ha is one of those children. You could not tell from looking at her, but she is 15 years old. Like other teenagers, she must have had so many hopes and dreams about the future. She has the right to go to school, to make friends, and to enjoy her life. Unfortunately, these dreams have never been a reality for Ha – she lives in a world defined only by pain and suffering.
By looking into her eyes, I know that inside her, there must be a fight between herself and her illness; I know she has been trying her best and her bravest for 15 years. Her mother told me that from the moment she was born, she could not do anything except sit in her mother’s lap. Ha contracted Agent Orange contamination from her grandfather who fought on Laos’ battlefields many years ago. Fortunately, Ha’s mother has not been overly affected by the poisons, and both her brothers have grown into healthy adults, but Ha was not so lucky. It is very sad that the War not only caused so much damage and loss at the time, but also continues to affect and damage the innocent generations to come.
However, what’s passed is passed, and we should let time take away the sorrow, the injury and the hurts of days gone by. We should start a new peaceful world without war. I believe we are taking steps towards this goal by helping these unlucky people.
This is the first time she has used a wheel chair, and I believe it has so much potential to bring a little joy into Ha’s life, and improve her quality of living. On behalf of this brave young woman and her mother, I wish to extend a special thanks to the sponsors and all of the peace-loving people who have brought smiles and happiness to these unfortunate souls.

Written by Quynh Nhu, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Story of Nguyen Van Phuong, 20 years old

When I entered the hall, I noticed a woman looking at her son with tears in her eyes.
Her son’s name is Nguyen Van Phuong. He is 20 years old, but the woman shared with me that she knew as soon as he was born that something was not right with him. . He couldn’t focus on anything, and one day, he suddenly got a high temperature and was confined to hospital for 6 months. The doctors concluded that Phuong suffers the effects of Agent Orange, which is the most toxic man-made organic chemical ever created. Thanks to this debilitating disease, Phuong cannot talk, think or move on his own.

Phuong’s father, Nguyen Van Thu, was a solider in the war in Cambodia and Laos, where many toxic chemicals were used as defoliants. His health, too, is deteriorating and he is often unable to care for his wife and 3 children. Phuong is the youngest, and while the older children do not suffer from the same disease, they have always been weak and sickly. Consequently the majority of daily burdens rest with Phuong’s mother.

The family is very poor. They could never have afforded a wheel chair on their own. But with the wheel chair they are receiving today, they reduce the difficulties inherent in Phuong’s daily care.

Phuong’s mother was extremely grateful for this life-changing gift. She wished to extend her sincere thanks to the donors who provided her family with such a meaningful donation.

Written by Phuong Thuy, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Story of Nguyen Thi Nhu, 46 years old

Ms Nguyen Thi Nhu is 46 years old, and has been unable to move her legs or neck since she suffered a debilitating illness at the age of 5. Her life is very difficult – she is unable to help herself with most basic daily routines, and is incapable of maintaining employment in order to sustain her own economic status.

Nhu’s parents are in their seventies, and are supporting both Nhu and her two younger sisters. Her greatest fear is that something will happen to her parents, leaving her with no way to support herself or her siblings.

Her new wheelchair will make all the difference. As soon as she was presented with it, Nhu vowed that she would begin searching for part time work to improve her current economic status, and create a more secure future for herself and her family.

She wished to thank the donors for their generous gift.

Written by Phuong Thuy, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Story of Lu Trong Truong, 52 years old

Lu Trong Truong is a middle-aged man; he is 52 years old. When I came and asked him for an interview, he welcomed me with a radiant smile: “I haven’t gone out in public for ages!” he replied.
He shared that he had lost the use of his legs 15 years ago following a serious stroke.
Mr Truong was on the verge of tears as he revised his sad story. It is hard to imagine how a person would feel in such a situation: one day you are healthy and the next you wake up paralyzed. More tragically, he was no longer able to work. This seems brutally unfair at the age of 38; a time when an adult is reaching the peak of his capacity and experience. He used to be the breadwinner of his family but after the accident, he became a burden for his loving wife and children. They have been trying harder and harder, not only to earn their own livings but also to take care of him. His wife shoulders a heavy load on the family’s farm, while also carefully assisting Mr Truong with his basic daily needs.
Mr Truong’s story is tragic, yet after a moment, a smile flowered again on his face. He was overcome with emotion as he expressed his gratitude towards the local authorities for having cared for his specific case, and the charity organization for giving him the chance to possess a brand-new wheelchair. He has wished to buy one for so long; unfortunately, the poor financial position of his family prevented it. As we parted company, he exclaimed blissfully; “Now I have new legs! Now, finally, I can go outside the limits of my own home and live a life of freedom”.

Written by Hanh, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Story of Cao Thi Nhung Thao, 4 years old

Cao Thi Nhung Thao is only four years old; however, unlike other normal children of the same age, she has never had the chance to go out to play. She is paralyzed; she cannot walk.
The woman accompanying her is her grandmother, Nguyen Thi Khanh. She is also the main person taking care of the little girl, as Thao’s young parents are very busy earning their livings to support the family. It was Mrs Khanh that shared Thao’s story.
Soon after she was born, Thao was diagnosed with a disease, and her family was told that she would never live to see her sweet sixteenth. The poor family made every effort to save her life but they tried in vain. They are now bearing a huge debt of roughly seventy million VND (approximately $4500USD, or four times the amount that the average Vietnamese person earns in a year) that will take years for them to pay.
Because of the disease, Thao is also unable to talk. However, her spirits would surely be raised by having the opportunity to communicate frequently with other children. Her elderly grandmother cannot take her around all day long to play at other children’s homes. Thao’s basic daily needs already take too much of her effort, time and fast-deteriorating health. The family has always wanted to buy a wheelchair to make life happier for Thao and to ease the burden on the old woman’s shoulders, but they have never been able to put aside enough money to afford one.
Thankfully, the local authorities noticed Thao’s case and decided to give her the opportunity to possess a brand-new wheelchair, making her eligible to be a recipient of assistance from Humanitarian Services for Children of Vietnam,. After Thao was presented with this precious gift, Mrs Khanh looked at the tiny, innocent face of her ailing granddaughter and said: “I want to do everything I can for her during my short time left on Earth. But I don’t know if my wish can come true as there is no promise that she will be here tomorrow. I’m so grateful that she has the opportunity to live out the time that she has left with some level of independence and fun!”

Written by Hanh, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Story of Mrs. Tran Thi Binh

29 years old, Thieu Duong, Thieu Hoa, Thanh Hoa 135

Hundreds of people with disabilities surrounded me at the Thanh Hoa wheelchair distribution ceremony, each with their own specific needs. I made my way to the corner of the hall, where I met a gentle young woman: Mrs Tran Thi Binh. Her eyes were dark and lively, making me wonder what emotion was contained behind their veil.

Mrs. Binh was born in 1979. Her twin sister died at birth and Mrs.Binh was left paralyzed. Her father passed away in 2006 after a long battle with toxic chemical poisoning; a consequence of his soldiering in Cambodia. It was believed that these poisons were passed onto his children, leaving Mrs Binh in her current position.

It was with joy that Mrs. Binh revealed that she has an 18 month old son. As I asked about his father she just smiled sadly with a shake of head. The ungrateful husband could not stand a life of poverty with a disabled wife and had left, with no promise of return.

“Sometimes I feel so much self pity, and so disadvantaged that I just want to burst into tears!” Mrs Binh told me. “However I have to try to fight and overcome my difficulties because I must stand on my own feet to bring up my son.”

Mrs Binh’s most fervent inner wish is to gain stable employment so that she can bring up her son and support him through school like other normal children. Needless to say, her son is her future; the most significant aspect in her life.

The wheelchair will help her to hold her son and carry him around the house more easily, feed him and do other errands if possible. She said that this was the first time she had ever received such a valued gift and she would keep it forever.

I am so pleased for her that this gift will allow her to bring up her son, and I only hope that her son will grow into a young man deserving of his mother’s sacrifices. If he is anything like his mother, I am sure that he will.

Interviewed and written by Mai Nga, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Story of Nguyen Thi Thanh

50 years old, Yen Chau, Tinh Gia, Thanh Hoa

When I attend the wheelchair distribution ceremonies in remote areas like Thanh Hoa there are a lot of situations that move me profoundly. I understand more clearly that the majority of our people are still poor and underdeveloped and that they have to struggle all their life just to earn their daily bread. Therefore the humanitarian donations of kind-hearted people, in conjunction with the important contributions from the government, are becoming more and more significant and invaluable.

One of the situations that I encountered on this occasion was that of Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh who lives at Yen Chau village, Tinh Gia district. She is 50 years old and has never married. Ms.Thanh is paralyzed in both legs from a birth defect and still lives with her 72 year-old mother. In spite of her advanced years, Ms. Thanh is unable to do anything for herself, even her personal hygiene and self-caring. All the responsibility is borne on the shoulders of her mother who is getting older and weaker. Ms. Thanh has 3 brothers but they toil all year long over the salt fields just to earn enough for a daily meal, thus they cannot support her. Her mother is too old and weak to do farming work so the two women grow peanuts on the barren ground outside their dwelling to earn the little money they have to get by. One peanut crop gives them 200.000VND (approximately $12USD) every 4 months. They receive no government assistance. Hearing their stories, I could not imagine how they have survived on such little income, and said as much. Ms Thanh gave me a small smile: “We are not the only ones. You only need to look around you – we’re all in the same boat.” I felt such sympathy for her and all the other poor people who toil all day with the farm work to manage enough food to survive.

Hopefully the wheelchair will make her life easier. But situations like these help me to understand just how important these contributions are to people like Ms.Thanh and her mother. And it makes me hope, more fervently than ever, that the assistance will continue, and increase, in years to come.

Interviewed and written by Mai Nga, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Story of Nguyen Thi Dung

The innocent yet confused child sat snuggled in her comfort of her new companion- the wheelchair of her very own. Her uncertainty was obvious as she fiddled with the handles of the new gadget. It was hard to believe that the child facing me was 14-year-old adolescent, Nguyen Thi Dung. Since birth, she suffered from quadriplegia and is unable to express herself nor move around on her own.

Sitting patiently next to her was an aged middle-aged woman, who wore a sad expression. She shared her challenges taking care of her disabled child, “When she was a little gal, I could still manage and carry her around the house. But now, she has grown bigger and is too heavy for me to carry her. I can’t even lift her off the bed on my own, so I have no choice but leave her in the home all the time.”

Sensing her daughter’s apprehension at the Wheelchair Donation Ceremony, she explained, “It has been a long time since Dung has stepped out of the house and she is not used to seeing so many people.

Dung lives with her parents and her grandmother at sector 7, village 3, Quang Khe commune, Thanh Hoa, Vietnam. Her loving grandmother turns 80 this year and is deeply grateful for the brand-new wheelchair. Since the very first mention of the wheelchair gift to her granddaughter, the old lady has been talking it and reminding the family repeatedly to thank the donors for this invaluable gift. “With the new wheelchair, I would be able to bring her out for evening strolls with the grandmother,” said Dung’s mother.

Dung was still seated in her new wheelchair, looking at us intently as we spoke. Looking into her eyes, I knew she understood.

This wheelchair would definitely create a positive impact in this young lady’s life and lighten the burden on her family. I turned to look at Dung’s mother and saw renewed hope and joy in her once helpless eyes.

Written by Thuy Linh, edited by Dorothy Ng

Story of Le Duc Manh

24 years old, Trung Chinh, Nong Cong, Thanh Hoa

A young man needs a dream, but Manh’s dream was taken away from him. It has been more than a year since the terrible accident that took away the use of Manh’s legs, and . in the blink of an eye Manh was reduced from a strong, hard working, healthy young boy to being a burden on his family. Tired, confused and depressed, in the months after the accident Manh seemed to lose all hope for the future and allowed himself to drift on the wings of destiny.

Manh is the eldest of 3 brothers. His parents are rice farmers with a minimal income. After graduating from high school, Manh passed the entrance exam to Mechanic’s Technical School at Ninh Binh province and was soon expected to graduate, at which time he could have left the contruction company and found a job with less dangerous conditions and better pay, to support his parents and his brothers. But now that door has been shut in his face.

The accident happened while Manh was driving an excavator for a forestry construction company. It had been a normal day, when suddenly there was a landslide, and the huge machine upturned and fell across his body. Manh was promptly rescued from death but he forever lost the use of his left leg. The other leg was fractured. A full year later, he is still receiving medical treatment and has not yet completely recovered. For the most part he has to stay inside the narrow space of the family’s small house, giving up the desires and wishes of his youth. It is a bleak, unsatisfying life. In addition to his own personal grief, he bears the guilt of being a burden on his family; he cannot take care of his personal needs, and many a night he has lain awake worrying because of the money his parents had to spend on his medical treatment.

The way before him may be long and difficult but thanks to this generous opportunity, it is not quite hopeless. Mạnh confided in me that he would take part in a computer course and eventually, open a maintenance and repairs shop. Now with this wheelchair, Manh is one very large step closer to making his new dream come true.

Manh’s ability to continue to dream, in spite of all he has been through, helps me understand that tomorrow can be brighter and happier no matter how horrible or desperate the present is. It all comes down to attitude. And a willingness to dream.

Interviewed and written by Mai Nga, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Story of Bach Thi Huong

Age: 13; Address: Cong Liem village, Nong Cong district, Thanh Hoa city

I have traveled to many places but to be honest, most of those places were urban, and filled with the sounds of laughter and bright conversation. Sure, there were some poor people but they were mixed in with the wealthy crowds, so their minority was often hidden from the careless eye. In Cong Liem village, nothing is hidden. My careless eyes were truly opened.

Life in the countryside is very poor. From year to year people only trade in rice and sweet potatoes. If the weather changes unexpectedly, it can ruin an entire crop – and destroy a farmer’s livelihood for the year.

When we joined this program, which distributes wheelchairs to crippled people, I arrived with a great faith that I could bring a little happiness to troubled families in areas like this. Mrs Bach Thi Thu, of Cong Liem village in the Nong Cong district, is a prime example. She has given birth to 3 babies, but the first baby died only minutes after he was born and the second baby died when she not even 2 years old. The third baby is now grown into a young girl – Ms Bach Thi Huong. But sadly, at the age of 13 Huong exhibits few signs of life.

Looking at the inanimate child held firmly in her mother’s arms, I felt my heart wring with pain. Huong often suffers from convulsive attacks so her mother must be watchful at all times. During the attacks, it’s very difficult to keep Huong still. The family sold much of their farm land to pay for Huong to be treated but unfortunately, this did not have a particularly positive result. “Our last faith was lost,” said Mrs Thu. “The smiles had been stolen from our faces.”

When we gave them the wheelchair, tears welled up their eyes.


Cong Liem village is so isolated that few people hear the tragic stories of the people who mete out a meager existence here. Support, when it comes, usually comes from the neighbouring villages, rather than the authorities. Still, it is enough to encourage the farmer’s spirits. Mrs. Thu shared with me her hope that Huong like other similarly disadvantaged people, would receive increasing support and assistance from the local authorities and the kind hearted elsewhere. It made me wonder how many others like Huong don’t have access to even the most basic of treatments; and how long it would be before they received the assistance they need.

Interviewed and written by Mai Nga, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Meet the Chasing McDaniel's Team

Son-in-law Danny, Friend Laura, Dad Tom, Daughter Erin, Mom Pat, Friend Natalie, Son Tommy


Pat and Tom


Daughter Erin with Dad Tom


Son Tommy and Dad Tom


The Chasing McDaniel's Team with Red Cross Partners

STORY OF NGUYEN NGOC MINH

After finishing the ceremony, an over 50 year old woman was trying to find someone from GIBTKs to say thank you for the wheelchair she got. When I came to listen to what she wanted to say to donors, I heard the word “thank you” all the time. She confided in tear “I am very happy to get a wheelchair for my husband today. He is happy, too. I really want to come here to see and touch it, but he can’t come because he has been in paralyzed situation for 15 years.” She hastily dried her tears and continued talking “I can’t keep my tear inside because my dream of getting a wheelchair for my husband becomes true. My husband got cardiovascular accident for 15 years, so he just stays in bed and can’t move. There were a few wheelchairs bought by my family in order to help me with taking care of him, but they already got broken. He really wants to go out to see the outside world with a wheelchair but I am just a poor farmer, so I can’t buy one more for him. Poor him!” She continues talking in an emotional voice: “My husband got up at 3 o’clock in the early morning to wake me up to prepare breakfast for him before going to receive this wheelchair and told me you shouldn’t forget to go there.” “My husband and I are so happy that we couldn’t sleep last night. We just hope time will pass fast so that we can get the wheelchair today. This is a big happiness to my family”. From the bottom of my heart, I highly appreciate her deep love to her husband.

STORY OF LE VAN HIEN

An old woman holding a two meter stick was pushing a wheelchair where a man is sitting on. I guessed it is a stuff to keep the door safe from the thief to some houses in the countryside at first sight, but I was wrong, it was a stick helping the man to move.The 62 year old man was trying to roll the tyre of the wheelchair by his right hand so that it can move faster. I could see a strong will presenting in him to overcome current difficulties in moving. When being asked about his feeling of getting a wheelchair, he tried to move his lips say something to me but he couldn’t because of cardiovascular accident two years ago. There was only happy tear-drop rolling on wrinkled check. His wife said in emotion “I am so happy to have this wheelchair because it will help me a lot with taking care of my husband. He has been in paralysed situation of half body for 2 years. I am very old now to be able to carry him on hand. When I want to move him to a little bit far from the bed, I must have someone to help me with carrying him as usual. Now with this wheelchair, I can take him out without anybody’s help ” “I can not express my mood right now. I have waited for this free wheelchair for 2 years because of poverty”. I want to say the word “thank you” many times to show my gratitude to the donors of GIBTKs.

STORY OF NGUYEN THI DOAN

Her name is NGUYEN THI DOAN, a 55 years old woman who has contracted cerebral trouble since 2004. She has paralyzed on the left side and she cannot talk. She came to the ceremony with her husband who answered almost my questions about her. Ms Doan just could accept with a nod and sometimes she was near to tears when her husband talked about her health.
She lives in 8th group, Ngo May ward, Quy Nhon city, Binh Dinh province with her husband and two son. She was also taken to the orthopedic center to give electric shock treatment and do practices but she cannot be done regularly because her family is in a very difficult circumstance.
In the past time, she was a seamstress. But now she cannot do anything. Her husband earns living by driving a pedicab. He is a husband and a wife at the same time in their family.
Her husband said that he and his wife felt honor of receiving this nice wheelchair. He also said that from now he will keep his mind on his work more.

STORY OF LE THI NGOC AN

Looking at the little girl sitting on the wheelchair, I think that she is still young but after the talk with her mother, it makes me surprise. She is 18 years old and her name is LE THI NGOC AN. An lives in 237/19/4 Hoang Van Thu, Quy Nhon city, Binh Dinh province with her family. An is the second- born child, she has one older sister and one younger brother. She has contracted cerebral palsy from a very tender age. Sometimes she has felt into an epileptic fit. Her mother said that her family had wanted to have the wheelchair like that for a long time. However, An’s parents are both hired-laborers and they have to work hard from morning to night, An’s grandmother is the only person in her family taking care of her but she is so old that she cannot carry An in her arms.
They are very happy when receiving this wheelchair. From now they can let her sit on the wheelchair and push her go around.

Specific Stories.......

This is the first of a series of specific stories from our trip to Cambodia and Vietnam. It is presented as interpreted by Tam, who is with our Vietnamese distribution partner, Giving it Back to Kids. I think you will find this first story quite touching - DOAN THI NHAT OANH

STORY OF DOAN THI NHAT OANH

"I want to go to school. I feel so sad because I can not stand up or walk like other normal children. Looking at them going out, I cry a lot and wish I could go out to play with my friends."
These words are from a girl named Doan Thi Nhat Oanh. She is 14 years old. She was born in a poor family with 5 members. Her parents are poor farmers. They live in Group 7, Huu Thanh Hamlet, Trung Phuoc Commune, Tuy Phuoc District, Binh Dinh Province.
"When my mum was pregnant with me, she had a traffic accident and it affected my development in the womb. I have been in a paralytic situation since I was born"
Doan has been paralytic for 14 years so she just stays at home. Despite of her less-fortunate fate, she has never ever given up a dream of finishing her study. She has wished to have a wheelchair to go to school everyday and go out with her friends.
"It will be easier for me to go out with this wheelchair. I can by myself roll without anyone. Before I get the wheelchair I must crawl to anywhere I want to go. It makes my hands and knees painful; and my clothes dirty. But now, without crawling, I can go out. I feel happy so much. I don’t know what I should say right now. I want to thank the donors and FWM for the wheelchair. I hope that you will pay more attention to those who have the same situation as me."
She told me a lot and I could feel the happiness on her face and her smile.
Tam

Final Thoughts...Tommy and Natalie

After 17 days the trip comes to a close, but my eyes will remain open to the beauty, love and devotion of the Cambodian and Vietnamese people. I am in awe of these people who's lives are a struggle everyday just to get by and live... Yet you won't hear any complaints, they just take it in stride and go on living whether disabled, poor, old, sick or all.

Cambodia and Vietnam are beautiful countries in all aspects... from the people and the land. I never thought of these countries as places I would want to come visit for a vacation. Both countries have been riddled in wars and constant battles, but they don't dwell on it.... They move forward. Vietnam has a beautiful countryside and actually the beaches are phenomenal as well. I recommend for all to come visit these destinations and appreciate the beauty as my family and I did. - Tommy

Wow! Its hard to believe that our great adventure is coming to an end. This has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I have seen so many beautiful places and met such extraordinary individuals. I had the opportunity to visit places and see things that some can only dream about.I was able to experience both the Cambodian and Vietnamese culture in EVERY sense. This entire trip really was a reality check. Looking back on all that I saw and all the people that I talked to really makes me appreciate my life. It was truly amazing and heartwarming to attend all the wheelchair distributions. Every single person that received a wheelchair was so appreciative. The smallest things can put a smile on their faces, such as human touch. That was truly the most remarkable thing. Looking at all these people that are disabled or have loved ones that are, and are still so "high on life". This is something that we all need to think about everyday especially when we get caught up with all of our daily activities/routines back at home. Its so easy to forget and take things for granted. I am going to remember all that we saw, all the stories heard, and all the lives that we touched; but more importantly all the people and smiles that have forever touched and changed my life. -Natalie

Day 14..Ho Chi Minh City

Laura is on the mend and resting up for the return flight. We all spent the day walking the city and exploring the various marketplaces. After spending much of our city time on this trip in very heavy traffic, HCM City is a relief. The roads are wider and less jammed with motor bikes and vehicles. HCM City is much more cosmopolitan in feel than Hanoi and you can see the benefits of the region's economic growth. Large modern office towers are under construction throughout the city and western style condominium projects are replacing older structures.
Our hotel is situated on the Saigon River and the views from our 17th floor room are striking. I would recommend the Renaissance Riverside Hotel to anyone coming to HCM City. Make sure that you get a club level floor with a river view.
The trip has been a great learning experience for the whole family. Although Vietnam was in the news often during the war years, it is amazing how little we knew about the Country. I had no idea that the beaches in Vietnam are some of the most beautiful in the world. There are any number of great resorts along the coastline. The people are fantastic and very friendly and anxious to be of assistance. The people within the Districts care about the poor and disabled and are doing the best they can to provide assistance.
I am also very proud of my family ( Laura and Natalie are now considered official members). Throughout the trip they have carried themselves with dignity and respect. They have endured some very aggressive scheduling and uncomfortably long road trips and did so with nary a complaint. We all got along extremely well given that we were in tight quarters most of the time. They were also real troopers as we dined with our local hosts in some very rustic and authentic restaurants. Our hosts were always impressed that we ate everything that was presented to us and genuinely enjoyed the experience.
At the distributions, they were surprised to see that the kids really wanted to work..not merely observe. Whether pumping up a flat tire, fixing a wheel not fully tightened down,lifting wheel chair bound recipients down stairs, passing out reading glasses, giving out candy to the kids and elderly or providing a warm pat on the back, the whole family was engaged. I truly believe we gained the respect of the Vietnamese people we worked with; and, I believe achieving that respect to be an important accomplishment.
Now we must pack our bags for the return flight. I've asked each of the family members to write there thoughts about the trip as a final conclusion tho this Blog. I must say that modern communication technology is fantastic.
Signing off for now...one more leg of this fantastic journey to navigate!!!

Day 13- Can Tho 1,100 Wheel Chairs strong

Day 13...1,100 Wheel Chairs Strong in Can Tho.
I got up early and climbed to the top of the hotel to catch the sun come up over the Mekong. I think I got some pretty good video of the river and the assorted fishing boats and junks already hard at it. You get a bit mesmerized watching it all.
A check on Laura yielded no improvement. She is still running a fever. We arrange for her to stay in the room until we are finished with the distribution. We also hired a private car to take her back to HCM rather than endure a crowded ride on the van. Erin and our Vietnamese host Angela will ride with her and drive straight to the International Hospital in HCM City l to get her a proper check up. A quick health inventory and everyone else seems to be OK.
Our final distribution is huge. There are over 250 people at this one and the remaining 850 wheelchairs have already been spoken for. It was a quite a scene at the distribution site. Once again the Red Cross was there to help manage the logistics and direct traffic.
With Angela as my interpreter, I worked my way through the crowd finding out as much as I could about the recipients.
One man told me he had left his village at 3 AM to make the journey into town. He can't walk but has a little bicycle repair shop. He said that with the wheelchair he could now move around to get parts and even do house repair calls. He was thrilled. Another women showed me her crippled feet and said that she has had to crawl through the dirt and mud for 30 years. She farms a small plot of land and now she can finally get up off the ground. Another young man is wearing his school outfit and is also crippled from the waist down. He startled me when I came up to me and said " hello' in perfect English. he wanted to show me his English skills. He told me that he had struggled to find transportation to get through high school but got his diploma. he has now been admitted to university. He will study computer science. He said the wheel chair relieves his parents of having to carry him around. He is a bright young man and he will be successful.
The local district heads and the head of the charitable organization that supports the handicapped in the region all gave nice talks and thanked us and the Free Wheel Chair Mission for sending the wheelchairs to the Can Tho district. They prayed that we could send more. Getting more than 250 of the disabled into their wheel chairs, registered and then loaded up was quite a scene. Before long, however, we were waving good bye to the final person.
I must say that the distribution process has truly lived up to our expectations. We have driven collectively now about 2,000 KM in and around Cambodia and Vietnam. We have met so many great and courageous people. We have given out over 650 wheel chairs directly and seen another 1,000 ready to be taken further out into the regions for distribution.
A very satisfying and rewarding trip so far.
Now we are heading back to HCM to check on Laura. She is already at the hospital and under going an exam. Our work is not yet done for the day.
After another 6 hour trip, we arrive safely back in HCM City and check into our hotel.The report on Laura is favorable. She had contracted a virus but antibiotics should take care of it in a day or two. Erin and Laura finally get to the hotel and checked in. We all breath a sigh of relief. Angela has been a great help throughout this ordeal.
Our hotel is located right on the Saigon River and it is a great spot to finish up our journey.
Day 13 is in the books and we are all safe and secure.

Day 12-- Laura's Longest Day

Day 12..Laura's Longest Journey
(A note to Laura's parents..she is fine now and will take it easy the last two days of the trip)
We all relaxed at the Sandy Beach resort in Da Nang before heading to the airport. We needed a little rest and a good morning run on the beach was good for everyone..
We have had no problems getting through the airports in Vietnam. Da Nang was no exception. The flight to Ho Chi Minh City was on a brand new 767 . Anna, Angela and Esther from Giving it Back to Kids were waiting for us at the airport.
We have changed our plans on the fly. The distribution in Can Tho is about 160 KM from HCM and will start at 8 AM. So we headed straight from the airport to Can Tho. We picked up Samuel, a Pasteur with the Assembly of God Church. He will be helping with the distribution. Samuel told us that only in the past five years have they been allowed to openly minister to their religion in Vietnam. Before that he worked strictly underground to avoid being arrested. We also had four young girls from his congregation along with us to take down stories of the wheel chair recipients.
It would turn out to be a very long drive. There were 16 of us in the van and it was somewhat tight quarters. As soon as we got off the plane Laura started to feel dizzy and achy. Since all of us have had some form of distress at various times during the trip she thought it would pass. One hour into a 6 hour drive she kept getting worse. It was clear that she was running a fever but not much we could do about it but keep pushing forward to Can Tho where there would be hospital facilities if needed. The girls started singing Hymns and Vietnamese folk songs to pass the time. It was well intended but Laura clearly wanted some peace and quiet.
The road was much better than those we travelled in the North but the traffic was still heavy.
The countryside was similar yet different than in Central or Northern Vietnam. The landscape is much more jungle like and there are many rivers that we had to cross. The water in the rivers was moving at a pretty good clip which is different than I expected. I later found out that this was mostly influenced by the tide since we are very close to the ocean. This is much more a fishing and fruit growing area of the country although there is still some rice growing being done. Everywhere you look there are trees laden with fruit. The mango ere is fantastic.
We drove for hour upon hour and poor Laura was in misery. Every KM traveled seems like any eon to her. To cap it off, you must take a ferry across the Mekong to get to Can Tho. The wait for the ferry was about 30 minutes. This wait was only surpassed by the 1 1/2 hour wait to get back the next day. They had built a bridge across the river two years ago but we were told it had collapsed killing 100 people. Perhaps the ferry wasn't such a bad option.
Can Tho is a busy city with lots of river oriented commerce. We checked into what was once a nice hotel right on the river. It is a little long in the tooth now but clean. We got Laura into her room and Erin stayed with her to help her in any way she could. We pooled all our various medicines in hopes that one of them might do some good. We hoped that a cool bath and a good nights sleep might knock down the fever.
We relaxed a little bit on the hotel rooftop patio and observed the hustle and bustle along the river. The Mekong is much larger here than in Phnom Penh.
We all went to bed praying that Laura would improve by morning.
Day 12 was a very long day for Laura.

Day 11.. Flying is for Wimps

Day 11.....Flying is for Wimps
Robert Kalachian of Giving It Back to Kids says that most who come to distribute wheel chairs complain about the length of travel involved. We, on the other hand relish the opportunity to observe the culture and people of the country from a closer perspective. Sometimes that means about a micro millimeter of separation between our vehicle and a bus jammed to the gunnel's careening down the road with horn blaring.In essence, you must stay awake because any momentary drop of your guard calls for a startlingly loud wake up call courtesy of some of the loudest horns I have ever heard.
I got up early to explore the beach and grounds of the Wellness resort. The spa is about 100 yards up through the jungle reached via a winding path. Each of the massage huts are remotely set into the jungle for privacy. The platforms are open to the ocean. Each has a massage table and a bamboo soaking tub at the foot of the table. The steam bath is built into the rocks and looks like a little cave. They also have another form of steam bath where you are covered with hot sand. I wanted the four-handed Vietnamese massage in the worst way but time was short.
I then went down to the shore and watched the fishermen bring their catch in and ready it to take to the market place. At night we watched the lobster hunters exploring the ocean floor for lobsters. They go under water with a long breathing hose and a strong light. I watched them for at least an hour and never saw them come to the surface.
I could have stayed for a month but we needed to hit the road at 8 to get to another distribution in the Tuy Phuoc District of the Binh Dinh Provence. This district was very remote and we traveled down a narrow road to the distribution site.
This was a distribution of about 75 chairs. The area is pretty rural so we were clearly getting these chairs to the very poor. The District head said that Tuy Phuoc was the scene of a lot of fighting during the war and there were many people left disabled from the fighting.
We were greeted very warmly by the attendees. After brief remarks we walked down to talk to the recipients. We are getting stories compiled on many of the people receiving wheel chairs. I can't wait to connect the stories to the pictures and video that we have taken.
One young lady was very crippled. Her arms and legs were very very thin and deformed. Although her body had failed her...her mind was bright and alert and she sat as straight and erect as she could while we talked to her. She simply exuded dignity. She said that she had been attending school but her family could no longer afford for her to go. Another young man had been attending college and was the pride of the family. However he contracted polio and now is unable to manage for himself. The wheelchair will now ease the burden for the family that must care for him entirely.
We spent quite a bit of time with the recipients. I was pleased that we didn't have to rush away. We had stopped at a small shop on the way and bought a fresh batch of suckers and candy to give to the kids. We found out that the elders really liked the suckers. Most of them were without teeth. We would unwrap them and hand them out. They would really work those suckers over. Most were placed on the back of scooters and whisked away sucking away on those suckers with a passion. I got some great pictures and video of this distribution.
After the distribution, we traveled even further into the country for lunch. We went to a very,very small village along the coast. This would be a real test of our gastro-intestinal fortitude. The restaurant was spartan to say the least. Fresh shrimp and squid recently plucked from the sea and assorted sea based soups. A bottle of vodka was produced for the obligatory toasts. Fortunately, it was early in the day and our hosts went easy on us since we had a very long drive ahead of us.
The drive back was a nail biter. We passed a head on collision between a van and a bus. The bus won and I'm sure there were many injuries. I'm surprised that we didn't see more accidents.
The Vietnamese seem to be doing a good job with education. We passed any number of schools that were filled with children dressed in dark blue trousers or skirt, a white shirt and red kerchief. As school let out it seemed like thousands of the kids piled out of the school. They all jumped on old fashioned single gear bicycles and hit the road peddling feverishly onto the road. Dodging these kids was a chore since most of the bicycles were way to large for their riders. We had one close call when one small kid lost his balance and nearly fell into our path. A pure adrenalin rush for us.
The bathroom stops were a challenge for the girls but hey didn't complain. We of course were lucky as we just walked a few yards into the woods.
Once back to the hotel we let out a holler of relief and lauded our driver profusely. Needless to say we toggled it down for the evening and I was finally able to break through the hotel Internet code with the help of Mario. When I finally checked my watch it was 1 AM and I was toast.
Day 11 was in the books!!!!