Day 3 - For Humanity

Vien Doan, July 13, 2011

Today our mission isn't about what doctors, surgeons can do but it's all about what human beings can do for one another in love.

The mother and this young 10 year old child came in for help. The child had a brain tumor 5 years ago and was treated with the Gamma Knife by a very good local neurosurgeon. He had been followed up routinely and was doing well. The last MRI of the brain in October 2010 showed the tumor had regressed in size and patient had no symptoms. Two months ago suddenly his right eye became blurry and despite aggressive treatments, he is now blind. The mother is devasted of course. He has been such a good son, an A student.  Whenever mom was ill, he would ask "Mom, what can get for you to eat? What can I help you with?" and now whenever he wants mom, he has to fumble around to find and touch her.

What would you do if you sat in front of this mother and child?

These 2 elderly woman came in a couple hours apart.  The one on the left is an 82 year old soft spoken widow whose husband died at the age of 35. She has 2 daughters that are married and moved away.  She now lives alone and every day she works in her little rice paddy next to her house, cleaning weeds. When harvest comes she would hire someone to harvest for her and pay it with her rice. She saves the little rice left over to eat all year. The sad thing is she could only eat her rice with vegetables she grew in her own little garden, almost never had fish or meat because there is absolutely no money for it.

The one on the right is an 88 year old woman who walked 2 hours on foot, taking frequent rests so she can make the journey to see us. Like the other woman, she is a widow with her children all gone, leaving her alone. She doesn't have a rice patty but raise a few chicken to trade them for rice and eat it with veggies.

What would you do if you sat in front of these 2 beautiful old woman?

This next young woman came in because of a lump in her breast. We sent her to get a biopsy. She was so trembling in fear, fear of what the result could bring.

What would you do if you stood in front of her?

Good night everyone, thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Leaving us encouraging comments helped us carry our days.