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Published: April 9th 2008
Hoa
Hoa's disabilitly, not to mention financial hardships, doesn't prevent her from smiling. She is surrounded by a very supportive husband and 2 beautiful children making her "very lucky".This time last year a group of 65 disabled adults contacted Karen. This special group all live in or near Hoi An and are all disabled in some way - some through accidents, some through cerebral palsy or polio.
Meeting with the group sounds like a feat in itself. Very few cafes and meeting places are wheelchair accessible. Here are some notes taken from Karen's blog last year:
...there is currently no help, support or grants the group was receiving. and they were not meeting to apply for help or sponsorship. (They looked at me in surprise. Asking for help didn’t seem to have occurred to them.) There is no help for the disabled in Vietnam. They met, not to raise support from outside, but to support one another the best they could, through friendship and mutual understanding. Throughout the long meeting there was not one hint of complaint, of self pity, or the unfairness of it all. We listened silently to their life stories. They were so shy, so accepting and dignified. We were filled with awe at their strength and kindness to one another... They explained to Karen
Hoa
Hoa contracted polio at age 2 that their goal is to be independent, when asked what does independence mean to them, the reply was that they would like to have enough sustainable income to be able to choose their own meals each day, instead of relying on whatever is given to them. That was their dream, their independence. The statement really hits me...I'd be grumpy if I couldn't choose my own meal even once, let alone my whole life. What freedoms we take for granted. For many of us it is hard to imagine life with a severe disability. It is virtually impossible to imagine being disabled in Vietnam where there is no financial or medical assistance available.
To get a better visual of some of the physical challenges, please
CLICK HERE FOR KAREN'S VIDEO .
Karen began working with the group, offering Lifestart support where she could. The first priority was to get them the medical attention they needed and couldn't afford. Lifestart Foundation has been very fortunate to have the expertise of Doctor Joshua Solomon, a board certified internist, pulmonologist and critical care physician from Denver, Colorado. Josh lives in Hoi An and is founder of
The Hoi An Foundation, a nonprofit organization aimed at the health and well being of
Hanh
Following an accident, Hanh has spent most of the last 18 years confined to this bed disadvantaged in the area. In January, all of the patients were taken to the hospital for rounds of tests and xrays in addition to an appointment with Josh. There is now a completed assessment on forty members of our disabled group.
I'm personally thrilled that Lifestart has become more involved on the medical end. After seeing first-hand the medical conditions that existed here 2 years ago made me realize how crucial the necessity for proper...or any... medical care.
Get the whole story:
SONG'S STORY HANH'S STORY TUNG'S STORY HOA'S STORY More on
MEDICAL CONDITIONS IN HOI AN (Dr. Josh Solomon, Hoi An Foundation)
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leslie jane
non-member comment
the need is so overwhelming. What "strength in numbers" through all of the converging organizations that are giving these communities a chance...i am sort of speechless after reading both the children and the adult stories. What another wonderful soul you have met! First Karen / Lifestart Foundation, and now Dr. Josh / The Hoi An Foundation. Will we ever see you again, Squirl??!!!