HOW TO HELP

---

For those of you who have offered to make donations, you can do so online at the LIFESTART website. You may donate specifically (adopt a family, sponsor a teen) or make a general donation. YES every dollar makes a difference...REALLY.

http://lifestartfoundation.org.au/

Here are just a few examples of what has come out Lifestart donations this past month (amount in USD):

Bich's Boat - app. $156
Art supplies for school - app. $25
English books for 9 students - less than $2/each
Bike & Lock for Jobstart kids - $52
SIM card for mobile phone - $6
New roof for Phuc's boat - app. $25

Also, please feel free to contact either Karen or me directly if you would like to make a more specific donation or if you have any other thoughts or suggestions.


UPDATES:

Ly Chan Family:
The 8 year old had awoken from a coma and was doing better for a few weeks, but has recently been running high fevers and in a condition I'm afraid might not improve. Also, the family was tested and everyone except the 16 year old daughter is infected with TB. The father and 12 year old son are in the worse condition and we are paying for urgent medical treatment this month. The family now has additional monetary help from a blog reader.

TAM:
The long and grueling week at Danang Hospital is finally coming to a close, with a very happy ending. Tam's brain surgery was successful and he is now beginning his recovery. The hospital experience will deserve it's own full entry, so be prepared!

---

Photos

Ly Chan Family Home
Giao and I visit the Ly Chan family, a 15 min. motorbike ride outside Hoi An. There have been 8 people living in this home, (now 6 with mom and son in the hospital).

Me & Tam
After a very long and hard week, Tam and I are looking and feeling MUCH better today!

Comments

[leslie jane]

cute as a button!
congratulations to both you and tam for this successful week, and also for surviving the grueling ordeal. he looks great! i hope the recovery proves to be just as great...though i do know it is one step at a time. please tell him HELLO from your buddies leslie and mark!!!!!!!

[Jennifer]

Good on ya
Hey Sherry, I am a Vietnamese-Australian and have just found out about Lifestart Foundation. Hope to catch up with you in VN or in Oz if you happen to be in Melbourne to visit Karen. I am about to call her in 5 mins to talk about some fund raising idea in Oz. I love reading your travel blogs, it takes my mind off my boring existence in the rat race in an office in Melb, Oz. But hey, I know I am very lucky compare to the people in Vietname. I could've been one of them, had my parents not fled VN in the '80s. Life's weird.