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		PHAN QUANG TAI HOSPITALIZED ON JULY 24,2007

Dear Mrs. Dieu Lien:

Please see if you can help this handicapped baby who really deserves our help.

The child is Phan Quang Tai, a 4 month-old baby, born without arms, and with crooked legs. His father is an employee in a bakery and makes about VND 700,000-800,000 per month. His mother used to sell bread, but after her marriage, she stayed home to take care of her children and perform housework. The entire family currently lives with the baby’s grand-parents who are poor peasants living in the countryside.

When the baby was born, his maternal grandmother saw that he had no hands and his legs were deformed and she thought about killing the baby. But she discussed the idea with the baby’s uncle who advised her against it. The uncle’s wife worked at the Eyes of Compassion office in the granting of loans to the poor, and she said she would recommend that Eyes of Compassion provide a loan to the family. Thus the baby escaped an early death.

At this time, we have had the baby examined by a doctor. Without hands and with crooked legs, the baby may not be able to walk. That is why we have made every effort to develop healthy legs that may be used as hands. I have discussed this case with the doctor in the Rehabilitation Section, and I learned that the baby’s legs would be put in a cast within 6 months at a cost of about VND 1,500,000 per month. At the doctor’s request, the baby has to receive treatment and care every day. However, as the baby’s family lives in the countryside, far from the city, the family needs to rent a place in the city. The most inexpensive student’s room would cost about

VND 150,000 per month, and with additional costs for food, the family is having a lot of difficulties.

I am sharing this case with you so that you may wish to help this child at this time as well as in the future.

Thank you.

Ngoc

July 24, 2007

Dear Mrs. Dieu Lien:

Baby Phan Quang Tai is currently improving a lot. The doctors are slowly straightening his legs and they are now 60% straight. I hope everything will go well with him.

I am sending 2 pictures to you, one before the help of EOCVN and one taken just a few days ago. Please look at the file.

September 13, 2007

I am sending to you pictures of baby Pham (Phan?) Quang Tai. I am so happy for him. His feet are now almost straight, and they are no longer crooked. The doctors are now exerting traction on one leg to make it as long as the other leg. It has been 5 months now, and in another month, the baby’s treatment will be completed. Thank you very much for everything. I include the pictures of Baby Tai.

I wish you good health and a very happy day.

Best Regards,

Ngoc




	PHAN QUANG TÀI WAS BORN WITHOUT ARMS, TWO LEGS HAS BEEN CROOKED




	GOT BACK TO NORMAL




	DR. NGUYEN VIET NHAN IS HOLDING PHANG QUANG TAI


	AFTER A HARD WORK OF DOCTORS AND FAMILY, PHAN QUANG TAI TOW LEGS HAS BEEN BACK ALMOST TO NORMAL


	A RENTED ROOM FOR TAI AND HIS MOTHER TO STAY DURING HIS TREATMENT

Hue January 25, 2006

Up to January 25, 2006, we would like to report situations of severe ill patients who have been helped by “Eyes of Compassion” before Luna New Year of 2006. These patients have come from many different places and have chosen to be the best candidate to support. Following are brief introduction about these patients:

TRUONG VAN TUYEN - Budget: 5,000,000VND ($312,5)

Cho Chua Commune, Nghia Hanh District, Quang Ngai Province.

Truong Van Tuyen was born into a poverty-stricken family of five. His parents used to farm a 1,500m2 plot of land, earning them an annual income of $447 USD (7.2 million VND), but the land was recently cleared for construction. Tuyen’s father has just become a mason, an unstable job; his mother raises two cows; their new combined income is $50 USD (800,000 VND) per month. At present, they are living in a small 28m2 house, and their most valuable assets are a second-hand television and two bicycles.

Tuyen suffers from the most serious form of congenital heart defect, Tetralogy of Fallot. Although his parents knew about his illness since his birth, they could not do anything more than pay the medical bills for his outward symptoms. His heart condition is deteriorating; he is often tired; his extremities have turned black and blue. He dropped out of eighth grade due to his weak state. Doctors from Hue Central Hospital recommended that he undergoes surgery as soon as possible to ensure his survival. The surgery was quoted at $2,500 USD (40 million VND). It is a too prohibitive sum for the family. Quang Ngai Committee for Population, Family and Children decided to finance him $311 USD (5,000,000 VND). So far, the amount the family saved and borrowed from their relatives is $932 USD (15 million VND). In desperation, they came to EMW and OGCDC for assistance.

1 HOANG KHANH TOAN: After sending a letter asking for help for Toan, I went to offer relief to victims of the Durian storm in the south. On the way to the storm-stricken areas, I was informed that Hoang Khanh Toan had been moved out of the emergency ward, and that the surgery had been very successful. I felt both happy for Toan, and surprised, because I did not know why Toan was given the surgery since Pham Van Ngoc, the representative of EOCVN for critical patients at Hue Central Hospital, had not asked me for his surgery fee. Ngoc contacted the Hospital immediately and was told that the donation from a charity source had been forwarded directly to the doctors at the Department of Orthopedics to cover Toan's surgery fee. It was such happy news, which was also understandable, because while Toan was in hospital, his family had been trying to knock on different doors for help. Whichever offer came first was taken immediately by the hospital so as to help the patient as soon as possible.




	HOÀNG KHÁNH TOÀN

2. Le Thi Mai (Ms), 35, brain injury

Her brothers, sisters, and other maternal relatives have contributed a large sum of money to help Mai overcome the most critical phase. After the surgery, Mai needs special medicines and life-nourishing soup prescribed by the hospital. More importantly, she must be observed by doctors and cared for by nurses. These medical treatments are very costly. Therefore, Mai's brothers and sisters cannot afford anything further. At present, we assist Mai with about US $40/day

3. Cong Trung (Mr), 22, burnt while repairing motobikes

He was very seriously burnt. Initially, thanks to Ms Luu Thanh Nhan's enormous fundraising efforts, Trung has passed the most dangerous moments. In addition, Trung has also relied on more than 40 million Vietnamese dong donated by the Hospital's fund for burn patients. According to doctor Pham Dang Nhat, Trung's health has become much more encouraging; his eyes show some consciousness, and his body signals for food. However, now the donation sources from Ms Nhan and the hospital are exhausted. Doctor Nhat therefore asks for our help so that Trung can receive nourishment intravenously and blood transfusions, which are the only ways to help him recover. These treatments should be done within the first 5 to 10 days, with a daily cost of US$ 50-100 ; after that the medical cost may be less.


	4. Hoang Thi Xuan (Ms), 43, bladder and stomach diseases Ms Xuan, a farmer, widowed (her husband died 6 months ago) with 4 small children. She had many diseases but did not have money for any medical intervention; she has collapsed as a result. Her eldest daughter, aged 20, brought her to hospital. Since she is categorized as "poor household", she did not have to pay a hospital fee. In this case, we only help with food for her and her daughter during her hospitalization, and her additional nutrients and the medicines that are not provided for free by the hospital. This case does not require much funding.

	5. Le Viet Dũng, 20, disconnected cardiac valve Dũng was a factory worker in Sai Gon, but he has had to return home for cardiac valvular disconnection treatment. Dung has a nephew whose two cardiac valves were disconnected. Surgery for the nephew's 2 cardiac valves would cost as much as 60,000,000 VND ($2000 us). The OGCDC had promised 30,000,000 VND, and his family borrowed 15,000,000 VND, but since there was no other source to cover the remaining 15,000,000 VND, the small child died. Now Dũng has cardiac valvular disease, for which the surgery will cost 30,000,000 VND. His family has managed to borrow 15,000,000 VND but could not borrow any more to cover the remaining cost. When informed of his situation, I asked people to contact Dũng. If possible, we will help Dũng with the remaining cost for the surgery. 5. An ethnic minority person, around 25, married with a small child, lives in Nam Dong: Hue's new economic zone and home of ethnic minorities. He had a bamboo stick stabbed in his leg, near his ankle. He did not bandage the wound, and he continued to work in the field as usual and ate cassava. A while later, his leg became infected and he could not walk, so he had to go to Hue Central Hospital. He had to have his lower leg amputated, as you can see in the photo. At present he is hospitalized again because his leg became swollen and painful. Doctors discovered that his flesh was again infected up to his thigh. The reason was that, after being discharged from the hospital, he continued to eat just cassavas, since he did not have any rice. As a result, he had to have his knee amputated to avoid further infection. Since he was categorized as “poor household,” and being such a special case, the hospital did not charge him at all. Besides, his daily food is now covered by a Catholic nun. I am interested in the type of food he will eat after being discharged. If there is no assistance, he will surely eat cassavas again. I will follow his health development and, upon his being discharged, will give him some money with which he can afford some nutritious food that can help him avoid infection completely.



		NGUYEN DAN MINH AND HIS MOTHER

TRAN VAN TAI

DIEU LIEN VISITED MS LAN IN HOSPITAL

DUONG THI XUAN

MR NGOC AND NGUYEN HUU THU

DIEU LIEN AND HOANG THI XUAN

DIEU LIEN OFFERED MS XUAN A SWEATER BEFORE SHE LEFT THE HOSPITAL. SHE SMILED HAPPILY AND ASKED SOME POCKET MONEY FOR TRANSPORTATION

Does Mom know?

Her name is Mui, or Na - little Na - as her mother would call her so at home. Na is 15 years old this year. Na has a round face like the moon, very lovely. She rarely smiles, her voice is low and sad. But whenever Dieu Lien raises a question, she answers very clearly.

Dieu Lien was told by Pham Van Ngoc (in OGCDC) that Na’s mother had a work accident. She works as tearer/collector of eucalyptus bark. One day, a eucalyptus tree fell down and hit her on the head. She had a brain injury and was sent to the Emergency Ward in Hue Central hospital. The ward is called “Room of the Death” – because once the patients were sent here, their relatives have to prepare these two things at the same time: one, money to keep on trying even with the faintest hope; and two, funeral ceremony.

Dieu Lien previously thought that the Burn Department and the Tumourology Department were the two most thrilling; however Dieu Lien still can come close to the patients in these departments and hold their hands, fondle their hair and talk to them. But in the Emergency ward, no word can express the fear in my heart. All patients here are in a status of pending for the Death’s call. The sufferings that Dieu Lien witness here have helped me make mindful steps, in which I am aware that I am lucky enough to be alive, which is just a normal, but so miraculous, existence. If I do not subtly remind myself of this, the sense of happiness will fail me so easily.




			LITTLE NA





	DIEU LIEN AND LITTLE NA VISIT HER MOTHER IN IMERGENCY ROOM

When Ngoc and Dieu Lien were heading for the Emergency Ward, we saw Na going towards us. Na hurriedly ran to Ngoc and said: “This morning the doctor gave me a prescription, but I do not have money to buy the medicines”. Ngoc smiled to her nicely: “Is your Mom better today?” Dieu Lien put my hands on Na’s little shoulder and we walked and chatted on the way.

Na revealed that after a while’s running around to borrow money for Mom’s treatment, Dad became exhausted and had left for home. Dad still had to take care of the two paddy rice patches and her two small brothers (?). Na said “Dad did not come to see Mom for the last 7 days. Dad does not bring me money. Dad left Mom for me, telling me to “do whatever you want”. Her voice was choked when saying this, with her head lowered on one side. But she immediately pulled herself together to face up to reality. She could not let the despair knock her down. She returned to Ngoc: “today the doctor gave me the prescription but I do not have money to buy the medicines”. This is perhaps the “chorus” that every day she has to “sing” to people in a hope for help.

Dieu Lien and Na came to see Mai in the Emergency ward

We went together to the Department of Emergency and Recovery, which is in a new, advanced-equipped and very clean building. As a result, patients here have to pay high hospital fee. One even has to pay 1,000 VND every time he/she uses the lift. Even using the W.C. costs 1,000 VND at a time. Na therefore uses the staircase (usually used in case of fire) instead to go up to 6th floor and down to 1st floor when running around to care her mother. As for the W.C., some knowing her would let her use it free of charge, but some others still charge her.

Everyday she needs nearly 100,000 VND to cover expenditures for both her mother and herself. As for herself, she would spend 2,000 VND on steamed corn for breakfast, another 3,000 VND also on steamed corn for lunch, and 4,000 VND on rice for dinner. Mom had to take 6 times a day the life-sustaining soup provided by the hospital, which would cost 36,000 VND. Mom also needed 10 sanitary napkins, which cost 50,000 VND. Besides, Na bought warm water to wash her mother’s body so that Mom’s flesh would not become rotten.

She told me an unexpected story. After she gave the last 5 sanitary napkins to the nurse, she worried so much, as she did not know how to get money to buy her mother napkins for the next day. That evening, she saw on Mom’s bed a big package of sanitary napkins that somebody had silently given. But besides the story of this anonymous gift, life in hospital was complicated. Somebody “borrowed” her thermos and her mat and never returned.

When knowing of her difficulties, Lien proposed that she came and stayed at Dieu Lien’s house to feel better. To my surprise, she refused, explaining that from 8pm to mid-night every day, she would ask for the nurses on duty for permission to come in the ward and massage Mom, so that Mom’s muscle would not stiffen by the time Mom could recover. Every morning, she would wake up at 4 am and look for warm water to clean Mom’s body before the doctor and nurse come. During the day, and days after days she ran for money and always stood ready to finish all the tasks that nurses require her to.

Back to the prescription that Na told Ngoc but could not afford. Na said that, Mom’s old prescription cost 500,000 VND per day (equivalent to US $35), but the present prescription was 70,000 (or US $5), which were normal medicines for palliative care, without enabling Mom to recover, because the doctor knows that she does not have money. Dieu Lien suggested that she returned and asked for the old prescription, so that her Mom could soon recover. Today, she was so happy to tell this good news: Mom has recovered remarkably. Mom was able to lift her eyelids a bit, open her mouth, nodded slightly, and lifted her bottom a bit so that Na could change her sanitary napkin. She asked her: “Do you know me? If you know, blink your eyes”, and she saw that her Mom blinked the eyes. Na was so much happy, because she knew that Mom was back to life, though Mom has not yet been able to say a word.

Though her fight for Mom’s life back from the seizure of the Death was so hard, her words about Mom were always soft and full of love and hope. Whenever mentioning her father, her voice was choked and she could not speak. There seems to be nothing left to say. She had been crying too much begging her father to try with her to save Mom’s life, but what she received from Dad was just a cold shoulder.

Perhaps because Mom had suffered a lot for Dad and sacrificed too much for her offspring, now her little Na, with many seeds Mom has sowed into, has developed her own energy and a sacrificing heart.

Upon learning of Na’s plight, though Dieu Lien had not sent the call for your kind-hearted assistance for her family, Dieu Lien promised help and has covered her Mom’s medicinal cost. With money now available, doctors give effective prescription. As a result, Mom’s health had been much better only within 10 days.

Besides Ms Mai (Na’s mother), so many others are in similarly sad plights. If only Dieu Lien had more time and capacity, Dieu Lien could have presented to you many other stories that happen every day in hospitals.

So, the story of little Na is for you, esteemed kind-hearted people today.

Note: Fund for Severe Illness

Na’s letter calling for help

Hue 18 December 2006

I am Tran Thi Mui. I live in Trung Phuoc village, Loc Tri commune, Phu Loc district. I am 16 years old this year. My Mom is so poor that she cannot afford my schooling. Therefore after finishing the 6th grade, I dropped school for work to earn money to help my family. I went to Da Nang city and worked as a housemaid there. First, I worked for the family of Ms. Lien and Mr. Thanh and was paid 150,000 VND a month. I was then introduced to an old woman, 77, called Luyen, living on her own. She paid me 400,000 VND per month. At the end of the year, I returned home. After that, my cousin brought me to work for the family of Ms Nga and Mr. Duc, where I was paid 500,000 VND every month. Thanks to these jobs, I could earn to assist my parents in sending my brothers (?) to school.

My mother’s name is Le Thi Mai, 35 years old. My family has 5 members – my parents, my two little brothers (?) and me. My Mom is hired labor (tearing off and collecting the bark of eucalyptus trees). While working on 17 November 2006, my Mom had a head injury when a tree above fell down and hit her. Now my Mom is staying in the Emergency ward in Hue Central Hospital. My Mom’s brain is injured, and her left arm is broken. She has been hospitalised for one month now. Both her family and my father’s relatives have tried to assist; my father ran around to borrow and asked for charity money from churches and pagodas, but afterwards there was no longer any source to ask for. My father gave up and returned home, but then was introduced to the Health University. My father and I came there and presented our family’s situation, then we were introduced by sisters and brothers there to Ms. Dieu Lien, who helped us buy medicines for my Mom. For a week now - since the date we returned from the Health University, my father has not come to meet me again yet. I alone have to care for my Mom, and rely on the help of Ms. Dieu Lien. Every day in the hospital, I have to spend money on medicines, soup and napkins for my Mom; and my meals too. I spend 2,000 VND for my steamed corn breakfast, 3,000 VND for my lunch, and 4,000 for my rice dinner. A proportion of drinking water costs 1,000 VND, since I don’t have money, I don’t buy water but ask for it from people around instead. In the hospital, I have to go up and down many times to buy things for my Mom. If I use the lift, I have to pay 1,000 VND at a time, so I use the staircase instead. Using the toilet also costs 1,000 VND each time. Some aunts there know me and do not charge me, some others do. Some people in the hospital knowing of my plight give me money for food. The things I buy for my Mom was stolen, therefore every morning I do not have container to buy warm water for my Mom’s cleaning. Many times I ask for warm water from people around and can find some. But there are also many other times when I cannot, so I have to use cold water for my mother.

I love my mom so much. I want my mom to recover soon to come back to me, Dad and my brothers. In day-to-day care for my Mom, I observe the good developments in my mom. For instance, in these recent days I speak to my Mom and she understands. I told her to open her eyes to see me, then she would try to lift her eyelids to see me. Then I told her to bend her knee, and she followed. Seeing that my Mom has progressed a lot, I do wish the charity association to help me, so that I can afford my Mom’s medicines.

I desire that my Mom will soon recover, because staying in hospital is too difficult and costly. Every thing here costs, while I do not have money. Please help me to save my Mom out of this plight.

18 December 2006

Tran Thi Mui




	A PATIENT OF ETHNIC MINORITY

FATHER’S LOVE

"A father’s love is as warm as rays of sunshine

and as sweet as spring water at its source "

Dieu Loan and I walked through the corridors of the External Orthopedics section to find the room of Tran thi Phuong, 37-year-old woman from Phu Bai town, Hue city. Phuong’s brothers and sisters had gone south to make a living. Phuong had earned a living from making hats. She had taken care of her old parents. Her mother has been confined to her bed.

Mr. Tran van An, her father, 72 years old, with many wrinkles on his tanned face. He approached me and spoke very softly, as if he did not want anybody else to hear: “Please help my daughter. An old father has many problems taking care of a daughter. Her mother is very sick and is confined to bed. I have to take care of everything. Unfortunately, I have to provide all of her needs such as bathing, urinating, excreting. It is extremely difficult for me when I need to keep her clean during her monthly periods. One day when I pass away, she will have no one, no husband and no children. As a handicapped person, I don't know how she will survive."

I listened to every word he said. I was so moved that I wanted to hold him in my arms and to tell him that I understand his feelings and his difficulties. The pain in a father's heart was as painful as the wounds on the hopeless legs of Phuong. I vowed that I would do my best to save her legs.

I learned that Phuong was the victim of a hit and run traffic accident. She was hit by a motorcycle at the beginning of 2005 and suffered from broken legs and a severe head injury. In order to save their daughter, her parents had to sell their inherited piece of land and had to borrow money from family, friends and banks. Altogether they were able to borrow $120,000,000 DNV (about $10,000 Cad). Doctors had treated successfully her head injury and had started to treat her legs. Unfortunately, at this critical time, the family ran out of money. The father had to bring her home with screws and stainless steel rods embedded in her legs to support them temporarily with the hope that one day he would find some money to have these screws and rods removed.

After a few months, she had to return to the hospital because her legs were badly infected, and the unhealed wounds were swollen to the point that one could see the red muscle with some yellow discharge. Mr. An once again had to bring his daughter back to the hospital although he had no money at all. Phuong knew that her condition was difficult and begged the doctors to amputate her legs. Fortunately this time she met a very compassionate doctor who asked her to remain calm and offered his best to save her legs. Meanwhile, the old father continued to help her meet her daily needs. The nurses and the patients who shared the room with her really moved by the care of this old man. The nurses asked for the help from many charitable organizations.

That was how the story of the old father and the critically ill daughter got our attention and I would like to share with all of you on our web "Eyes of Compassion".

If we act together with love and understanding, we will be able to help Phuong preserve her legs. All "Eyes of Compassion" benefactors please help Phuong. At this point, we do not know exactly how much this case will be but I hope to receive your donations. I strongly believe that once we can make a few steps we will finish our journey with Phuong happily. Please send your donations to Severely Ill Patients Account.




			TRAN THI PHUONG

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