| Endless
Good Wishes for Young Sullyano |
 |
Translated by Mike Lee, Northern California
From the Dominican Republic
In a matter of days, Tzu Chi people quickly
collected enough money for her medical expenses.
The next day, Sullyano was filled with hope as she departed for
Cuba to receive therapy…
In the afternoon of June 5, 2000, tourists
from all over casually roamed the vacation spot of the Dominican
Republic-Boca Chica. They enjoyed the gentle caress of the ocean
breeze blowing from the Caribbean and the tropical atmosphere
under the radiant sun. On the street, thirteen-year-old Sullyano
was taking advantage of the weekend to take a breather with her
schoolmates after the stressful days of final exams. As they meandered
in the shade of palm trees, she and her friends were immersed
in frolicking laughter and conversation. All of a sudden, a jeep
lost control and crashed into her from behind. Her petite body
was sent flying, then bounced upon the windshield, and finally
landed in the back seat of the jeep. She lost consciousness…
When Sullyano awoke, she found that her lower
body had lost all movement. The doctor told her that because two
sections of her spinal chord were shattered, the central nerve
that controlled movement in her lower body had been broken. Although
emergency surgery had stabilized it, another major operation to
reconnect it would be needed; otherwise she would become paralyzed
for life. Because the Dominican Republic at that time had no doctor
who specialized in this field, Sullyano decided to journey to
Mexico to undergo this procedure.
After the surgery Sullyano returned to school,
although she still needed a wheelchair to get around. She also
began physical therapy, hoping that one day she could regain free
mobility. Optimistic by nature, Sullyano was full of hope for
her life. Still, her reality now was confronted with so many obstacles.
After the accident, her mother resigned from
her secretarial job to take care of Sullyano. The family thus
had to get by with only the commissions from her father's sales
work, and Sullyano's first operation had already drained the family's
years of saving. The expenses of her later trip to Mexico for
reconstructive surgery came from contributions by her church and
her friends and relatives.
Because Sullyano no longer could control her
bodily functions, she would often give off odors that her classmates
found difficult to tolerate. Sadly she had to drop out of school.
Although her family could no longer afford further rehabilitation
for her, her mother continued to ask around and she found out
that there was a clinic in Cuba that might help her daughter regain
the ability to walk with the aid of a cane.
If rehabilitation takes place during adolescence,
the probability for success is comparatively higher. Once past
childhood, the chance of recovery diminishes significantly. To
come up with the needed money, Sullyano's mother visited all the
social agencies and charity organizations of the Dominican Republic,
but she received only limited positive response. Her anxiety intensified
as the chance for recovery faded with each passing day.
Nearly one year after the accident, Sullyano's
apprehensive mother was introduced to Dominican Tzu Chi members.
After personal examinations by Dr. Chou Kuei-hung and analysis
of Sullyano's medical records, the Tzu Chi members began to raise
funds on her behalf. In a few days, the needed expenses for her
rehabilitation were collected, and on May 9 the money was delivered
personally to Sullyano's home.
On May 10, Sullyano and her mother, full of
new hope, headed for Cuba to undergo recovery treatment. We offer
her our endless good wishes, hoping that she will soon leave her
wheelchair and bed behind as she ventures into the beautiful world
of youth.
