A Dentist on Crutches
(Translated by Joy Hsiao, New York; and
Stephen Tang, Northern California)
Today, a Tzu Chi free
clinic team provided free medical services in Pinglin, Taiwan.
One of the volunteer dentists, Dr. Tsai Tzung-hsien, came on
crutches, proving to everyone that if he has the will, even
a physically challenged person can serve others.
When Dr. Tsai sits
by the dental chair, he pays full attention to his patients.
It is only when he stands up that people realize he is physically
handicapped. Polio crippled his legs, and as a child he decided
to pursue a medical career, in which frequent travelling was
not required. The forty-year-old Dr. Tsai has his own clinic,
but whenever Tzu Chi sponsors a free clinic he is always the
first to volunteer. He said: "When I saw Tzu Chi volunteers
all over the disaster areas after the September 1999 earthquake,
I felt that I also needed to do something for others as well."
He believes that a physical handicap is not
a problem at all-compassion and determination are the most important.
Although volunteering at the free clinic in Pinglin was hard
work, Dr. Tsai felt like a spoiled child to be able to accompany
the Tzu Chi medical team there. Dr. Tsai treats patients like
his own family and always answers their questions in detail.
In the future, this cordial dentist on crutches will continue
to appear wherever there is a Tzu Chi free clinic.
