|
Even after already spending seven hard days working
in Sri Lanka, the medical team from Taiwan was feeling
especially motivated today, since they would return
home tomorrow. They put their muscle aches and pains
behind them and continued to work hard through their
last full day in Sri Lanka. The medical team from Taiwan
will pass on their duties to the medical team from Malaysia
and Singapore and leave Sri Lanka for home tomorrow.
Right after we set up the free clinic, an old grandma
walked in looking very tired and hungry. She appeared
thin and disheveled and could not hear very well, so
she used her hands to tell us that she didn't have anything
to eat. In order to communicate with the old grandma,
the volunteers had to raise their voices. They found
out that the old grandma lived alone and now she didn't
have a home because of the tsunamis. There was no one
there to care for her.
After hearing this, the volunteers quickly wrapped
up some fruit, crackers, and water for her to take with
her. She wasn't sick physically, but mentally she was
experiencing fear and loneliness after witnessing the
effects of the tsunamis. The volunteers took down her
name and address and set up a time to visit her.
A baby survived because of the help of Tzu Chi. The
mother named the baby"Tzu Chi"to show her
appreciation and thanks to Tzu Chi.
The mother brought her baby, wrapped up in a scarf,
to the free clinic this afternoon. You could barely
see the baby under the scarf. This"tsunami baby"was
only nine days old. On the day of the tsunamis, his
mother, who was eight months pregnant, had run to safety
with her neighbors. She was so frightened by the experience
that she gave birth in the forest.
Nine days later, the hungry mother with no milk to
give her baby walked two hours to get to the free clinic.
The baby was so weak that he wasn't even able to make
a sound. All he could do was open his small, weak mouth.
His umbilical cord was infected, so Dr. Chang Chia-ning
treated his infection. The amazing thing was that Dr.
Chang did not use any anesthetic, and the baby showed
no sign of pain.
The mother said that since she hasn't named the baby
yet, maybe she could name him"Taiwan"so he
can grow up to be just like the good people in Taiwan.
We suggested that she name him "Tzu Chi"instead,
this way the baby would be blessed by all the Tzu Chi
volunteers around the world. And just like that, we
adopted a"Tzu Chi"baby in Sri Lanka.
Ms. Rose's husband became unable to work after he was
traumatized by the frightening tsunamis. Ms. Rose was
an elementary school teacher, but she lost her job because
of the tsunamis. Even though she is trying very hard
to make ends meet after the disaster, she is still willing
to take care of her friends and even the newly born
tsunamis baby. Ms. Rose said that she is not afraid
now because she knows that after this disaster, she
is even stronger. Everyone in her country must unite
and help each other to get over this tragedy.
She also said that she saw many doctors from all over
the world in Sri Lanka over the past few days. However,
these doctors do not talk to the patients at all; therefore,
these patients have not build any strong ties with these
doctors. However, the nurses and doctors from Tzu Chi
are completely different. The medical team talks to
the patients and though they speak different languages,
through the translator, they are able to understand
each other. She is truly impressed, like other local
residents, with the patience and kindness of the Tzu
Chi doctors. She said that the doctors even hold the
patients' hands and talk and smile at the patients.
This is why she walked two hours to come to the free
clinic.
Ms. Rose comes from a big family with 57 members. The
tsunamis took the lives of 47 of her relatives. Even
though she is a Muslim, she said she now understands
the philosophy of teaching unpredictability in the Buddhist
faith. She lost her relatives in the blink of an eye
but she understands that she has to put the pain aside
and do something useful to help others. Ms. Rose is
a role model for the spirit of the people from Sri Lanka.
She promised to come back tomorrow to the free clinic
and volunteer to translate since she is fluent in English.
The Malaysian relief team will take over the Taiwan
medical relief team's duties tomorrow. Twenty more members
will arrive tomorrow to the disaster area of Hambantota.
The Taiwan medical team will leave the disaster area
tomorrow for Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, and
prepare for the journey home.
At four o'clock in the afternoon, nine Tzu Chi volunteers
from Malaysia and Singapore arrived at the free clinic.
All nine members quickly got to work, hoping to adjust
to the environment as soon as possible. They looked
at the schedules, medical records, the pharmacy's operating
procedure, etc. Each volunteer asked questions in the
hopes of increasing teamwork and efficiency.
The relief teams will continue to help the disaster
areas in Sri Lanka. Let this brand new year be the beginning
of a new friendship between Taiwan and Sri Lanka. Sri
Lanka was originally named Ceylon or "beautiful
island" like Taiwan. It further strengthened our
connectedness. May we never stop giving our love and
compassion to those in need.
|
