Crowbars and Shovels

Last week we attended one of our projects at the Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi. It is the largest hospital in Vietnam and was built in 1954, during the French occupation. Thousands of people pour into its gates every day to receive treatments from some of the finest doctors in Vietnam. LDSC (Latter Day Saint Charities Humanitarian Aid Fund) has an ongoing program with this hospital to supply wheelchairs. This particular day was the closing of one project and the beginning of another wheelchair project. In the usual Vietnamese tradition they have a ceremony with many dignitaries to show their appreciation.

As part of the program, they introduced the patients that were receiving the wheelchairs. All of the patients were very grateful for the gift of their wheelchair. One of the recipients of the wheelchairs was asked to speak at the event because of her knowledge of the English language. She is a school teacher in her late 30’s and was in a motor scooter accident that broke her back and left her paralyzed from the chest down. In her speech, this young woman spoke with such sweet sincerity, courage and humility, as she graciously accepted the wheelchairs on behalf of those patients receiving one that day. Her touching words were the highlight of the entire ceremony.

LDSC also initiated a project, in conjunction with the hospital, to replace some of the patient restrooms that are in poor condition. The doctors invited everyone to go to another part of the rehabilitation center to start construction of the three new latrines. Currently, the public restrooms in this part of the hospital are run down and difficult for handicap patients to use and desperately need to be replaced. The project will serve to provide brand new, up to date, sanitary restrooms that are more accessible and usable for all. To celebrate the moment, a simulated ground breaking with a crowbar and shovel, where the handicap bathrooms will be built was performed. Elder Thomason looks especially fierce, as he gets ready to spear the next hole in the wall.

After the ceremony, we took some time to visit some of the patients in the rehabilitation unit. Many of the people were injured in auto (scooter) accidents and have lost the use of their legs and/or limbs. Others are there because of disease and the residual effects of Agent Orange from the Vietnam War. There is much overcrowding of the facility. Some of the people have been sharing their bed with another patient. Outside in the court yard, we met a man that was using one of the LDSC wheelchairs, along with his wife. He was in a motor scooter accident 7 months ago that has left him paralyzed from the waist down. He has some feeling in his feet but, has no use of his legs. In this picture, he just received his new wheelchair. He and his wife live quite a distance from the city of Hanoi and have had to leave their two young children in the care of their grandparents, while he is in the hospital. The wife has been diligently massaging his feet and legs to stimulate feeling to come back to his legs. They are very grateful to get a wheelchair.

Visiting the patients is very sobering and heart wrenching, knowing that lives have been changed forever as a result of injury and disease. What a blessing and difference these wheelchairs make in the lives of these patients.

Our lives are being blessed ten-fold to have the opportunity to be  humanitarian missionaries in Vietnam. The needs here are so great and the money LDSC has to spend is so little in comparison. We are grateful to be followers of Jesus Christ in helping the poor and needy. Thanks to all who donate to the Humanitarian Fund. Together we can do so much.