義工分享 : Jeremy Sung

   
 

A Lesson on ‘Life’

 
     
  On 23 July, 2010, I joined a team of Stand TALL volunteers and staff to visit the Sichuan-Hong Kong Rehabilitation Centre in Chengdu as a student volunteer.  
     
   
     
 

In this summer, I helped out in the Stand TALL office at the Prince of Wales Hospital for two weeks. For most of my time there I did some translations, website updates and filing of patient records. This was how I got to know bits and pieces of the stories about those severely injured young victims of the catastrophic earthquake in Sichuan. They went through amputations of arm(s) or leg(s), a series of physical and psychological treatments and now, although they survive, most of them have lost their mobility; they must be either on wheelchairs or prosthesis for the rest of their lives. I felt so sorry for them as they are still in young age. Their lives were supposedly carefree, energetic and promising. When I put myself in their shoes, I could appreciate how heartbreaking and helpless they felt. I was not sure what would I be if I were one of them. I might label myself as “incapable” for many activities. Therefore, prior to setting off for this trip, I told myself that I must give all my care and encouragement to comfort these young victims and help them to re-integrate with the community.

During the 4-day trip, I followed the team of Orthopaedics doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and StandTALL staff to go to Beichuan and Mienyang and pay home visits to two young victims who have lost both of their legs, to conduct post-treatment check-ups in the Rehab Centre in Chengdu and to watch a swimming session for some of the young victims.

 
     
   
     
  On contrary to my anticipation, I’d say almost all of these children victims seemed they have gathered themselves again and started a new page in life. I could see faces not only with cheerful smiles, but also glowing with self-confidence, courage and hope to build a better life in future. I was amazed; I wondered how it happened. Perhaps I have found the answer through talking to a few of them - they cherish their lives and enjoy being alive. To certain extend they consider themselves lucky enough to survive after the quake, while most other children under the same roof didn’t make it. As long as they stay alive, there is always hope. This positive attitude didn’t come to them in a snapshot, rather, it is a result of a long and painful rehabilitation process which they have gone through, with the strong support and love from their families, their friends, the medical professionals, psychiatrists and charity organizations such as StandTALL.  
     
  For those young victims who have lost their right hands, they kept practising and now they can write with their left hands. Among them all, a girl who used to be a talented painter, and has won many art awards in the past can now paint with her left hand and is just as good as before. For those who have lost their legs, now they can walk, climb the stairs or even bike using prosthesis. One classical case is Dai Guo Hong(代國洪), who has lost both lower limbs in the earthquake. We visited his home in Beichuan. Like many other young victims, he started to learn swimming after he recovered from an amputation. By early this year, he has already won a gold medal in the National Paralympic Swimming Competition. Moreover, he has been granted a scholarship to further his study in the Political Science and Law School of a university in Sichuan in Fall. Apparently he is physically fitter than ever before and seems so confident. I believe what he has gained far exceeds what he lost in the dreadful experience.  
     
   
     
 

It was totally beyond my expectation how these young victims vividly demonstrate the intrinsic value of ‘life’ to me. Their tremendous anti-adversity ability has redefined the meaning of ‘meeting challenges’ in my dictionary. It was them who encouraged me to move forward, not vice versa as I originally presumed.

 
     
  For sure they make good role models not just for me, and also particularly for those kids who may want to give up their lives due to minor disputes/adverse situations, or mistakenly turn to drugs when they face some pressure/frustration in their daily lives.  
     
  I strongly recommend everyone I know to be a StandTALL volunteer when they can spare some time, perhaps just for a few days. Everyone must have something to share with these victims in the earthquake, and to experience a lesson on ‘life’ – may it bring you a new perspective for life and even a new inner self!  
     
  Sharing by Jeremy Sung  
  July 2010  
 
     
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