On our trip to JiuJiang China in April 2007, our volunteers spoke with a woman just after her grandson had received surgery for his cleft lip. Her story is just one of hundreds that are each unique, but similar in their journey from heartbreak to hope.
"Our family of four - my son, daughter-in-law and grandson - live in a village located in a mountain area far from the city. My husband passed away years ago. We are farmers, living off one acre of farmland. My son sometimes goes to the city to do short- term work. Our income is only about one thousand RMB a month. The government only allows one child per family. We love our baby, but were saddened that he was born with a deformity. He cannot eat properly. We have to feed him milk powder with a spoon. Sometimes, we don’t even have enough money to buy him milk powder. We can’t afford the normal hospital fee of 8000 RMB to repair his mouth. Our family is very stressed financially and emotionally."
Jiang Zheng Guo and Grandma
"Just a few days after the surgery, little Zheng looked so pretty and different! It was like I had a new grandson. His parents were very happy too. We can now bring little Zheng out to see people and not feel ashamed. We can walk with our heads up high and have big smiles on our faces. You are like a miracle to us. Little Zheng can have a confident life now that he is looks like any normal kid. The present you gave us will change his life, and change our lives. We are forever grateful and indebted to you. We will remember the great charity work you have done for us, and will carry on this goodwill in our heart." |
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Jiang Zheng Guo
"When someone in our village told us about the free surgeries in the city, we were in disbelief. My son found out that it was true and we immediately brought our little Zheng to the hospital, hoping he would be accepted for free surgery. We were so overjoyed when he was accepted. It was like a big rock being lifted from our chest. We went home to ask our village head to write a proof of financial hardship for us. I took Little Zheng to have the surgery done. His parents couldn’t come because they had to stay and work on the farm."
Official Certificate of Poverty
(provided by local government as proof
that family cannot afford surgery)
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