Wheelchair project

While the girls completed the projects at the Unwed Mother's Home, David, myself, and Duc headed to his home town in Ben Tre province about two hours from Saigon. Duc is involved with the Rotary Club of California in that he helps organize projects like our wheelchair distribution.

He collected us from our hotel in his original American jeep from the Vietnam War. I asked him if we would attract any anti-American sentiments but he explained that the war is over and most people do not care. "Having a jeep is fashionable". After the trip to the American War Remnants Museum, the group will understand why I asked this question. Also, whilst I was in the hospital having my maxalon injection (for spewing), Coniela and I heard an American saying that he'd had rocks thrown at him ... mmm

So we arrive at Duc's mum's house in a tiny village who had cut open fresh coconuts for our refreshment. She and Duc has prepared a list of recipients for the six we had fundraised for Wheelchairs. The community sorts these things out - who are we to say who should receive them! All except one were polio victims and had little or no use of their legs. Duc himself contracted polio when he was four and could not walk properly until an American charity took him to the U.S. when he was sixteen to have an operation which fixed his legs. He now walks with barely a limp. He certainly drives the manual jeep with vigour!! The sixth was a man w receipientho was in a construction accident. His spine was severed and he had no feeling from his waist down. He could not get into the wheelchair. The family had to wait until the brothers came home to lift him, but he was so grateful that he will be able to go outside after months of lying in bed and being 100% cared for by his wife.

There is a moving video I took, will try to work out how to upload it.
Lena