Here is one highlight of the past week:

• There was a short article in the AARP Journal for January, 2005.  This journal has a huge readership, and we have been busy answering the phone!

This story comes from Robert Kalatschan in Viet Nam.  We gave his organization (Giving it Back to Kids) a container last December. 

"Mot Truong is a 43 year old man in Viet Nam. He has been unable to walk since he was ten years old. He used crutches to get around and crawled when he was in his home. Mot received a wheelchair in January 2005.  For Mot, the saddest part of his disability was not being able to participate in everyday life with his family.  Now that he has a wheelchair to get around he plans to visit his relatives again.  Mot said he will feel more self-confident with his new wheelchair and he is happy that he will not have to rely on family members to look after him.  Here is a letter Mot read at the wheelchair distribution ceremony:"

Dear All of you - My name is Mot Truong.  I am 43 years old.  I live in Chau Lau Hamlet, Dien Tho commune, Dien Ban District, Quang Nam Province.  Today, on behalf of all the disabled beneficiaries I write this letter to show deep gratitude to the donors who granted us these valuable wheelchairs.  As you know, the disabled are in a difficult circumstance and are disadvantages that it is very difficult for us to overcome.  With you special concern, sympathy and caring, you granted us a substitute for our useless legs.   Now we are able to fall in line with our community life.  We will try our best to live the next years of our lives in a useful way for ourselves, our family and society.  Once again, I would like to thank all of you.

Dien Ban District, January 19^th 2005. Mot Truong