092906

September 29, 2006

40 containers are somewhere in the process of assembly or shipment. That is 22,000 wheelchairs!
Too early to start planning for Christmas? Not for us! Soon you can find our Christmas and Holiday cards offered on our website. You can donate a wheelchair in someone else’s name. Send a friend, family member or colleague our beautiful card. They feel good, you feel great, and one more of the poorest of the poor gets a chance for a better life.

This story comes from our friend Robert of Giving It Back to Kids (GIBTK) in Viet Nam.

Though I have been part of several large distributions, I am still set back when I see all the handicapped. It is so difficult to comprehend. I see so many crawling or being carried, often by people that are the same size. Honestly I think I can never truly imagine what their lives are like. I am so grateful to the Free Wheelchair Mission for their continuing partnership. Through their generous contribution we have distributed over 6000 chairs in the last 12 months.

The 69 year old man riding on the back of the scoter is Tarn Hoi. Tarn Hoi has not been able to walk since a stroke 7 years ago. His children have all moved away. He depends entirely on his wife to do the simplest of things. His wife had worked the rice fields, but after finding him several times lying on the ground all day after falling down, she stopped working to take care of him full time.

They never dreamed of owning a wheelchair. How could they, as they barely had enough to live. One day he saw a neighbor receive a wheelchair from us, and he applied for one from the next possible distribution.

Tarn was approved, and with much excitement Tarn arrived today. He wanted to shake the other recipients’ hands and let them all know that he "understood" their sufferings and wanted to share in their happiness. He added that now both he and his wife will have a new freedom!