|
PLEASE HELP TUYEN VO |
|
Charles Dao |
(Charles Dao is a member of Tzu Chi Foundation in Boston, Massachusetts. We knew each other after my trip to Boston in April-2005 to visit Ho Tu Tu.
On Thursday, May-12-2005, Charles went to Shriner's Hospital for Children in Boston to visit Tu Tu who was there for the 2nd surgery on her left hand. He discovered an 8-year old Vietnamese girl, Tuyen Vo, who was also there for her 4th surgery. He called me to give me an update on Tu Tu and told me about his discovery of Tuyen Vo. I asked him to give me more information. Below is a very sad and unknown story of Tuyen Vo, an 8-year old Vietnamese girl, who really needs your help. Please open your heart for this unfortunate girl.
Ngọc Quang Minh)
Tuyen Kim Vo - Click to enlarge - Photo taken in Vietnam in 2002
Two of my sisters
in law and I visited Tuyen and her father today. We took them out to dinner and
had a good conversation with the family. Attached are some pictures from Vietnam
and a few I took today.
Here is the information about the family.
Tuyen Kim Vo (Burned patient - 8 years old)
Duc Tri Vo (Father)
Phuong Ngoc Nguyen (Mother)
Lan Ngoc Vo (Older sister - 12 years old)
Do Thanh Vo (Younger brother - 3 years old)
Date of accident: August 31, 2002
The father and family had a small tire repair shop on the street in Vietnam. One
of the relative was repairing the motocycle tire using hot flame to melt the
rubber of the tire, the flame accidentally set off a gasoline tray near by.
Tuyen was playing near the tray at the time and the burning gasoline was spilled
all over her body. During the frantic moment, a neighbor rushed to put out the
flame by covering the girl with some sort of blanket without realizing the
blanket was made with plastic. Tuyen was badly burned and the plastic melted on
the face and her body. She was rushed to the emergency room at the hospital.
Tuyen was badly burned, her face was severely destroyed.
She could not close her eyes and could not breath through her nose when she
slept at night. She lost her ears and her nose, her neck has shrunk so badly
that her head was pulled toward her chest. Her mouth was badly burned even a
teaspoon could not be placed into her mouth.
 |
 |
| Click on pictures to enlarge | |
 |
 |
Tuyen received two surgeries at the
Chidren Hospital in Vietnam (Bệnh viện Nhi Đồng I). One surgery to repair the
skin on her face and her body, another surgery was on her eyes. The family is
very poor and was not able to pay for the hospital bills. They had to borrow
money from relatives to pay for all hospital expenses.
After Tuyen recovered and was able to go to the school, her classmates in the
first grade were afraid to see her and refused to go to school. At the end,
Tuyen was forced to stay home eventhough she loved to go to school.
She has missed school for over three years.
An uncle of Tuyen (older brother of Duc Tri Vo) in Massachusetts sponsored Tuyen
and her father to the US for treatment. The Shriner's Hospital for Children in
Boston, Massachusetts provides all free medical treatment for Tuyen. They are
currently living with the uncle and his inlaw's family in Worcester, Mass.
Tuyen and her father arrived in the US on August 19, 2004.
They have stayed in the US for almost nine months. Tuyen will have many many
more surgeries and expect to stay in the US for a few years.
Due to the long stay, Tuyen has created a lot of burden to her uncle's family,
both financially and emotionally. The family lives an hour and half away from
the hospital and each hospital visit is a hassle for the family. Tuyen's father
Mr. Vo would like to move out and live near the hospital. However, they do not
have any money and can not support the rent and food expenses.
Tuyen has received four surgeries at the Shriner's
Hospital. First surgery on her neck, one on her left eye, one on her right eye
and the last one on her nose. She will need many more surgeries.
 |
 |
| Tuyen Kim Vo - Photo taken by Charles Dao on May 14, 2005 in Worcester, MA | |
Tuyen and her father currently need the following help:
- Her father wants to move out to a small apartment
- Money for rents and daily expenses such as food, clothing...
- A cell phone or line phone to communicate with the hospital and family in Vietnam
- Rides from and to the hospital
- Translation and coordination with the hospital
- Tuyen badly want to go to school, she has been very lonely in the past nine months
- Clothing and basic household items
 |
Tuyen missed her mother so much that she cried and cut her own hair a few days
ago. Her father said he wants to return to Vietnam so his wife could come to the
US to stay with Tuyen. Also he needs to work and support his family in Vietnam.
His wife had a soy bean stand in Vietnam but it was shut down by the government.
The family currently has no income and needs to borrow money from relatives to
support daily expenses. If the father can return to Vietnam, he can work to
support the family. However, there is a three year boy in Vietnam, if the mother
comes over to the US, they need to arrange someone to take care of him.
We are planning to find an apartment for them in Dorchester, a Vietnamese
community where they will get more supports.
Charles Dao
(May 14, 2005)
If you
want to make donation, please click here
