Hi,
My name is Lori and this is my first trip with CPI as Director of Canada Chapter visiting some of the project sites in Asia. Below are my experiences / accounts about this trip as I travel from North Vietnam to Central Vietnam then to Laos, Cambodia and Thai Land. These trips are to see first hands at the generousity of the people in North America extend to CPI beneficiary.
Below is a brief breakdown of our trip so far.
The trip initially started slowly due exhaustng after long commuting times (approx. 18 hours in combined flight times and waiting at airports. )
Our first morning in Hanoi was beautiful. People wake up early in Asia to take advantage of the cool morning air vs the humid and hot temp. by 10 - 11 am. In Ha Noi, we then travel via train to Hoi An. The train was an experiences itself and extremely long and uncomfortable. There was some moment I had doubt as whether I can do the whole trip. However, the following visits just somehow overshadow everything when I realized how fortunate I am and see the good work of CPI and knowing that I am part of the work.
From Ha Noi, the capital of VN we travel south to Hoi An to visit the CPI beneficiary hospital. We got a visit tour of the Danang orthopedic and rehabilitation Center. It was very touching to meet the beneficial of CPI and see that the equipments we received in kinds from donors put to good work such as the patients beds, C-Arm machine, and respirator machines and many more. Some of the special moments was meeting an CPI beneficiary that just come out of a hip surgery which corrected her legs so she can walk straight. Our CPI beneficiary was a uxo victim at a young age. She was a casualty of other kids playing around with the bomb without realize it still active when they throw it toward her direction. She was walking / pushing with constant pain with her bend knee due to tissue regrowth improperly because of not having access to medical. With CPI help, we assisted her medical expenses and set up a victim family planning service that comprehensive to the future of the family and our receipient.
During our tour, we encounter a 26 years old female that we sponsor out of our own pocket at the spot for a surgery that could help her walking straights. The cost of the surgery is inexpensive for us but something that would be a life changing experiences for our beneficiary. It was so touching to see that our donation enable her access to immediate surgery and we was able to witness such surgery.
The emotion I felt at the time just humble and once again reinforce at how lucky each of us are in N. America with our daily life.
From there, we travel to Hue via car passing the marble mountain, the famous China beach and the new tunnel that is 6K long. In Hue we meet up with Nghia. Nghia is another CPI beneficiary a year ago. He is a third generation of UXO victim due to working in the rice field. Nghia was 14 years old when he lost both his legs and one of his hand. Today when we saw him, he was playing soccer and regain some of his childhood along with looking forward to return school in September.
Next, we travel down the road and meet a new CPI beneficiary, Son. Son is a father of 2 young daughters and was the main bread earner. The accident taken place while he was bush clearing in the forest for timber on the Laos border for a living. The hidden bomb blinded his right eyes, 90 % of his left eyes vision and take away four of his five left fingers. CPI is currently helping his medical expenses and working with the family for the comprehensive family planning.
Today is Sunday, we get a day of resting and looking for internet access. It was a very limited but we just glad to get on.
Bye all for now and I look forward to my stage of the trip to Dong Ha, CPI's Headquarters.
out of now,
Lori
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