"I can walk, I can walk!"

Muyang, a 7-year-old boy, began his life in Xining Children’s Home in 2003. He was diagnosed with spina bifida, hydrocephalus, congenital talipus equinovarus (a clubfoot) and urinary tract damage due to the spina bifida. That was the medical assessment. My opinion is that he is the most curious, confident, and bright boy you may ever meet. And he is the only person in China who has dared and cared enough to correct my bad Mandarin!

We found foster parents for Muyang, but in November 2003 he suffered cerebral effusion after surgery in Bejing for his spina bifida. His foster parents could no longer care for him because they had their own health problems. His wounds were not healing well and he needed skin grafts so in January 2004 we brought him to HK to re-do the surgery and he returned to Xining. He had further surgery in Qinghai for hydrocephalus. We found a new foster family for Muyang in August 2004 and they continue to look after him.

To help Muyang walk independently, we brought him to Hong Kong for surgery in 2007. When he visited my home he couldn’t stop telling me about how exciting the plane journey was.. “I fleeeeew in the sky!”. In HK he stayed with Sue and Pete Spiers who had also looked after Shan Shan. It was Sue who taught Muyang to walk, loving him as he worked through lots of pain and tears.  Within a month he also learned to speak fluent English and couldn’t stop saying “I can walk! I can walk!” 

Muyang’s wonderful doctor, Dr Liu from the Dept. of Orthopaedics & Traumatology at the Chinese University of HK, has just finished a successful operation on Muyang last month so that the foot now faces forward. Dr Liu kindly invited Muyang to visit his home, to meet his sons. What a special doctor/parent/patient relationship!

Muyang’s stay in HK this time has been a whirlwind of delight for him. It was heart-warming that loving volunteers from the Church of Christ of China, Shatin, took Muyang back to McDonald House from the hospital, with Mrs Wu, Muyang’s foster mother from Qinghai. The volunteers said they’d visit Muyang a few times a week until he goes back to Xining at the end of this month. Lions Club also sponsored a trip to the Aviation Discovery Centre for him and 25 new arrivals children from  China. They also went to Pizza Hut and to the Space Museum to watch an IMAX movie!  Muyang loved it all—except for sitting in a wheelchair all day. He wants to walk around now!

I am sooo grateful to God for all the kind people He brings our way to help our children.  Muyang is one of the most curious, confident and bright boys I have ever met and he has so much potential.   Please pray with us that Muyang will soon be adopted by a loving family.

Siew Mei