Tooth Fairies caught on film

In early June I travelled to Qinghai to meet with a TV crew who had come to film our work with orphans and children. I was excited because it meant that the residents of Hong Kong would hear about it too! Over seven million people live here and only a very small percentage knows that Christian Action serves abandoned children on the Tibetan Plateau.

The filming was done by the ATV Hong Kong Loving Hearts Campaign. The timing of the filming was excellent because it coincided with the visit to Qinghai of Christian Action volunteer, Dr. Eilly Lau. She and her group of 17 medical professionals were on their biannual visit to Huangnan Children's home. Dr Lau calls her team the 'tooth fairies'.

Many years ago, Professor Leung from Prince Phillip Dental Hospital (a Christian Action supporter) introduced me to a paediatric dentist for my son, Danial.  I had no idea back then that I was meeting a real live tooth fairy!

Having ATV and Dr. Lau at Huangnan Children’s Home simultaneously meant that we could show how Christian Action offers much needed care to over 350 children in a very short space of time.  This is essential because Dr. Lau leaves her busy practice in Hong Kong to offer her services, free of charge. The team brought most of the equipment with them, and spent four days hunched over makeshift dental chairs. Dr. Lau said "This has been the most efficient team ever regarding work output!"

We were very grateful for the visit of these tooth fairies because the children’s teeth needed a lot of dental work. Before coming to Huangnan Children’s Home they had never heard of oral hygiene, so their teeth were badly neglected.  In fact, one of the children, Mao-cuo, earned the nickname ‘Miss Tibet’ once her beautiful smile was restored.  She is now more self-confident and secure in the love she is receiving.

Restoring smiles to children’s faces has always been the aim of Christian Action, and the selfless work of Dr. Lau and her team of tooth fairies was another step in that direction!