Love at first sight

Dr. Lau and Urlorqi

I've never ever heard of a child smiling at a dentist, or of a child forming a strong bond with a dentist, but that's exactly what happened when Dr Eilly Lau and her dental team visited Huangnan Children's Home last year.

In a previous post I referred to the team as 'the tooth fairies' because for a whole week this year they served our children, many of whom had never had a dental check-up. The team even ran out of dental supplies! And they did all this as volunteers!

Since then Eilly has shared a story with me about a little girl who stole her heart.

This is part of what Dr Eilly Lau wrote:

Last year, when I was in the midst of doing a dental check-up at Huangnan Children’s Home, a little girl came up and started beaming at me from the moment we made eye contact with each other. Her hair was tied in a bunch on the top of her head and she looked very cute. Her eyes never stopped sparkling. We took a picture together and my friends said that she looked like me!

This year when I went back to the Home to perform dental care for the children I recognized that little girl immediately, even though she was among a group of children in the playground. She is now 8 years old and has grown taller but she still has her gentle smiles. Over the next few days, she would come and visit us in the clinic even though we had completed her treatment. The CA worker, Dan Dan, began referring to her as my god-daughter because she liked hanging around me.

I found out that her name is Urlorqi, and that she is Tibetan, but can speak both Mandarin and Tibetan. Both her parents died in an accident when she was 4 years old, which is why she came to live in the Home. Her grandparents sometimes visit her. Despite her miserable childhood, Urlorqi has a joy that makes her really special. I told her that if anyone bullied her because she is little, she can tell Dan Dan and Dan Dan will let me know so that I can make sure they don't do that again.

On the day I had to leave the Home, Urlorqi came to say goodbye and see me to the car. We cuddled each other and we both had tears in our eyes. I'll be back to visit her again.

God bless the children!