Being Five

Being five years old for most of us marked the end of those baby days of learning how to roll over; sit up; reach for toys and of course how to attract attention! Being five means being 'a big girl/boy', wearing a school uniform for the first time, and starting a whole new chapter of our lives.

For a little girl called Pande, being five will mean being able to do something most of us have taken for granted every single day of our lives. Being five will mean Pande will be able to bend her knees.

Pande came to us when she was just a little over a year old. Because she was still so young, a foster family was immediately found for her.  Mrs. Yang, an employee of the Tongren Civil Affairs Bureau with a heart of compassion for abandoned children, quickly took up that role.  A medical examination revealed that Pande would need surgery if she was to become mobile.

Mrs. Yang took Pande to Tai Da Hospital in Tianjin for surgery.  More surgery followed four months later, after which Pande was finally able to stand on her feet, but due to a congenital disability (her knee joints won’t bend) Pande still has limited range of movement.

So we brought her to Hong Kong to seek the help of Dr. Liu, the pediatric orthopedist who has operated on many of our children.   Dr. Liu advised against surgery for at least two years because Pande’s bones need to reach a certain stage of growth before he operates. We were disappointed of course, but are very grateful that he has offered us some hope.

Pande and Mrs Yang stayed in the home of Joanie Bird during their stay In Hong Kong.  Joanie told me, "It deeply touched me when I saw that Pande was unable to ride the scooter, and struggled to climb the play equipment in the park, like normal kids do.  She never once complained and approached all the activities with great excitement and determination.  Pande seems to enjoy the simple things in life, which we and our children so often take for granted, forgetting to thank God for the simple things, such as being able to bend our kneesI"

A big thank you from us to the Bird family for their loving care of Pande, and thank you also to Enoch Yuen and his friends from Island Evangelical Community Church who took Pande and Mrs. Yang sightseeing.