Market and Hospital Day!

I arrived at Pong's house early this morning.  Since Pong's personal van was fixed, Danny took Pong, her niece, and me to the market and hospital.

Pong on the van

On the way to the market, Pong told me about her childhood. A girl from a poor family who received limited education and had to leave school at age 11 to make an income and provide for her family.  Pong first worked as a waitress in a cafe, then in a factory by age 15.  She would wake early to help her parents to wash the pigs, feed them, and clean them again before leaving for work. To earn more money, she worked nights at a pub, leaving only 2~3 hours a day to sleep.  It was a difficult time, but whenever she had the thought of giving up with the faces of her hard-working parents on her mind.  Pong was unlike most teenagers, working early on as a young child to carry the load of the family and help her parents.

          The market which we went

The market was crowded with many people when we arrived.  This is the market Pong frequents with her family since she was a child and it carries many memories.  The vendors know Pong and her family and kindly make small conversation with us when we arrive at their stand. 

Waiting for Danny while 
he purchases vegetables

Pong cannot easily leave the van on her trolley, so she remains inside and calls out to her family what she'd like to buy.  

Pong's considerate nature is endless. While at the market, she kindly bought me  coconut rice(椰汁飯) that is too delicious to be forgotten.  

After the market, I went to the hospital Pong frequents in her town.  Danny parked the van at the front of the door and then removed Pong's wooden trolley. Ah Yan then took Pong's hands to move her forward.  Pong catches everyone's attention in the hospital.  Many looked on with sympathy and respect.

Just arrived at the hospital!

I viewed the room which Pong does all the physical therapy treatment. She mainly needs to do parallel for balancing, pulley to strengthen the arm, and hand cycle to improve her muscles. Pong's physio-therapist told me Pong is very different from other patients. Every time she arrives at the hospital, she is always laughing and smiling, and she never complains about all the treatments she need to do. I felt proud for Pong's strong will to live. She would give anything if there's a way that can make her health better. 

'I have no choice, it is my only chance to get better, ' Pong replied when I asked how she felt about the upcoming surgery to use her colon to make urinary tube.The chance of having the surgery successfully is only 50%, but the woman is so brave that she wants to neglect the risk and try.

Danny and Ah Yan helping Pong back to the van

Pong reminded me of another legendary person in my country. Hsieh Kuang San is a famous painter in Taiwan who paints with his mouth and feet. Like Pong, Hsieh was sound when he was born.He worked in a factory from 12 years old, and accidentally touched high voltage electrical point when he was 16. That was a miserable accident; he lost his arms, one leg and one eyes. Who can accept this? He tried to commit suicide for several times, but his mother kept on encouraging him with stories of Helen                                                                                             Keller or Ototake Hirotada, telling him that                                                                                       he can make a comeback just like them.

'I never think of what I lost; I just cherish what I have now'
said Mr Hsieh 

Hsieh started to invent some implements which can help him eat and drink alone.
Moreover, he tried painting with mouth and feet. He soon found an interest in painting, and practice it every day with patience and perseverance. Now, his paintings are famous, and his story of never giving up is known by every resident in the country. His background was similar as Pong’s, and they both have became fighters of life. 

To face the difficulties with courage or blame the gods all day is always what you can decide. Pong taught me to enjoy every moment, even if the moment is so normal like a daily routine.It's your attitude towards life that affects whether 
you are happy or not. After all, you choose how you feel.