BauHtu
Back a long time ago when I was 6-8 years old in the primary division, we sang from the primary song book. It had pictures. One song we sang quite often was about this little gypsy boy! The song was so sad, yet so appealingly hopeful that even at my tender age it made me want to cry. This song has etched its way into my heart. This is why when I met BauHtu it reminded me of this song and my whole heart has gone out to him!
He could still walk last year. At times we were able to meet him and give him the money needed for his hospital care.
Today he cannot walk. His condition is much worse.
BauHtu is 21years old. He has a rare, inherited disease called Thalasemia. In this disease, the body cannot produce enough hemoglobin. He needs blood transfusions nearly every month. We help him year by year with money and/or transportation to the hospital. He is worse now and cannot walk. There are growths compressing the spinal cord. I think of the song we used to sing in primaries: “Into a tent where a gypsy boy lay. Dying along at the close of the day!” Now I cry for this poor boy who may not have long to live.
Blood transfusion is finished. He spent the night here.
BauHtu and his father live in this crude house in MauGoKey village. Actually it is not a house at all, it was used to store rice, but they had nowhere else to live. His mother passed away a long time ago from opium overdose. She mainlined opium and used other drugs. His father is quite deaf. He has two younger brothers who are normal.
We bring him hope from the Bible and pray. It brings a faint smile.
SoChaDa
Meet SoChaDa in GaGhah village! This picture was one year ago. Do you remember we made so many trips to the hospital to get this hemangioma taken care of. The mother did not follow up and now one year later she has had another baby!! This baby was born premature at 7 months in this same old filthy nasty house! But they have no milk and the baby is definitely malnourished. I’m in love with SoChaDah!
Poverty doesn’t have to be dirty. But here there are dirty diapers open on the porch. Everywhere you look is filthy. The smell is nauseating. There’s the husband in the back bedroom using opium. Oh dear Father, I prayed silently, how can I help these poor people? And there are so many more like this. Innocent little children are brought into this squalor.