The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.109)

TZU CHI 109 09 one to rely on and lost his ability to earn a living. “I felt no different from a blind man. I could barely see with my failing eyesight, so I couldn’t work. I had used up all my savings. It wouldn’t do to keep on borrowing loans from others either,” he recalled. Gone were the glory days A 30-year old prayer altar could be seen upon entering through the rusty steel gate of Tang Soong’s home. The statue of a deity adorning the altar appeared venerable as ever, albeit smudged in soot, but gone were Tang Soong’s glory days of being revered as a medium in demand. Inside the house, the living room contained a tattered sofa and a worn-out wooden table. The interior surfaces were covered in a layer of dust due to neglect. The wooden wall panels were discoloured and smothered with unsightly black patches. Clean water supply was scarce. Tang Soong’s cousin brother, who lives next door, would provide them with tap water for cooking, while an old well in the backyard supplied water for bathing and household chores. At the lowest point in his life, Tang Soong relied on aid from his cousin brother and friends for sustenance. They would either buy him lunch or bring him biscuits from time to time. His older sister would also visit him occasionally. But depending on the goodwill of friends and family was only a temporary measure; he had to find a way to fend for himself somehow. Once, he was so desperate to quell his hunger that he requested a friend to buy him RM2 worth of animal entrails for dinner. Tang Soong recalled the dark days when he felt helpless and alone, and was unable to manage his daily activities. He informed, “I could not even perform tasks as trivial as drawing water from the well. I frequently contemplated suicide as I felt life was meaningless.” At sundown, turning on the lights in the house seemed redundant to Tang Soong, no matter the brightness. Instead of telling the time from a clock, Tang Soong pointed towards his red portable radio on the wooden table and said, “I Wong Kang Jiann , volunteer My involvement in Tzu Chi’s charity division started with monthly home visits to the recipients of the Tzu Chi Study Grant. I would wrap up each visit after exchanging brief pleasantries, so I expected the same of Tang Soong’s case. Little did I know, I started showing concern for him when I learnt of his eye complications, which had persisted for three years. The severity of his situation came to light when I realized he and his friends were unable to communicate effectively with the doctor. Neither could he understand the instructions for the application of his eye drops. Worse still, he was unable to apply the eye drops unassisted even if he wished to, as he had nearly lost all his vision. I felt ashamed for being of little help to Tang Soong due to my careless attitude in handling his case. This experience is a reminder for me to be more mindful in dealing with care recipients in order to fulfil the true purpose of conducting home visits, that is, to help our care recipients overcome pressing challenges in their lives. Serve from the Heart Ever eady to