The world of Tzu Chi March 2020(Vol.120)

but he kept a safe distance from others, acutely aware of his sensitivity to overstimulation in social settings. After two months of companionship, Kent had built a close rapport with the volunteers. He entrusted them with the house key to enable them to enter at their convenience and shared with them the excess vegetables he received from the greengrocer at the wet market. From the initial stage of apprehension, Kent had gradually warmed up to the volunteers and became more open to candid conversations with them. Despite his occasional complaints of Heah Tin, Kent’s love for his mother ran deep and manifested in his actions. For instance, he was mindful enough to note that Heah Tin’s laundry had to be soaked in water to rid them of any lingering odour before loading them into the washing machine. Furthermore, Kent was attentive to his mother’s needs, ensuring that her meals were taken care of. He often prepared her favourite dishes, either by ordering takeout from eateries or cooking them himself. Heah Tin’s appetite had been improving by the day, eventually becoming capable of consuming an entire bowl of rice during mealtimes instead of a mere few mouthfuls. She had also progressively regained her strength and was able to sit upright and walk to the mobile toilet with support from the volunteers. Her bedsores had healed, sparing her from pain. Her progress towards recovery was made possible by Kent’s meticulous efforts. The volunteers had tried their best, yet Kent’s unrelenting love and care was Heah Tin’s true pillar of strength. When the volunteers noticed the kitchen was in a state of disarray, they helped to clean The volunteers cleared Tan Heah Tin’s house of clutter and furniture before proceeding with the cleanup. TZU CHI 120 47