The world of Tzu Chi May 2021 (Vol.134)

TZU CHI 134 43 not. All he could do was let go. U Sai Tun said that it was only by learning more Buddhism that he could change his mindset towards his son. He thanked Tzu Chi volunteers for helping his family too. All he could say was “Thank you,” but those two words were inadequate to describe the depth of his gratitude for them. Three wishes When Sai Sai was discharged from the hospital after undergoing brain surgery for the stroke, his parents granted him three wishes. The boy happily told them what he wanted: to donate money to a nursing home, to visit a mall, and to become a monk. To fulfil the first wish, Sai Sai visited Peace and Harmony Home, a nursing home, on December 3, 2020. The visit was arranged by Tzu Chi volunteers. When they first contacted the nursing home for a visit, they were told that the institute was closed to visitors due to the pandemic, but when the volunteers explained Sai Sai’s situation to administrators at the facility, they were finally granted a visit. The director of the Home personally received Sai Sai when they arrived. Although the boy was seriously ill, he still wanted to help others.When he presented his donation to the director, the latter saw the long surgical scar on his head and how fragile and weak he was. Moved beyond measure by the boy’s kindness, the director held his hands tightly in his and burst into tears. To fulfil Sai Sai’s second wish, Nurse Teoh and a fellow nurse accompanied him and his older brother to a shopping mall one day after work. The adults knew that Sai Sai loved Legos, so they took the siblings straight to the toy section for their first stop. Sai Sai was enthralled by the great variety of Lego products on display. The nurses told him and his brother they could choose two favourite construction toys to purchase. The boys carefully browsed the shelves lined with brand-new toys as they contemplated their choices. They would pick up an item, take a close look, and then gingerly put it back. Such a chance to choose any toy they wanted came by so rarely they did not want to settle on just any toy. The selection process was especially lengthy as a result. But it was worth it, no matter how long it took them to choose their toys. Sai Sai’s third and final wish was fulfilled too, with relatives, friends and Tzu Chi volunteers as witnesses. At a Burmese temple in Penang, Sai Sai was given the Dharma name “San Dimah”, meaning “the moon”. When the ceremony was over, U Sai Tun told the volunteers present: “Sai Sai is no longer my child. He has become the Buddha’s child. The Enlightened One will make the best arrangements for him.” Social workers at the Tzu Chi Penang office compiled a photo album documenting the time volunteers had spent with San Dimah and gave it to him as a present. Flipping through the pages in the album, San Dimah pointed to a picture and said, “This is me.” His mother, right next to him, broke into a smile. Everyone else smiled too. Although no one knew how much time Sai Sai had left in the world, everyone around knew they would be there for him through the remainder of his journey in this world.