The world of Tzu Chi March-April 2022 (Vol.140)

TZU CHI 140 41 daughter, so that she could help bridge the communication gap at the hospital. This time, it was good news—the tumour was benign. By the time Pei Shi turned 13, the discrepancy in her legs had grown to five inches. The doctor at HKL suggested a corrective surgery at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). With the appeal filed by Tzu Chi volunteers to the HKL Welfare Department on My Tai’s behalf, the surgery cost was reduced from over RM8,000 to RM3,400. However, Pei Shi was told that she would need to have screws inserted in the other leg. Fortunately, My Tai had enough savings to pay for the additional cost of RM1,100. Nyuk Man and fellow volunteers were glad that My Tai was now able to manage the cost independently without financial support from Tzu Chi. In November 2020, just two days before the surgery, Nyuk Man and her husband, a fellow Tzu Chi volunteer, sent My Tai and her girl to UMMC for various pre-operative examinations. Tzu Chi KL & Selangor volunteer Kuan Mun Jen helped arrange free homestay near the hospital so that My Tai could take care of Pei Shi during her hospitalization. Mun Jen also took the initiative to prepare dry food, vegetables, fruits and other supplies for them. For that, My Tai expressed, “I am truly touched by the volunteers’ love and assistance towards us. Thank you, everyone!” After the surgery, Nyuk Man and her husband continued to drive them for follow- up visits, despite the long distance from Seremban to Titi to fetch Pei Shi and her mother, and then to UMMC. Chi accepted My Tai as a care recipient, and she was given monthly living subsidy from the organization. Meanwhile, Siow Kim Yen, a volunteer with the Jelebu Social Welfare Department (SWD), also helped to apply for financial aid on My Tai’s behalf. As My Tai is not a Malaysian, Siow assumed guardianship for her children who are below age 18, and delivers the monthly cash assistance from the SWD to the family. Two years later, My Tai remarried. As her financial situation improved, the living subsidy was no longer necessary but Tzu Chi continued to extend care to the family. When the children started attending primary school, they became beneficiaries of Tzu Chi study aid. By 2015, My Tai started selling Vietnamese pastries and snacks near the neighbourhood market to supplement her income. Slowly but surely, the clouds were dissipating. An unexpected diagnosis When her daughter, Pei Shi, was two years old, My Tai noticed that the girl’s legs were uneven in length. Owing to financial constraints, she did not take her to the doctor. As Pei Shi grew older, the discrepancy became increasingly visible. When Pei Shi was in Primary 4, her stepfather took her to Hospital Tuanku Ja’afar Seremban for an examination. The diagnosis shattered her little world—she had bone cancer. When Pei Shi was referred to Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) for further examination, volunteer Siew Nyuk Man offered to accompany both mother and