A Tzu Chi volunteer who happened to go by the overpass found Mariah and reported the case to the Tzu Chi Indonesia branch office. The foundation arranged for surgery, and Mariah can now stand up and walk. Tzu Chi is also arranging for her to go back to school.

Mariah's life took a drastic turn because a kind-hearted Tzu Chi volunteer reached out to help. The girl's future is now full of light and hope.

A young beggar under an overpass

On a sunny, sultry morning in Jakarta, Acun, a social worker based in Indonesia, picked me up for a visit to the orphanage at which Mariah was staying. When I got into the car, I found a beautiful, young woman sitting inside. I learned that this was Huang Yu-chuan, the volunteer who had originally found Mariah and sought help for her.

On our way to see Mariah, Yu-chuan explained to me how she and Mariah had crossed paths. In January of this year, she had happened to drive past the overpass under which Mariah was begging. Feeling sorry for the girl, she gave her some money and then said to her, "You should receive medical treatment. You can call us if you need help."

Yu-chuan wrote down the address and the telephone number of the Tzu Chi Indonesia branch office on a piece of paper and gave it to Mariah. However, Mariah's uncle did not believe that anyone would be so kind as to help his niece, and he threw the information into the trash.

After some time, Yu-chuan drove by the overpass again and found Mariah still begging there. She asked her why she had not contacted Tzu Chi for help, but Mariah remained silent. Refusing to give up, Yu-chuan decided it would be best to go straight to Mariah's uncle and let him know that she really wanted to help.

Mariah's uncle lived in an illegal hut under the overpass and sold snacks for a living. He informed Yu-chuan that when Mariah was five, she accidentally knocked an oil lamp over and burned herself. Her parents sent her to the hospital for treatment, but they could only afford to pay for a week's treatment. The doctor told Mariah and her parents that she must under no circumstances bend her injured leg. But Mariah, who was still very young at that time, did not take the doctor's warning to heart and her right lower leg and thigh, which had not yet healed from the burns, became stuck together. Without proper care, her condition worsened until she could not even stand upright.

Although she was disabled, she attended school until the third grade. Her father, who loved her dearly, carried her back and forth to school every day, but when he passed away, no one took her to school. Thus, her studies ceased.

Such was Mariah's situation until a year ago, when her uncle suggested to her mother that Mariah move with him to Jakarta and work as a beggar. In this way, she could at least make some money to help with the family's finances. Reluctant to part with her daughter, Mariah's mother hesitated, but the family was beset by poverty and had no other choice. In the end she agreed to let Mariah go to Jakarta and live with her uncle's family.

"Mariah has a brother and two sisters," said Mariah's uncle. "They all depend on their mother, who peddles pastries she makes to earn a living. If they could help it, they'd never have let Mariah become a beggar. If you can give the girl a hand, that will be wonderful!"

Excruciating pain

Yu-chuan phoned Yang Pi-lu, leader of the visitation team at the Tzu Chi Indonesia branch office, and told her about Mariah's condition. Pi-lu told Yu-chuan to bring Mariah to the Tzu Chi office. There it was arranged that Mariah should be examined at the Tzu Chi free clinic center and then undergo operations at the RSCM hospital.

After Mariah began to receive medical treatment, Acun took charge of caring for her. An experienced social worker full of enthusiasm and attentive to details, he did his best to cheer Mariah on and to make her happy.

On March 11, Mariah had her first operation. A doctor cut apart the parts that were stuck together and transplanted skin from her healthy left leg to the wounds caused by the surgery. Afterwards, Mariah was in so much pain that she kept wailing and moaning. Her mother had not been able to come, so only her uncle and aunt were there to take care of her. But a week later, when the couple learned that the government was tearing down the illegal buildings under the overpass, they hurried back to their makeshift home. When their dwelling was demolished, they moved back to the countryside, never to return to the hospital again.

Yu-chuan hired a special nurse to look after Mariah, whose condition did not seem to improve at all after the surgery. The area that had been operated on became swollen and the sole of her foot where some skin had been removed festered. Seeing her in such pain, Acun was filled with doubt: "Were we right in doing this?"

For over a month when Mariah was hospitalized, the special nurse called Acun every day to report on how the girl was faring. Fortunately her condition improved every day and everyone was relieved at her steady progress.

But then another problem arose: Where could Mariah stay after she was discharged from the hospital? Could they send her home? What if she needed to return to the hospital for post-operation examinations or further surgery? Acun asked Yu-chuan if Mariah could stay with her. Yu-chuan said, "It's fine with me, but I'll have to check with my husband and children." After deliberation, Acun decided that it was not a good idea and thought of bringing Mariah home to live with him.

Acun asked his mother for her opinion, and she had no objection. However, his home was located in Tangerang, quite a long way from the hospital and much too inconvenient for Mariah. Acun was almost at his wits' end when he suddenly recalled an orphanage that he and another Tzu Chi volunteer had visited before. Thinking that it would be a nice place for Mariah to stay temporarily, Acun contacted the orphanage and was told that they could take Mariah in. He was overjoyed.

Soon before Mariah was expected to leave the hospital, she went around the wards to say goodbye and express thanks to the patients she knew. Sitting in a wheelchair pushed by a nurse, Mariah all the while hugged in her arms the teddy bear that Yu-chuan had given her. When she was pushed out of the hospital, the glaring sunlight made her eyes squint, but she broke into a smile as sweet as a flower in full bloom.

The orphanage Mariah stayed in is Catholic by affiliation and is currently home to 21 orphans, the oldest of whom is 12 years old. When Mariah arrived, the children were sitting on the floor having their meal. She was introduced to all of them and received a warm welcome. She smiled and the Tzu Chi volunteers who went with her were relieved that she seemed happy and safe.

Noting another benefit of Mariah's staying in the orphanage, Acun pointed out that Mariah needed to build up her confidence and learn to make friends in order to get ready for her future school education. Staying in an orphanage with children her own age would certainly help her.

Mariah is back!

Mariah underwent her second operation on August 13. None of her family was there. Acun remained by her side, escorting her to the operating room and waiting there until the surgery was finished.

On August 17, the Indonesian National Day, Pi-lu and Acun took Mariah back to her home to see her family and relatives. "Mariah missed her mother a lot," Pi-lu said. "Besides, we also needed to talk with her mother about Mariah's future."

Seeing how excited Mariah was, Pi-lu asked her, "What present are you going to give your mother?"

"I can walk now," she said. "That's the best present."

It took them six solid hours to drive from Jakarta to Mariah's hometown of Brebes, located in central Java. When they neared Mariah's home, she suddenly became timid and agitated. To put her at ease, Pi-lu combed her hair for her and braided it into a beautiful ponytail. National flags were flying everywhere in the village in celebration of the National Day.

"Mariah! Mariah is back!" Some villagers who saw her called out with joy and even ran after the car she was in. Those who were celebrating the National Day began to crowd around the car, chattering excitedly.

When the car reached Mariah's home, Mariah got out of it and walked with a cane. The villagers who had gathered cried out in surprise, "Mariah can walk! Mariah can walk!" Some ran to spread the news, and soon a large crowd congregated at Mariah's home, none of them paying any attention to the festivities held in celebration of the National Day.

Mariah's mother, who was out of the house, hurried back home when she heard that her long-awaited daughter had finally returned home. The moment she laid her eyes on her daughter, she burst into tears. Mariah's younger sister, about four years old, sat in her mother's arms. Mariah was so changed that the little girl could no longer recognize her older sister and cried out with fright when Mariah went to touch and kiss her.

Mariah's grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins also hurried over. They all hugged and kissed her, tears streaming down their faces. Everyone was happy and excited.

When Mariah's brother heard that his sister had returned, he hurried to see her. He embraced her and touched his head to hers. But suddenly, much to everyone's surprise, his eyes rolled upwards and he fainted. The crowd gasped in alarm. Several people propped him up and tried to revive him. Mariah and those around her cried in despair. Fortunately, after a short while, he regained consciousness. Later, when Acun asked him why he passed out, he answered, "I was too happy."

Pi-lu said to Mariah's mother, "Mariah is no longer a little girl. Begging on the street will hurt her pride. Let her stay in Jakarta. We'll pay for her medical treatment and find a school for her so she can continue her studies. In the future, she'll be self-reliant and won't need to depend on others."

For a moment, Mariah's mother did not say anything. She simply stood there at a loss for words. Mariah was anxious. She looked at her mother with a look of intense expectation in her eyes, hoping she would say, "Yes."

Their neighbors also joined in to persuade her mother: "For the sake of Mariah's future, let her go to school." Finally, Mariah's mother consented. Mariah was so happy that tears of joy filled her eyes.

That night, Mariah and her special nurse spent the night at home while Pi-lu and Acun drove two hours away to attend a Tzu Chi tea party. Later they put up at a local hotel.

On the following morning, Mariah awoke at 6. After waiting two hours, Mariah grew impatient and asked her special nurse to call Pi-lu and ask when they were coming to pick her up. "Mariah was afraid the Tzu Chi volunteers wouldn't come back to fetch her and would dump her at her home," said the nurse.

When Mariah was leaving, her family and almost all of the villagers gathered to bid her farewell. She hugged everyone in her family goodbye. Her little sister nestled close to her, unwilling to let her go.

"Twenty million dollars"

"Today we're taking Mariah to the hospital for a post-surgery examination," said Acun as he drove us to the orphanage where Mariah was staying. When we arrived, she was already standing at the entrance waiting for us. Her face was clear and refreshingly pretty. She looked coy when she smiled. It was hard not to be charmed.

When our car was leaving the alley, Yu-chuan took out her scarf and wrapped Mariah in it. Then she turned off the air conditioning, saying, "Mariah is afraid of the cold."

Mariah's face went pale and her hands became cold. Yu-chuan and the nurse quickly took out a plastic bag into which Mariah retched a few times. She kept her eyes tightly closed, looking extremely uncomfortable.

"She's not used to riding in a car and the air conditioning makes her feel ill," said Yu-chuan with great compassion. "She throws up every time we take her to the hospital." Although quite youthful in appearance, Yu-chuan was already the mother of three. Her youngest child was, at the time, 17 years old, so it was very easy for her to relate to and think of Mariah as her daughter.

We arrived at the hospital at 2 P.M. The attending physician was a female doctor from the pediatrics department. She unwrapped the bandages on Mariah's leg, revealing an area of skin covered with large white and brownish patches. In the hollow of Mariah's right knee were wounds from the second operation that had not yet healed and dripped blood.

The doctor told Mariah to let go of her walking stick and try to walk on her own. Mariah appeared to be in pain, but the doctor was satisfied. She said, "After rehabilitation, she will soon be able to walk like a normal person."

I asked Acun how much money had been spent on Mariah's treatment. Acun replied that the operations were free since the doctor didn't charge any money. The other expenses came to 20 million Indonesian rupiah (US$2,203). To Mariah's family, who had a hard time making ends meet, 20 million was an astronomical figure. What's more, they had not even known that Mariah's condition could be cured.

"Begging under the overpass made me embarrassed," Mariah once said to Yu-chuan. Although she could have begged more money than average workers could earn, there was no dignity and self-esteem in such a life. It was hard enough for anyone to be a beggar, not to mention a young girl.

Mariah, who believed in Allah, crossed paths with a Buddhist Tzu Chi volunteer. She was then treated at a Christian hospital and taken in by a Catholic orphanage. The whole process, which combined the efforts of so many people from different religions, testified to the power of love.

With the help of her walking stick, Mariah came out of the hospital with a smile on her face. Although she still had to rely on her stick to walk, her doctor and the Tzu Chi volunteers who knew her were optimistic about her full recovery. Maybe in the near future, Mariah, who was once a beggar reliant on people's mercy for her daily sustenance, will be able to help others as others have helped her.