Heart surgery for Si-xin

In January 2005, Hu Si-xin, a 16-year-old Indonesian girl, suddenly developed a high fever and became very ill. A local physician diagnosed her with a bacterial heart infection. In addition, the examination also revealed that the valves on the left side of her heart were not functioning properly. Si-xin's father, Hu Xin-chiang, took her by boat to Hospital Pantai Ayer Keroh in Melaka, Malaysia.

After a thorough examination at the hospital, Dr. Ong Pang Kok suggested heart surgery for Si-xin as soon as possible. Without the operation, she was in danger of heart failure. However, the cost of the surgery was 40,000 ringgit (US$10,600), far too much for a father who worked odd jobs to support six children. With no other choice, he decided to return home and work to raise more money.

On the ride home, Mr. Hu explained his difficult situation to a friendly taxi driver. After learning of his plight, the kind taxi driver suggested that Tzu Chi might be able to help. He took the father to the Tzu Chi Melaka branch. After hearing of Si-xin's predicament, volunteers contacted Dr. Tee Heng Giap, a heart specialist at Mahkota Parade Hospital, for help.

Dr. Tee reached the same conclusion as Dr. Ong and confirmed that surgery was required as soon as possible to save her life.

Tzu Chi volunteers agreed to help the family with the cost of the surgery. Tzu Chi donated 7,000 ringgit (US$1,900). Mr. Hu also received 20,000 ringgit (US$5,300) from a Chinese Buddhist foundation called Yayasan Patriya Dharma. Because the kind doctors agreed to help Si-xin free of charge, the cost of the surgery was much less than first anticipated.

Si-xin was admitted to the hospital and received her surgery on July 11, 2005. The operation was a complete success. On July 19, She was discharged from the hospital and spent eight days in a local apartment with her family so that doctors could keep a close eye on her recovery. Upon receiving a clean bill of health, she happily returned home on July 27.

Dragon Boat Festival in London

To help elderly Chinese people in London celebrate a happy Dragon Boat Festival, Tzu Chi members prepared a special treat: zong-zi. This dish, a traditional Chinese favorite at the Dragon Boat Festival, is composed of a pyramid-shaped mass of glutinous rice packed in bamboo leaves. Zong-zi requires time and energy to prepare correctly, and it would have been difficult for the elderly residents to prepare on their own.

On June 3, eight volunteers arrived at the Islington Chinese Association in London with 75 wrapped zong-zi they had made the day before. As luck would have it, exactly 75 senior citizens showed up to celebrate the festival as well. The old folks loved the rice and enjoyed the companionship and conversation with the volunteers.

Saint Martin penitentiary

On June 19, 11 Tzu Chi volunteers visited the Pointe Blanche Penitentiary on the beautiful Caribbean island of Saint Martin. Located at the highest point on the island, the penitentiary offered the visitors a perfect morning view over the endless expanse of deep blue ocean.

The small band of volunteers arrived in the reception area of the penitentiary bearing 150 gift bags for the inmates. The bags contained instant noodles, drinks, soap, cookies, and candy. Ms. Doran York, activity director for the penitentiary, informed the volunteers that the convicts were very young and might not be interested in gathering and attending the Tzu Chi event. She hoped the volunteers would not be discouraged if there was a low turnout. She had even thought about canceling the occasion, but finally decided to let the activity go on as planned. Even if only a few people showed up, perhaps they would understand the meaning of altruistic love.

The event started at 10:45 with only 30 inmates in attendance. One volunteer introduced Tzu Chi to the inmates, and then started the main presentation, "Great Love to South Asia." The presenter informed the inmates about the tsunami disaster in South Asia and what Tzu Chi was doing to help survivors. Volunteers played a videotape that showed the devastation of the tsunami and the impact of the reconstruction efforts. While watching the video, many indifferent faces started to change their expressions.

After the video was over, the volunteers encouraged the inmates to do good deeds for themselves and for others. Finally, the volunteers performed a song, "Send Love to South Asia," to end the event.

By this time, the small crowd had grown to over 50 people. They received the gift bags with gratitude, and they seemed genuinely moved by the presentation. As the volunteers left, the inmates shook their hands, thanking them for their efforts. In the end, the display of generosity and Great Love by this small group of Tzu Chi volunteers had made a profound impact upon these young inmates.

Surrey food bank

An atmosphere of excitement surrounded the Surrey Food Bank near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on August 17. As early as 8:00, a long line of people was waiting for the doors to open. When the food bank finally opened, Gary Ho, CEO of the Tzu Chi Canada branch, made a short speech and presented the food bank with a check for CN$10,000 (US$8,300). The money would go a long way in purchasing food and relief supplies for needy families in Surrey.

After the presentation, Ho and other Tzu Chi volunteers helped distribute goods to those in need, mostly single parents and underprivileged families. Over 150 families consisted of pregnant women with children in tow.

Trucks arrived throughout the day, bringing more goods to those waiting. Over 60 Tzu Chi volunteers helped unload and unpack the goods. Fruit, vegetables, canned food, and non-perishable food items were given away. Outside, children received free haircuts and school supplies. With a new school year starting soon, the children were especially happy to receive new book bags and new shoes. The gifts saved the children from the certain embarrassment of having to wear old, torn shoes or using dilapidated book bags on the first day of school.

Love in Brazil

On July 17, 19 doctors and 66 volunteers drove for one hour to Cocaia (30 kilometers away from Sao Paulo in Grajau), Brazil, to carry out free clinics and distribute relief supplies.

The clinic hosted doctors specializing in internal medicine, dentistry, dermatology, and several other medical departments. A free lunch was served. Twenty-seven pairs of eyeglasses were given out. In all, a total of 407 people visited the free clinic that day.

While the free clinics were under way, several volunteers traveled over mountainous bumpy roads to distribute relief goods to needy families. These poverty-stricken families were living in dire conditions, which made the young volunteers count their own blessings. In response, they also vowed to cherish what they had and to do more good deeds.

Tzu Chi love in Lesotho

On June 4 and June 5, the Tzu Chi Lesotho office distributed relief supplies to 310 families in Sekamaneng, 201 families in Ha Tikoe, and 297 families in Setibing.

At each distribution site, recipients organized themselves into lines of 25 people each. This allowed them to pick up their relief supplies in a very orderly manner. The goods for each family included 25 kilograms of corn powder, two liters of cooking oil, two kilograms of beans, one kilogram of salt, spare clothes, and reusable, environment-friendly tote bags.

The Tzu Chi volunteers in charge of the event invited all those individuals and businesses who donate regularly to Tzu Chi to witness the distribution. In this way, donors could witness firsthand that their contributions were being used properly and were directly helping needy families.

Shunt Program's 72nd patient

Otoh Alawadin and his wife Evan are blessed with two sons and three daughters: Janela, 11; Jaebal, 10; Jessibel; 5; Jeanet, 2; and Justine, 1 month old. They live and work in Lamitan, Basilan, southern Philippines.

In spite of having to support so many children, Otoh and Evan manage on a meager income from farming and some help from their respective families. Two of the couple's children go to San Jose Central Elementary School in Lamitan.

However, the couple faced a serious problem when Evan was pregnant with their last child, Justine. Unlike her previous pregnancies, Evan's last pregnancy was characterized by intermittent abdominal pains, especially in the seventh month of pregnancy. She was treated with antibiotics and an antifungal suppository by a private medical practitioner. When she gave birth to Justine, the baby was diagnosed with congenital hydrocephalus. The baby could not nurse properly, cried weakly, and was not as active as other babies.

With tender loving care, Justine was nursed to health. On June 22, she was referred by Dr. Ussai Amana and Dr. Ben Jason Caranay to the Tzu Chi Zamboanga office for help. Having pledged to help children with hydrocephalus when it started the Tzu Chi VP Shunt Program five years ago, Tzu Chi accepted Justine as its 72nd VP Shunt Program patient.

Tzu Chi referred the case to Dr. Jose Rufino Cuevas, one of the first Tzu Chi International Medical Association (TIMA) volunteers in Zamboanga and responsible for most of the Tzu Chi VP shunt operations. Dr. Cuevas immediately ordered some tests, which revealed that Justine was anemic and needed a Type AB+ blood transfusion. This is a very rare blood type. Justine's mother had AB+ blood, but she could not donate her blood because she had just given birth a month before. Other family members did not have the same blood type or were disqualified due to poor health. Luckily, the Tzu Chi Zamboanga office was in touch with the Tzu Chi Marrow Donor Registry and contacted Tzu Chi volunteers who had the same blood type. They responded immediately. With the blood problem thus solved, Justine's shunt operation was successfully performed on June 30, 2005.

The first graduation ceremony

August 6 was very a hot day in the Dominican Republic in Central America. Although everyone at the Tzu Chi La Romana Elementary School was sweating, no one was complaining. They were all very happy, because they were celebrating their first graduation ceremony. Although the graduating class had only 47 students, it was very meaningful.

The school is located on the former site of a gigantic garbage dump. The mountain of garbage--and the people that lived on it--had been discovered by U.S. Tzu Chi volunteers in the aftermath of Hurricanes Georges and Mitch in 1998. The deplorable living conditions of the scavengers that lived amidst the garbage moved the Tzu Chi volunteers to action. Working with local Domincan volunteers, they cleared the garbage, replaced make-shift hovels with new homes built with cement, and established the Tzu Chi La Romana Elementary School. Their work has completely changed the lives of these residents. The school began with just over 300 students, but in just a few years has grown to accommodate over 1,600.

The home teacher of the graduating class, Francisca Reyes, announced proudly that all 47 students in the first graduating class had passed a national exam and had received their 8th grade graduation certificate. At the culmination of the ceremony, students received their graduation certificates. In addition, Tzu Chi provided a dictionary and a notebook for each student.

Dental clinic in Sacacoyo

Tzu Chi held a free dental clinic at the Tzu Chi Sacacoyo Village in El Salvador on August 12. Five dentists treated 59 patients.

Dr. Hidalgo had participated in a free dental clinic before, but admitted that it was a failure due to the lack of equipment and medicine. Despite her discouragement at the first clinic, she decided to try again. To the satisfaction of all the dentists, this clinic was far more successful.

After the clinic was over, Dr. Hidalgo observed that although there were more patients this time, she didn't feel tired. Instead, she felt sorry for people living here because they need more dentists to treat their problems. She plans to attend future Tzu Chi dental clinics to bring additional care to patients in need.

Hurricane victims in the USA

Tzu Chi volunteers gathered at the Beaumont Refugee Center in Texas to help 710 refugees there. They assisted the refugees with a letter of condolences from Master Cheng Yen, a gift card worth US$200 in goods exchange, and one 30-minute phone card. The gift card allowed refugees to purchase $200 worth of merchandise at the local Wal-Mart.

Over 200 buses carrying more than 10,000 refugees stopped in Dallas, Texas. Many people felt faint after 10 hours on the buses, and local Tzu Chi volunteers promptly helped them with moist paper towels, food, and drinking water.

In Houston, CEO Austin Tsao of the Tzu Chi US headquarters visited over 26,000 refugees in various shelters. He also met with local Red Cross officials to work out a relief plan since the emergency money from Tzu Chi headquarters had all been handed out.

The Tzu Chi Free Clinic Center in Los Angeles sent two medical vehicles to Houston to help treat wounded refugees. Several medical professionals were also ready to leave at a moment's notice.

In addition, Master Cheng Yen has asked Tzu Chi people around the world to pitch in to help. Tzu Chi people in 14 countries, including Taiwan, have responded to the Master's appeal and have gone to the streets to raise funds. The Master observed that people around the world must gather their love to care for victims whenever a disaster occurs.