Begin Well, End Better

Dear All:

(PLEASE NOTE: The proposed publications have to be postponed because the donors list is yet to be finalized. Thanks for your patience)

In all things, as some like to say, beginnings and endings are the most interesting times. They can also be the most important, one may add, as implied by frequently stated warnings against being in like a lion and out like a lamb, or by common admonitions to begin well and to end better.

The fund raiser for WB began formally with the publication of an appeal in the 2/27 edition of China Tribune. Now the biweekly paper plans to publish in its 4/24 edition a complete list of contributors as a grand finale, paying kudos to all who have made the fund raiser successful, made WB's home-going dream come true, and made his future rehabilitation and good life a definite possibility.

To those who wish to contribute but have not, we appeal, now is the time to do so, before 4/22, the deadline of submissions to make for the 4/24 edition. Yes, WB has been reunited with his family, the process being expedited on the assumption that the sooner he return to his family the better. The miraculous improvement of his conditions ever since, in a matter of less than two weeks, has unequivocally vindicated that expedited return. He faces major rehabilitation efforts and faces a long life ahead, yet. Every extra $ adds to the insurance of his being well and doing better. Please rest assured that all donation $$$ will go to WB/family.

We also like the grand finale to be a celebration of humanity, of human spirits. To that end, you are encouraged to send to StoneWharf@gmail.com anecdotes, sentiments, well wishes, and other writings that may be published in the 4/24 edition. They will also be posted on Way-Yin.blogspot.com.

To paraphrase WB's legal guardian, it has been truly a blessing to have you and see your spirit of humanity at work.

Thanks!!!

卢万斌博士近况

11/15
"关心卢万斌的同学好友：你们好，我于11月12日从广州返回扬中，今天去看望我在镇江第四人民医院康复的叔叔卢万斌。他第一眼看见我非常开心，立即笑着向我问好，并且主动与我交流，他告诉我，医生建议他目前可以出院了。我也感觉他的变化真是太大了，我与他之间对话可以基本上用对答如流来形容，而且他会主动与你交谈，与他从美国回来时完全判若两人，目前，他通过针灸治疗两便问题得到了有效的控制，我想要完全彻底地康复还需要一定的时间。通过这一个疗程（三个月）的康复训练，虽然我们无论在经济上还是在精力上我们付出了许多，但是我们感到无比的欣慰，现在他的体重在135斤左右，走大概800米路程才感到有点累，我和他谈起你们这些朋友他顿时脸上露出灿烂的笑容，并且询问你们与我通信的情况。今天我去看他，他向我提出出院请求。我问，为什么？他讲：一是医生同意，二是认为自己已经可以了，三是想家。我答复他：今天是星期天，医生没有上班，我得征求医生的意见，以及镇江他的一些过去老同学的建议，如没有特殊的情况我决定下周接他回家。总之，他恢复得这样状况，我确实没能想象得到，也是与你们这些热心，关心的朋友的努力分不开的，在这里，我代表卢家大家庭再次表示我们的谢意。祝福你们事事如意，身体健康。"--侄子

9/11
"我叔叔自从回国后,在本地人民医院治疗了45天.回家住了近三个月,在这期间我们不断与南京康复中心进行联系, 以及直接去和医生沟通,专家建议我们去镇江第四人民医院进行康复治疗比较好,一是离家近,二是效果与南京一样,我们听从了专家的建议,于八月二十号送至镇江第四人民医院,他们采用中西结合方法进行医疗,在这里不得不提他过去的高中老同学吴浩然和殷小慈,他们尽心尽力,无微不至地关心,帮助,不仅在联系医生,减免治疗费用,而且还发动同学好友进行募捐,时常陪他进行语言锻炼.现在他的体重由原来的107斤到现在的130斤,在我们陪同下能走400米左右, 语言交流方面有很大的提高.比如;我的亲戚去镇江看望他,问他,你的母亲可能不行了,你是否想回去?(我已于上月中旬把我奶奶接回我乡下住宅)他回答讲: 我不回家别人不骂我吗?我听后感到很震惊.前天我和他以及吴浩然在一起吃午饭,我与吴抢着埋单,他讲要我来,我付吴付意义两样.我们一起吃饭的人都感到惊奇.我们的努力没有白费!我奶奶于本月6号中午离开人世,我们把他接了回来,他进了家门就流泪,很是伤感.在家呆了三天,我就与他讲,这里的环境不利于你身体恢复,你与奶奶告别一下我送你去镇江,好吗?他同意了.最近,我听到来至美国方面的信息,像我叔叔这样情况的人,及无工作能力,在美国有一定的住居时间(绿卡),无自理能力.可以向美国联邦卫生及公民服务部社会安全局申请最低生活保障资金,并且可以与他今后的退休工资接轨.需要我提供:哪年去美国?住那里的时间?电话?工作单位?治疗医院?主治医生?凭这些资料去上海美国领事馆申请.我不知可否?待与您商确.如方便能否提供?您在外多保重!"--侄子

6/30
"我叔叔自从美国回来后，我们大家庭的每一人都很兴奋，都在尽心尽力地照顾他，无论在饮食上还是医疗上我们都在尽最大的努力。他的体重由原来的106斤到现在127斤，上次我和我父亲回去看望他，他的精神状态不错，我提出陪他去野外散步，他满脸笑容地答应，我们搀扶他散步，跑了近200米。他在医院住了45 天都是我们日夜在陪伴着他，主要是想用亲情来刺激他，安慰他，希望他早日恢复记忆。出院后的第一站，安排在我小叔叔家住了一个月，目前他在我小姑姑家生活，我这次从广州回来特地向公司请假一个月，准备接他去我家过一个月，他每次看到我都很兴奋，我不在期间还在念到我。现在他的大小便还不能自理，总体来讲恢复比较缓慢。我们早已通过各种渠道了解到南京省人民医院康复科，有利于他病情的恢复，费用虽然昂贵，但是床位比较紧缺进入比较难，我叔叔的同学们多方努力正在想方设法找渠道，目前还在等待消息。在此，请允许我代表卢家大家庭向每一位关心，帮助我叔叔的各位先生，女士表示最崇高的敬意。"--侄子

4/15
"现卢博士身体状况很好，可独自行走，但路不长，心情较入院时开朗，进食尚可，可进食半流质及固体食物，体重较入院时增加8斤。其家属照顾很细心。我们地方政府也送了5000元人民币支援卢博士，且我们医院也减少了病床费用。卢博士现一般情况较入院时均有好转。您尽可放心。若有情况我再向您汇报。"--大夫

4/12
“我舅舅的三高现在控制的很好，糖尿病的药比以前降了不少，现在说话还可以，他能写他和兄弟姐妹的名字，现在主要大便不能控制，小便还可以，等他身体在恢复些在找中医看。谢谢你们的关心。”--外甥

4/11
“卢万斌的身体从美国回来的体重53公斤，现在是60公斤，每天能走300米左右，每天能吃3-4两米还有好多菜，说话清楚多了，以前的朋友来看他都能认识，现在的进步很快，总之非常感谢你们能这么快把他送回国。”--外甥

卢万斌博士的亲人: 感谢信

(Published also in Biweekly China Tribune 4/10/2009 Edition)
尊敬的为卢万斌奉献爱心的先生们、女士们:
我们衷心地感谢你们!

当我们从扬中侨办那里获悉万斌病重的消息时，大家惊呆了。大家心急如焚。万斌是我们的手足。他远在他乡，身边没有亲人。而我们又插翅难飞，鞭长莫及，爱莫能助。我们急得像热锅上的蚂蚁，度日如年。

幸好有你们，慷慨解囊，奉献爱心。你们这种无私的大爱，令我们感激涕零。你们不是亲人，胜似亲人。

万斌在美生病期间，承蒙许多朋友、同学悉心照顾。我们在此一并致以深深的谢意。

现在万斌已经安抵祖国，在家乡与我们团聚。我们会积极为他治疗，不遗余力地照顾他，让他早日康复。

再次谢谢大家!

卢万斌的兄弟姐妹
万康、万良、纪英、翠英等
于 09.4.3

为卢万斌博士募捐: 捷报

(Published also in Biweekly China Tribune 4/10/2009 Edition)
承蒙各界、同胞的爱心善献，自续报后的两周里，以往的进展已成了质变性的飞跃：

（一）义捐活动由高潮更上一层楼。更多的爱心人士积极、慷慨投入。如郑瑾安气功大师专为卢博士发功一小时，导致卢博士连连说“那儿有感觉”、“那儿感到”等（且摇头否定是疼或不舒服）。截至4月8日累计到位善款达$27,000。同时，国内朋友也发起了义捐活动，累计到位五万多元人民币。

（二）卢博士回国与家人团聚已由愿望变成现实。他于3月30日中午离开生活了八个月的全时医护所前往双城国际机场，搭乘美国西北航空公司下午3:15的班机，途经日本东京成田国际机场转机，在3月31日晚上9:40当地时间抵达上海浦东国际机场。再随前往迎接的侄子和外甥于4月1日凌晨1:30到达老家扬中，住进当地医院，与久等在那儿的亲人团圆。他国内的朋友也安排尽早前往探望。

（三）回国对卢博士的身心会“产生不可估量的正面影响”的预言也已初步变成事实。一上路，他就兴奋不已，几乎全程没合过眼。一听说车已进入扬中地盘，他泪光闪闪。一经他姐、妹擦洗，他就如冬眠复苏了似的，一改以往极其偶尔地答话、从未问话的行为，开始既有答、又有问。可以说，在扬中与亲人团聚后最初的一个小时内，他的语言量超过了我们在双城医护所听到过的他的所有语言量的总和。4月5日晚上在电话上已达到了有问便有答的水平。

点击这里就可以阅读卢博士回家的详情。我们将以电子邮件的方式继续不时向大家通报他的新情况。有意得到通报但尚未收到过forWB@googlegroups.com邮件者，请向StoneWharf@gmail.com询问。

卢博士的亲人寄来了感谢信，感谢大家“不是亲人，胜似亲人”的义举。我们特将该信附上。

借用英文中的一个命题：如果周围没人，树在林子里倒下时有声音吗？如果没有『华兴报』投入大量人力、大量版面去传播，我们的呼吁也只能是似有若无。同理，如果没有华人社会服务中心和社区众多同乡会、校友会的积极参与，如果没有大家自发用电话、电子邮件、电子网贴去节节转播，我们的呼吁也会大大逊声逊色。我们在此一并衷心感谢。

再用一下佛教禅宗里的一个命题：单手鼓掌的声音是什么？也许就是不管一方如何呼天喊地，却得不到任何响应的声音吧。我们很幸运，得到的响应声比我们的呼吁声更清脆、更宏亮。我们继续在网站http://way-yin.blogspot.com/search/label/Wanbin公布所有响应者姓名、款数、居住地，在『华兴报』公布这两周内的清单，以示我们深深的谢意、敬意。我们敦请有疑问者及时与『华兴报』和我们联系。

据说，刘心武曾宣称：如果亲情、爱情、友情三者全无，则生不如死。在所列两百多名的响应者中，却没几成与卢博士有任何三情上的关联。显然，那位当代文学大师遗忘了这世上还有一种更基本、更普遍、更强劲的情，那就是人情。

我们衷心祝贺、祝福大家: 人情至尊，心想事成！

殷锡纬(StoneWharf@gmail.com)
耿庆璜(651-263-8647)　关少英(651-436-3893)
孙中义(952-476-2167)　王章明(514-768-2764)
王小亮（651-644-1993）

WB Goes Home, Finally

WB made it, finally, to his family, at 1:30 a.m., 4/1/2009, China time. It was a long journey from his Care Center to Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, to Tokyo Narita International Airport, to Shanghai Pudong International Airport, and finally to his childhood hometown Yangzhong, It took 24 hrs in total, although the process that had made the journey possible took much longer.

Before Hitting the Road

The Genesis of the Homegoing

The genesis of WB's eventual homegoing may be traced to some time at the beginning of 2009, when two things became quite clear that alleviate the concern of his becoming too much a financial liability to his family: (1) he will qualify for Social Security upon reaching his 62nd birthday, even if residing in China; (2) the 2-year financial void before the birthday may be filled through fund raising. Those realizations led me to

•initiate a conversation on 1/16 with his legal guardian about the possibility of transferring him to China;
•visit his family in Yangzhong 1/22-1/23;
•make the initial inquiry of medical escort cost 1/27;
•visit his friends in Nanjing 2/1-2/2;
•inform his legal guardian 2/7 of conditions in China being conducive to his rehabilitation;
•learn of his doctor's concurrence 2/11 that moving to China would be the best for him;
•convey the need to raise $20K to likely team members 2/13;
•draft the first appeal letter & create Way-Yin.blogspot.com 2/14;
•sign up for a PayPal account 2/16;
•post the first appeal letter at Way-Yin.blogspot.com 2/17;
•meet with his Care Center team about his transfer 2/24;
•get a nod from the Chinese Social Service Center for it to establish an account on his behalf 2/25; and
•formally launch the fund drive along with Qinghuang Geng, Zhongyi Sun, Shaoying Guan, Zhangming Wang and Xiaoliang Wang as a team by having our appeal letter published in the 2/27 edition of China Tribune.

Qinghuang led our outreach effort particularly tirelessly. Many others took up the campaign as their own. Eventually, hundreds of individuals joined the fund drive and contributed financially, morally, and in numerous other ways.

On 3/18, as the fund drive was well on its way to meet our goal, I informed his legal guardian of my intention to accompany him to China around the end of the month; she in turn had his medical team set in motion the process of preparing for his departure.

The Long Good-Bye

WB's departure formally began about 1:00 p.m., Friday, 3/27, when his legal guardian handed me his personal documents and medical records and I signed a paper acknowledging the transfer. She bid farewell to WB, who appeared indifferent. I hugged her and thanked her for all she had done for him.

That same day, I packed all his personal belongings into his one and only suitcase. The following day, Zhongyi visited him, accompanying a long-time friend of theirs to say her farewell to him. During the visit, WB had his longest post-stroke walk Zhongyi had ever witnessed. Sunday afternoon, I accompanied a Qi Gong Master there, who gave WB an hour-long Qi Gong treatment during which he repeatedly murmured "feeling" or "there is a feeling" although failing to specify what he felt (he shook his head when asked whether it was pain or discomfort). Nurse Ellen gave me/WB several photos of the four nurses in charge of his care; she wrote in authentic Chinese handwriting "Forever Miss You" on the group photo. In the evening, Qinghuang paid him a visit.

Also in the evening, I reviewed WB's medical records. They showed that he had to be sent to the Emergency Room more or less monthly until the end of 2008 but never since. That explains why "this would be the time if he would ever go to China," as stated by his medical team in the 2/24 meeting. It also vindicated earlier worries about his fitness for taking on long flights. The records further showed that he was not supposed to drink water or thin liquids. I called Northwest Airlines to see whether I could order nectar-thick liquids for him. But no one was manning the phone, probably because it was too late at night.

Final Preparations

On 3/30, the D Day, I called NWA again, and was told that it was too late to place any order. Worse, my earlier order for baby food (the right term should be "pureed diet") had been rejected because WB was, as the agent put it, "not a baby." I left home at 10:30 a.m. and headed straight to a grocery store where I bought 15 jars of baby food. I asked the pharmacist whether the store carried any nectar-thick drink. The answer was: no, but you could create such a drink by adding baby food to water.

I arrived at the Care Center at 11:00 a.m. I asked for nectar-thick liquids to bring along but was told, to my relief, that WB was no longer limited to such liquids. He was hidden in the bathroom getting groomed. I finalized the packing of his stuff and loaded it into my car. Upon return, I noticed that he was ready to go, but in a T shirt. I went back to my car to fetch a sweater, from his suitcase, for his nurse to put him into...... I signed his discharge paper and got a huge load of his medications, diapers, etc.--luckily I brought along a spare bag to put them in.

Zhongyi came in to give us the first ride on WB's long way home.

On his Way

From the Care Center to the Airport

A nurse wheeled WB down the elevator and to Zhongyi's van. He was maneuvered into the front passenger seat. Off we went, heading to Minneapolis/St. Paul Airport. Unbeknownst to us then, Qinghuang arrived to see WB off, only 2 or 3 minutes too late. He went to the airport as well, but again too late to see us. His silent best wishes there apparently helped, though, as our trip did go smoothly.

At the airport, Zhongyi parked his van at a curbside. I went into the building and talked to a guide at check-in lines for wheelchair assistance. She said O.K. and went off while talking into her walkie-talkie. Shortly thereafter, someone came with a wheelchair, who would stay with us until parking WB at the departing gate. Zhongyi helped WB into the wheelchair. I told him that WB and I would be fine and that he should go. So he bid bye to us.

WB and I went through everything smoothly, assisted by the wheelchair assistant, except for some extra time spent through the security check for the jars of baby food. We arrived at the departing gate with an hour or so to kill. In the duration, WB stood up suddenly from the wheelchair several times, charging for the gate, and I had to talk him into sitting back down every time. He settled a bit better once helped into a regular chair.

When it was the boarding time, I talked to an agent there for wheelchair assistance. Someone came and wheeled WB to the airplane door. From there, I walked him to his seat, with my arms around his waist, and an airline attendant carried my carry-ons.

Flight to Tokyo and to Shanghai

The business cabin was full with no vacant seat (this being the case throughout my round trip). I put WB in the window seat, whereas I took the aisle seat, to box him in. I talked to attendants about having the baby food served to him, formally on plates by them (and as if from them) the same way as to all other passengers. The request was made to protect his sense of self esteem. The scheme was carried out gracefully in due time.

During the first leg of the flight, departing at 3:15 p.m. and lasting about 12 hours, to Tokyo, WB was quite restless and curious, reminding me of kids in a stage known as "Terrible 2." He showed no interest in movies, watching perhaps no more than a few minutes before losing his attention. The same was true with brochures. He pushed every button within his reach, often several times in a row. He buckled and un-buckled his seat belt, and tightened and loosened it, back and forth, for numerous times. He opened and closed the windows near him often. He put an earplug into his mouth (and promptly spit it out upon my urge). He never closed his eyes......

He ate what I handed him, except for two occasions. Once, I ordered cranberry juice. When I was taking my first sip out of a glass, he grabbed the can and insisted on drinking it. It dawned on me that cranberry juice was part of his daily prescription in the Care Center. He was sure that he could and should drink it. Another occasion was when he said (throughout the trip, he spoke Chinese only): "Xiwei, drink tea." That was the first time since his stroke he addressed me by name. I asked him whether he wanted tea, and he nodded. He drank a lot of liquids. He ate well, cleaning up his plates. I served him some soft-textured food like fish and cake, on top of his dose of baby food. He took medicines well.

Before landing in Narita Airport, I requested for wheelchair assistance. In due time, I was informed of a wheelchair being ready. We deplaned in the reverse order of boarding.

It was a long way from the landing gate to the departing gate at Narita. In the transition, WB vomited. The wheelchair assistant reported the incidence to the folks in the departing gate. They took it seriously, questioning whether WB should continue on his trip. After my checking with a handful of them (all Japanese speaking broken English), an American flight attendant came to talk with me. I showed him WB's discharge paper from the Care Center, which listed nausea among discharge diagnoses. I explained WB's circumstances. He asked me whether, if I were not WB's travel companion, I would think that WB should go on the trip. I told him yes, because I observed no negative change in WB's condition since his leaving the Care Center...... He gave us a go.

WB was wheeled to the airplane door. From there, he walked O.K. first. Then suddenly, with a few more rows of seats to go, his legs refused to make forward movement. I had to nudge his legs forward one at a time, while announcing that we had come a long way from Minneapolis. A few flight attendants were there cheering him on. As in a very slow-motion movie, he gradually and finally made his way to his seat.

After that, WB looked drained. He hardly opened his eyes, napping, interrupted only at the meal time. The flight from Tokyo to Shanghai was relatively short, about 3.5 hours. Again, I asked for wheelchair assistance before landing and got it promptly after landing.

From Shanghai to Yangzhong

We landed at 9:40 p.m., 3/31, in Shanghai. We went through the Chinese custom quickly, taking the special lane for handicaps. Three nephews of WB's, LU Jian (WB's elder brother's son), HUANG Yong and Ming (his elder sister's sons), were waiting for us at the exit. They recognized WB instantly. One of them put a jacket over him. The wheelchair assistant wheeled him all the way to their van in a parking lot.

The last time WB was in China was November 2007, about 1.5 year ago. I asked LU Jian later about his first impression of WB this time. He said that WB reminded him of his late grandpa: very old and very bony.

In the van on the way to Yangzhong, WB stayed wide awake. He seemed absorbed in thinking. He talked a little, such as inquiring about someone who used to live in Shanghai.

As the van was passing a bridge into the City of Yangzhong, someone pronounced that he was in his hometown now. LU Jian said that WB's eyes became wet.

First Moments in Hometown

We arrived in the local hospital at 1:30 a.m., 4/1, local time. Much of WB's family was there greeting him, including his two sisters, the younger sister's daughter and son-in-law, his younger brother and so on. Everyone kept fairly quiet.

WB was ushered in a wheelchair to a patient room. His sisters started cleaning him up. In the process, WB gradually warmed up to the occasion. He asked: "Where is Mom?" He asked his younger sister: "Where is (the name of her late husband)?" She replied: "He passed away over 10 years ago. You no longer remember?"......

The sisters soaked and then dried his feet. Then, his younger sister held his feet, while his elder sister washed him with a wet towel from the face down. The latter gradually lost her control and started weeping as she noticed how skinny he was under the shirt. I patted on her shoulder and took her to the next room to calm her down. I told her that it should be a happy occasion as he was able to reunite finally with his loved ones after all the misfortunes...... In fact, even before the trip, I forewarned the family not to look too saddened when meeting him lest he would be burdened too much emotionally.

I left the room to retrieve my luggage from the van. Then I went to Dr. Zhu's office. As WB's new doctor, she volunteered for the night shift to be there at his arrival. I turned over to her all of his medical records, medicines, diapers, jars of baby food, etc. She sounded confident in taking over his case.

When I returned to WB's room, I was struck by all the family members around him (now tugged in bed)--an incredible contrast to what I used to see in the Care Center.

Everybody thanked me profusely. On the spur of the moment, I said to him: "Thank me." He replied without a moment's loss: "Thank you!"

Overall, the amount of talk he did after his reunion with his family was more than the combined total I had heard from him in the U.S. since his stroke. What a difference a family can make!

The next morning when I walked into his room, he was being surrounded again by a lot of family members. He looked very relaxed, and very much at home...... Seeing his great progress in talking and in mood made me feel that our effort was not in vain, but produced significant tangible results even at the first moments.

Dr. Zhu was already there, despite her night shift just hours ago. The head of the hospital paid WB a personal visit. The hospital was ready to give WB a thorough check-up that very day...... He was apparently in good hands.

Best wishes to you, WB!

为卢万斌博士募捐：善音

"非常感动有您们这么热心和爱心的人，在这种没有人知道的情况下，发动这种帮人的行动，发挥同胞手足爱的精神。"

"我今天（3/20/09）去上海店买菜，拿到了[华兴报]才知道这件事，因为不巧，我先生也刚刚失去了工作，我只能献上一点微薄的金钱支持，希望您们能很快的凑足您们的数目，愿上帝保佑您们及卢先生能早日回家与家人团聚和恢复他们的自理能力。谢谢您们这群有爱心的人。"--Stephen Wang/Peggy Liu Wang

"我刚刚看到[华兴报]的报道，心里很难过，祝福卢博士先生能早日回到亲人身边，能恢复健康。我家很穷，只能聊表心意。祝福每个人！"

"我看到你们报道了卢博士患重病的报道，我的心理非常难过，可他一人在外，瘫痪在椅子上都没人知道。正是天意，有你们这么多好心人把他送到医院抢救，抢回了他的生命，但没亲人照顾，你们这许多好心的人又为他募捐和提供支持，千方百计安排卢博士回国和亲人团聚，这正是卢博士的命大，福大能碰到你们这么多好心的人的帮助，真让我们为他高兴。可我是个退休老工人没有能力支持，只有捐上$100美元略表一点心意。我祝卢博士早日恢复健康！祝卢博士早日见到亲人！请代我向卢博士全家问好！"--明州一同胞

"I lived in St. Paul campus when I studied at the U years ago and knew Mr. Lu. My husband knew him too. We were shocked to read his story in China Tribune. We felt very sad for him. I have talked to Mr. Yin Xiwei regarding Mr. Lu.
"We think that going home to be with his family is the best choice for him. With a loving family surrounding him, he will have a better chance to recover and enjoy the rest of his life.
"We’d like to make a donation for him to help him to accomplish this goal. Please find enclosed a check of five hundred dollars ($500).
"Please give our thanks for those who organize all the activities that help Mr. Lu. China Tribune, thank you too, for helping these processes."--蒋梅/王春焰

为卢万斌博士募捐: 续报

(Published also in Biweekly China Tribune 3/27/2009 Edition)
承蒙各界、同胞的爱心善献，自初报后的两个星期里，发生了一系列让我们振奋的进展：

（一）义捐活动进入高潮。各路人士通过电话、电邮、网站积极传播信息、发出呼吁。众多社团、各类校友会、各种同乡会都积极募捐，包括江浙同乡会、东北同乡会、湖南同乡会、四川-重庆同乡会、北美山东同乡会、北大校友会、 清华校友会、交大校友会、等等。更有同胞自发组织。郑峰、吉英泉、吴宝林、李玉福、王志强、齐大虎、许力、彭义、荆庆、侯茜、徐宏耀、马力、刘军、等二十多位有著共同爱好的夫妇和朋友冒著严寒在Sara Lake组织的一次为卢博士“冰钓”募捐活动就是一例。综合成果累累。截至3月25日，到位款项已超过预定目标，达$22,000。

（二）随着善款的到位，本着卢博士不能等的精神，我们已经在与他的法律监护人、医护人进行交接工作。他回国夙愿的实现已是指日可待。

（三）知道即将就要回国了这一事实本身已给卢博士的精神状态产生了明显的积极作用。他的第一反应是情不自禁地惊叹道：“真的啊”？！随着回国的事已经在他心里扎根，他以往的忧郁、消沉似乎已被凝重、深沉取代。

我们在网站http://way-yin.blogspot.com/search/label/Wanbin公布所有捐献者姓名、款数、居住地，以此鸣谢。若对该清单有疑问者请及时与我们联系。

我们呼吁大家继续关注、投入帮助卢博士。因为，他回去毕竟面临经济风险、亲情风险。善款越多，那样的风险就越小，他好转、恢复的机会也就越大。

我们代表卢博士衷心感谢大家！

殷锡纬(StoneWharf@gmail.com)
耿庆璜(651-263-8647)　关少英(651-436-3893)
孙中义(952-476-2167)　王章明(514-768-2764)
王小亮（651-644-1993）

问答卢万斌博士一事（四）

(Published also in Biweekly China Tribune 3/27/2009 Edition)
问：如何捐款？捐的款可免税吗？
答：捐的款可免税。您可以寄支票也可以上网捐。

支票抬头请写: Chinese Social Service Center
并请注明“为卢万斌回家捐款”
请寄：
China Tribune
566 N Snelling Ave
St. Paul, MN 55104

华人社会服务中心（Chinese Social Service Center）是在美正式注册的非营利性组织。明州为四川地震捐款超过数万美元就是该中心经手的。

华兴报（China Tribune）发行美国中西部五大州，积极参与当地每次帮助华人、华事的活动。把支票寄往该报有利于统计、公布、监督（即使华人社会服务中心主任也把捐款支票寄给该报）。

如网上捐，请点击此处或上way-yin.blogspot.com，用贝宝（PayPal）或信用卡（按新开网页左下方信用卡标记进行）。收款人的邮址是我的gmail邮址。网上汇款便捷，但将被收去2.9%+$0.30的手续费。我再把收到的净款总额交给华人社会服务中心，连同逐项捐款的细节（捐献人姓名、地址，捐献数目，被收手续费）。我也随时把每项捐献公布于网上，一是鸣谢，二是保证透明性。我还给每位发感激信，也是出于那两项考虑。

华人社会服务中心将给每位捐献人开、发收据，以备各位填税表用。

问答卢万斌博士一事（三）

(Published also in Biweekly China Tribune 3/27/2009 Edition)
问：卢博士怎么会没积蓄呢？以前公司里上班没退休金吗？
答：用他受聘公司大小、期限、等推理，他不会有公司提供的退休福利。积蓄、财产他都没有。那是当地法院及他的法律监护（兼财物经管）人核实了的。原因之一可能是由于他的待人处世慷慨大方吧。他在南林的朋友听到他的境遇后，第一反应就是怀念他那方面做过的好事。

这里加些细节。10月13日，民事法庭受理为他任命法律监护人一事。我迟到了点。律师一见我，马上要求暂时休庭。他把我带进一个小间，主要提了两个问题。一，我是否反对作那样的任命。二，他是否有隐藏财物。谈完出来，见到当时县里主管他事的人手里提着两个满满的超市装菜蔬的塑料袋。她说，里面都是他的帐单。律师庭上陈述的开端是：鉴于卢无任何财物... ...法律监护人上任后把他原公寓里的所有东西都一一清理、处理掉了。那里的任何有财物的迹象自然会被追查的。她我最近在交接他的各项事宜。我看了有关他财务现局的交底，情不自禁地眼湿... ...

记得美国的第42位总统曾经说过，自己跟流浪汉也就是几次机会的差别，对换几次机会，两者也许就对换地位了。这句话听上去很简单，其中人生哲理无穷。它也解释了为什么那位总统先生以人情特浓而著称。

卢博士聪明、能干、特有毅力（他博导最近看他时说的）。但由于没遇上、或不屑、或没抓住某些机会，就落到了现在这个地步。让人叹息。也让人反思啊。

问：把卢博士国内亲人接来不行吗？那样既有经济保障，又能有食补、心情、刺激啦。
答：11月12日，我跟他的法律监护人第一次长谈时满脑子想的就是这个方案：社会反正得化钱雇人照护他，那就把他的亲人当保姆办来不正好？法律不允许。他自己没经济担保能力，也没住处。他家又没合适的人选，不懂英语只是很多问题中最明显的一个。

问：久病无孝子，何况他一生单身、没孩子。他回去风险不很大吗？
答：他在这儿已陷流沙，已无机会。回去能把他带出流沙，会有新的风险，但更有新的机会。

上面谈的四无到了国内马上会变成全有：有医疗、有食补、有心情、有刺激。医疗不光是西医，还有中医。有人说，按摩、针灸对某些功能的恢复较有效。外加二十几位家人的亲情、和无数旧友的友情。上面谈到，因为好友的初访，他语言上能有那么大的飞跃。难以想象一下看到那么多家人，那么多情谊更深、更久的朋友时，他会多高兴，会做出什么样的奇迹。

他排行居中。兄、姐、弟、妹各一名，依次年龄均差五岁。父亲已故，母亲尚在。除他之外，全在扬中。家人一得到中风的噩耗，就要不顾一切把他弄回去。他房间里贴着他哥万康的一封信。信中有这么一句：我家永远是你可以停靠的港口。我专程去扬中看过那些港口。万康始终是双眼含泪。他姐、妹是一片眼泪，一片哭声，千叮咛、万嘱咐地恳求我把他弄回去。他弟万良反复强调，随时准备派俩个“壮劳力”接他回去。壮劳力是他哥的长子卢坚和姐的次子黄明。黄明今年元旦早晨六点多就给我来电话，说了几十遍要接他舅舅回去。我一直盯着卢坚讲钱的事。他的回话总是强调骨肉情，闭口不谈钱。二月份，我要他们去查他回去连同陪伴人来回机票的价格。他们的回话简单明了：近十万元人民币，往哪汇？他兄弟姐妹的经济条件，用当地医院一位副院长的说法，是“一小般”，还得瞻养九十多岁的老母。晚辈大的三、四十岁，经济上好些，但有自己的子女扶养，也没什么底蕴。这些人光是为了运他回去就愿意献出那么一大笔款。何况，运回去只是负担的开端。何况，我跟他们说的一直是：他已一贫如洗，如果回去，还将毫无收入。那是什么样的亲情啊。

为如此重亲情的家人，我们更应该珍惜，应该设身处地去考虑、去帮助。

有幸的是，他进入最低法定退休年龄62周岁起就能一直得到每月660多美元的美国社会保障金，即使定居中国，即使不是美国公民。如有兴趣，可看http://www.socialsecurity.gov/international/countrylist4.htm。更确定的是他的法律监护人直接去查过他的有关档案。我跟她讲：必须核定，因为如果他在中国得不到美国的社保金，他决不可以走。那样的社保金月收入应该能满足他的正常生活、医药需要。譬如，有朋友说，他知道一位患老年痴呆症的全托在上海一家护理所，费用是每月500美元。又如，我经过卢家联系上了他回国后的主治大夫。那大夫给出一系列具体的化费数据，但加不到她说的每月四、五千元人民币的总数。主要风险是突发大病。但他常年累月、会略有盈余的月收入应当能在费用上为偶发事件提供一定的缓冲。如果更坏的发生，卢大家庭不会无动于衷、不拔一毛。

他现年60岁。到领取社保金还有近两年时间。他回去后这段时间内将没有任何收入。而他刚回去时的医药、疗理、照护，包括对他身体的初查、普查，却需要一大笔费用。再加上他日常生活费、回国的机票、伴旅的往返机票。把这些费用担当起来，就是这次呼吁大家爱心捐款的初衷。

把他弄回去不是这山望见那山高，不是想给他找一个十全十美的场所、找个天堂。他的现状是身陷流沙，接近地狱。我们只想把他带回人间。人间有人间的艰难。但总比眼看他被吞没于流沙好。所有我们想到的顾虑、不定性，肯定还有谁也没想到的可能，都是人间正常事，不应该是我们的阻力。恰恰相反，应该是我们的动力。因为，爱心捐款越多，他面临的经济风险、亲情风险就越小，他家人面临的风险也越小，他好转、恢复的机会也就越大。

二月底起始的爱心捐款活动已牵动每颗得知卢博士一事的心，从当地社区到美加各地直至欧洲。大多数捐献来自于同他素不相识的人。这是人情使然。也许还有天意。他能孤身一人濒临死神数天却得救，是应该有后福的。我们就给他个机会吧。

问答卢万斌博士一事（二）

(Published also in Biweekly China Tribune 3/27/2009 Edition)
问：能回顾一下他的历程吗？
答：他1948年出生于江苏镇江扬中。扬中是县级市，由扬子江（即长江）中的岛屿组成而得名，位于南京东方大约一个半小时的汽车路程。

高中毕业时，正值文化大革命开始。当过老师，搞过水利，下过矿井。高考恢复后，作为首届考入南京林业大学（现名）。于1982年初获学士学位。稍前考出国研究生成功。与1983年赴加拿大多伦多大学攻读。两年后获硕士学位。1987年到明尼苏达大学圣保罗校园求学，1995年获博士学位。毕业后曾辗转芝加哥、威斯康星州奥克莱等城镇，于2006年搬回明州双城地区，主要从事信息技术工作。

回双城地区后，一直单身租住华盛顿县伍德布瑞的一家公寓。

据当局介绍，7月25日有人去找他，后经房租经理开门进去，发现他瘫痪在一把椅子上，欲走不能，欲喊无声。送院急救，保住了他的生命。医生诊断：他历经几次中风，已瘫数日。8月8日被移居到现在的全时护理所。

他从未婚娶，亦无子女。

问：你和其他联系人跟卢博士什么关系？
答：在他病房，有一个镜框里镶着几张照片。一张是多仑多大学时十位朋友的合影。合影里，他右手勾肩的就是王章明。俩位的历史回溯到出国前在北京一起培训英语，然后是多大校友，再后又在圣保罗校园成明大校友。

另一张是四位朋友的合影，他左边是孙中义，右边是耿庆璜。几位常在一起打蓝球，都是圣保罗校园的明大校友，相识相处二十多年。

他同关少英在明大是师兄弟。王小亮也为明大校友，积极参与江浙同乡会，自然把他的事视为己任。

他我是南林和明大的双重校友。南林时不熟。在明大及其随后的二十多年中，同是天涯沦落人，来往较密。这是友情。不少他国外国内的朋友，因此我也认识。这是天设。这次春节后，我才能很容易地在南京与他国内的朋友建立联系、通报情况、寻求帮助。

他我为苏南老乡，老家扬中与苏州之间才两个多小时的汽车路程。这也是天设。我因此这次过年前能较方便地去他老家看望、实地了解他家和当地的情况。

2007年临春节时，他派外甥特地从扬中去上海浦东机场接我、再送我上苏州老家。所以在他中风之前，他家人与我就有过交道。那是他的先知。

他中风后，当局发现他在“急事联系人”栏里填过我的姓名和电话号码。遗憾的是，有一位数字弄错了，所以没找到我。但就因为那一填，我在他中风近两月后找去时，护理所才会告诉我他在那儿、我可以去看他（根据明尼苏达州病人人权法，护理所不得向外透露病人姓名，其他知情者也不得透露病人有病的信息，除非得到有关当局批准或本人授权）。否则他可能就那么失踪下去了，而当局就一直保密着他这个“既无家人也无朋友的来历不明者”（县里主管他案子的人如此跟我讲）。那一填是他的先觉。给了他的医护人、他的法律监护人与我合作的法律依据。也赋予我道义责任。

总之，我与有关各路人马都有天然关联。介入是自然的事。他又正好摔倒在我身边，即使没关联，谁在我的境地都会去扶他一把的。

问答卢万斌博士一事(一)

(Published also in Biweekly China Tribune 3/27/2009 Edition)
问：卢博士近况如何？
答：3月16日，我告诉他很快就能回中国去了。他情不自禁地说：“真的啊”。他中风以来我还没听他说过音、调、情如此周到、标准的汉语呢。接下来我跟他讲事，主要是告诉他谁谁谁都在帮他。他听得眼泪汪汪的。他太需要好消息了，需要刺激，需要机会。

他坐在沙发里，一手拿纸，一手拿笔。纸上半页写得满满的，也写得工整。似字，非字，重点在非。类似的作品我看过不少，近期增多，但我能想象成字的却好像少了。他正好坐在一份华兴报上。报纸露出来的部分就是我们呼吁帮助他的信。我问过医护所，是否见过他阅读书报什么的。回答是只见过他逐页地翻。那我也见过。那不是阅读。他偶尔会在图片上注目一、二秒。

3月20日我又去了，主要找护理所的人问问他的身体情况是否稳定－－因为价格好的机票是不能换出发时辰的。护理所说，很稳定，血糖指标也好，已经同他谈过采取什么措施减少他路上大小便的问题，他都同意了。还说，他路上的食物，我上超市买几瓶婴儿食品就行了。

我去看时，他躺在床上，一个护理助手正好在给他跳舞呢。回国的事显然已经在他心里扎根了。我谈起时，他似乎格外地宁静。我给他说了一些诸如要特别注意安全、尽量多吃、锻练等等的话。他都听着，都点头。要他注意安全，因为他走路不稳，不时摔。为那事医护所还专门讨论过几次。一会儿给他轮椅，一会儿又不给，来回几经更换。

他上身穿着毛衣，下身的牛仔裤褪至大腿，两者间是标准的一次性尿布（纸）。右手捏着尿布的沾条，食指上是一个小红点。我问他是不是抽验血糖扎的。他点点头... ...

添这些细节，目的是给他功能方面像一岁小孩的说法加点注释。说实话，我不愿意谈这类事，因为那样有碍他的人格之尊。但问细节的人太多了。我们先保他的生存吧。

问：卢博士持美国绿卡，在这儿经济上有社会保障。美国的医疗条件等都比中国好。为什么他不就这么呆下去？
答：他有经济保障。但更有“四无”在迅速吞噬他恢复的机会，乃至危及他生命本身。四无是：无医疗、无食补、无心情、无刺激。

一无医疗。谁都说，美国各种医疗条件和设施都很好。但他已与那些东西绝缘几个月了。唯一的例外是他需要急救的时候。医生说，他的能力已经达到了他的潜力，再给治疗也是白搭。所以根据有关社会救济法规，他从去年11月中旬起就不再得到任何治疗。这不会好了的断言属于自行兑现性断言：说不会好了，不给治疗，他的能力、潜力当然就没什么机会变好。但大凡接触过中风病人的都知道，有些病人在中风后过很长时间才表现出质变性的恢复。

二无食补。这儿还有很多的中西餐馆，他我一起品尝过不少家。但他自中风以来吃的只是瓶装糊状婴儿食品。每餐，都是那东西，历时八个月，如果他不走，就一直到生活的最后。他一般只吃五到七成。即使正常健康人那么吃，也会进入病态的，因为那样胃会萎缩、会不懂饥饿的。有过一次例外。那是12月17日，我带女儿去看他，发现他在急救室。下午三点钟左右，我问他饿不饿，他点头。我就跟医生说，给他点吃的。医生问，他可以吃什么。我说比较细软的东西吧。医生就去弄了夹心面包，夹的是鸡肉碎片，把面包的硬皮部分去掉后递给他。他吃得好像那是世界上最好吃的东西似的，吃完了还留恋地把手指逐个舔了，还带着一脸的享受样。后来我告诉他的法律监护人这件事，请她去要求给他比较正常的食物，但从无下文。直到2月24日与护理所开会讨论送他回国时，我提到那吃三明治的事。所长说，不能吃，你怎么知道没有一点半滴的食物跑到肺里去了呢？这就是护理所只允许他吃婴儿糊状食品的理由。那不是近似因噎废食吗？正常人不也时有吃呛吗？他们不管那些。他们只求无过，即使出差的可能极小。吃那样的食品，他是不会有好的希望的，他现在的皮包骨也是必然的。

三无心情。他倒是有药服。很大比例是抗或防忧郁症的。他在那种境遇的心情，我们能推测会很糟，但无法想象其中的煎熬、痛苦。长期大量服用那类药，正常健康的人恐怕也会变得不正常、不健康。

四无刺激。他的脑子需要不断刺激，才有机会苏醒、恢复。但在这儿，很少有那样的机会。他绝大部分时间是自个坐在那儿发呆，或躺在那儿发呆。

那“四无”累积的结果是各项能力指标没有变好的，只有变坏的。特别是说话量接近零；有时好像在说话，但大多没声音出来。相比，9月23日有一对好朋友夫妇第一次去看他的时候，他表现出了语言上的最大飞跃，他说要联系他大哥，还报出了大哥的姓名和电话号码。我当晚听说后感到奇迹出现了。但以后再没超过那次的表现。现在已经回落到了我所知的最差。

凡是去看过他的人都有一个感觉：他现在就相当于在不断下沉的流沙坑里，等救助。如果我们不行动，实质上，那也是一种行动，就是撒手不管，看他在流沙坑里继续下沉。结果会是无法弥补的遗憾。譬如，他的身体不再能承受长途飞行而断了他的归路。或者更糟。

所以，对他情况有直接了解的人，如他本人、医护所、法律监护人、朋友，都认为他在这儿没希望。继续把他留在这儿的话，他太悲惨，我们无人道。

鸣谢 Thanks re Wanbin

NOTE: This list, particularly of donations by checks, is preliminary. For instance, there are $1200-worth double counts (蔡智灵/许丽芳=蔡智灵/徐丽芸,余定满/周红=余定满,何流/黄竞=Liu He/Jing Huang, 许建中/宋淑=Jianzhong Xu/Shu Song, 张廷青/卓丽娟=Lijuan Zhao/Tingqing Zhang, etc.). Chinese Social Service Center has been working on the matter as diligently as it can. It will get done eventually. Thanks for your patience. XY

Donor 捐献者姓名.............金额($).......Home City 居住地

Via Internet 网上 (up to date 目前).....8282
Pengkui Luo 罗鹏魁.....................50.........Minneapolis/MN
Xiandong Meng 孟宪东..............200.........Vienna/VA
Zhengyu Guo............................300.........Woodbury/MN
Jun Wang 王俊...........................100.........Wilmington/DE
Vincent Zhou 周卫星.................300.........Toronto/Canada
Yixuan Xu..................................20.........Hopkins/MN
Wen Fan.....................................50.........St Paul/MN
James Wang 王忠.....................100.........Toronto/Canada
Jirong Jiao...............................300.........Toronto/Canada
Yuhong Yang...........................300.........Plymouth/MN
Jihong Guo..............................250.........Ann Arbor/MI
Liu Zhen 祯 刘............................30.........Calgary/Canada
Junping Yue............................100.........Canton/MI
Xianghou Song 宋祥厚..............600.........Vancouver/Canada
Jingmin Xiong...........................25.........Eden Prairie/MN
Xiaoyu Guo.............................200.........Los Angeles/CA
吴劳生&Zhang Qiaoping...........300.........Riverside/CA
任章玲／徐霞............................500.........Boise/ID
Hong Yuan...............................100.........New York/NY
Hongyun Dong 董鸿运............1000.........Vancouver/Canada
Chang-Yi Xie............................300.........Victoria/Canada
Jie Yin.......................................50.........Lake Bluff/IL
Yuyong Zhang..........................100.........Nashua/NH
Yong Qu...................................200.........Temple City/CA
Xiaohu Shang.............................30.........Monmouth Junction/NJ
Yonghe Wang 王永和................300.........Edmonton/Canada
Jianwei Wu..............................200.........Maple Grove/MN
Xiaojia Deng..............................20.........Brookfield/WI
Xiaoliang Wang 王小亮...............50.........St Paul/MN
Robert Erickson.......................200.........St Paul/MN
Jiping Liu 刘继平......................100.........Birmingham/AL
Daxin Shi...................................20.........Vernon Hills/IL
BidMall, Inc...............................50.........Swansea/UK
Shaojun Liu................................25.........Los Angeles/CA
Qunhua Zhao............................100.........Manvel/TX
Huaguo Xi 溪华国......................150.........Buffalo Grove/IL
Huazhong Xi 溪华中..................200.........Katy/TX
Robert Fu.................................100.........Chanhassen/MN
Chunkai Yin................................20.........Sunrise/FL
Haibin Huang.............................50.........Piscataway/NJ
Mu Lu........................................25.........Santa Clara/CA
Weigang Wang...........................20.........Baltimore/MD
Chen Ye......................................25.........Knoxville/TN
Yunzhi Cheng...............................5.........Arlington/TX
Yixun Zhu..................................50.........(undisclosed)
Jing Zhang.................................50.........Fairbanks/AK
Biqin Xie....................................20.........Los Angeles/CA
Zhen Hu.....................................50.........Boise/ID
Qiyue Zou...................................50.........Los Angeles/CA
Jian Qin......................................12.........St Paul/MN
Yixin Shou..................................50.........Tallahassee/FL
Jonathan Sun.............................10.........Irvine/CA
Junan Zhang..............................20.........San Diego/CA
Jinglai Li .....................................5..........Lockport/NJ
Zhi Xu 徐智...............................500.........Olympia/WA
Changchun Li 李常春.................150..........St Paul/MN
Shao Ying Guan 关少英..............150.........Woodbury/MN

By Check/Money Order to CSSC 支票/汇票(截至4/8)...19920

Linda J Solie..............................200.........St Lois Park/MN
Judy Solie..................................100.........Golden Valley/MN
耿庆璜／尹丽芳...........................500.........St Paul/MN
Mike Wong/Eileen Wong............500
何流/黄竞.....................................50
李怡...........................................100
许建中/宋淑................................200
蔡智灵/许丽芳............................100
程汝钊/肖俊................................100
Allwood Import LLS
General Account.....................1000.........Portland/OR
黄兰.............................................50
张伟.............................................50
李蜀南/王磊................................100
Wang Yue/ Liu Yingkai..............100
Li Ming/Shen Wei......................100
余正文........................................200
佟晓冬/赵海燕............................100
余定满/周红.................................50
黄素华/李宇红..............................50
王运菊.......................................100
李霞/高世嘉...............................100
Lily Wang....................................20
Bijun He......................................30
王静/周霖.....................................50
Min Zhu.....................................100
Yusheng Sun/Yuxiao Liu...............20
Kuijin Zhao/Liyao Li.....................20
Yu Zhang.....................................50
Lili Jing......................................100
Yueda Li/Jinfei Lim......................50
Yuan Wei.....................................10
Hui Zhang....................................40
Chunyu Zhang/Li Wang..............100
Flora R Yang..............................100
Winston X Zheng/Yao Yao.........100
Feng Xie......................................20
Rong X Lu/Joan X Zhou..............100
姜雷/丁莉...................................100
Lynn Y Chen...............................100
Kun Cheng..................................50
Hongtao Wu/Juan Huang...............30
Lu Xu/Jun Xue...........................100
Jingang Deng/Meiyun Chen............25
Jianzhong Xu/Shu Song................200
Yonghua Xuan/Charles Xuan........100
蔡智灵/徐丽芸.............................100
Yuching You/Yi Li.......................100
Shunan Li/Lei Wang......................100
Liu He/Jing Huang........................50
Yingying Hu.................................10
Weiwei Wang.................................50
Yong Chang..................................50
李军霞/阎来运..............................100
Baofu Gao/Xiao Y Young..............200
Gao Wei.......................................50
廖志慧.........................................100
Yonghua Quan/Charles Quan.......100
Li Huang/Yong Chang....................100
Liuqing Luo................................200
Lily Wang..................................200
邱培华/张燕..................................200
王章明...........................................200.......Montreal/Canada
Young Chen/Hua Wang.................300
Jane Peng.......................................50
Jin Xia............................................20
Yuzhi Li/Jiazhen Li.........................50
李玉福...........................................100
吴宝林............................................50
Xu Li..............................................40
郑峰 吉英泉 吴宝林 李玉福 王志强 齐大虎 许力 彭义 荆庆 侯茜 徐宏耀
马力 刘军等"冰钓"捐款.........................490
Yongyi Long/Yanping Zhang...............20
索淑明/索萍......................................600.......Detroit/MI
Jun Han..........................................400
浦瑞良/刘国玲....................................100.......Tempa/FL
Rai Yang.........................................100
Ming Cheng......................................20
金乐红..............................................500..........Charlotte/NC
王飞/Mei Kong...................................150
Jiqing Cao/Lihong Shao....................100
Xue Cheng..........................................50
Yanzhong Huang/Heping Zhou.........100
Ya Liu/Hudong Wang.......................20
Frank F Zheng郑峰/Fang W Wang.....300
华人夫妇...........................................100
叶云锦..............................................100
Yi He.................................................50
倪明..................................................100
Zhong Wang.......................................20
Jinghua Zhou......................................20
Xiaoping Yan......................................20
曹志强/苏莉华.......................................30
钱斌/阎小平.........................................20
Jicheng Guo......................................100
Shihe Fan范士和/Jinyu Xiao肖金玉.....600.....Edmonton/Canada
李典艳................................................500.......Hockessin/DE
Yunlong Pan潘云龙/Sharon Park.......500.......Cincinnati/OH
Bingwen Yan/Lihua He........................50
Jingchun Wang/ Liming Zhang.............50
谢廷栋/阮佩菊.....................................200
张廷青/卓丽娟.....................................100
Wu Yan/Chunmei Ding.....................100
Minlan Li李闽兰/Jianzhong Zhou.......500.......Toronto/Canada
Puqiang Zhang....................................50
Stephen Wang/Peggy Liu Wang.........100
孙华/尤忱芗......................................100
庞学平...............................................100
庄玥....................................................30
Yang Chong/Shouching Chao..............30
王晓梅...............................................100
瞿德霖/陈红......................................200
蒋梅／王春焰.....................................500.......Maple Grove/MN
邓江明/刘志强.....................................20
刘耀麟/何新蓉.....................................100
叶依群...............................................20
周玉明/张锡梅.....................................50
无名氏...............................................150
Zhengyu Huang黄震宇.......................200
K. S. Lee/Diana Zheng.......................300
Infolink Int'l Group..........................120
Yuelan Li..........................................20
Heng Chona Xiong/Jenni Chenghong Xiong..100
Kening H/Liying Wang........................10
Mei Ji................................................100
Tzong Meei Shaw/Li Yu Shaw............100
Hai zhang/Fan Wu.............................100
Feng Tang Open................................200
Lai Wa/Mary Lee...............................100
苏立新/杜德辉....................................100
黄悦.....................................................15
佟晓冬/赵雪雁....................................100
余定满..................................................50
Xiaoping Yuan袁小平/Lijuan Sun.......300.......Victoria/Canada
Lijuan Zhang......................................300
Wenjie Lin..........................................300.......Georgia
Wanli Jiang/Feng Li............................100
Yuhong Li/Benhuang..........................250
Yunju Wang........................................100
Lijuan Zhao/Tingqing Zhang................100
Qijue Hu & Chengwei Ding.....................50
Suping Lyu & Yun Huang.....................100
华人夫妇..............................................500
Wenhui Wang/Hongying Zhang.............30
郑瑾安／高敏.......................................100.......St Paul/MN
Caucasian Friend..................................50
Zhanguo Xin信战国/Junping Chen.......400

为卢万斌博士募捐: 初报

(Published also in Biweekly China Tribune 3/13/2009 Edition)
承蒙各界、同胞的爱心响应，截至三月十一日中午，到位捐款为$5,807，外加承诺尚未到位的$600，总计将近预定目标$20,000的三分之一强。

现将已收到捐献者姓名、款数、居住地清列，以表鸣谢。我们将在未来的几周内继续刊登后续捐款清单，以便各位朋友、老乡、爱心捐助者及时了解募捐进展。 若对捐款清单有疑问者请及时与我们联系。

也有同胞捐款心切，把款错投到卢博士法律监护人（Papillon）的名下。如果您那么做了，请向贝宝（PayPal）要求退款（政策是60天内可以退），然后上“http://way-yin.blogspot.com/search/label/Wanbin”重捐。

要达到我们的预定募捐数额仍是任重道远。近闻除江浙同乡会外, 还有东北同乡会、湖南同乡会、四川-重庆同乡会、北美山东同乡会、北大校友会、 清华校友会、交大校友会等乡情组织正在积极参与募捐活动. 各路朋友也通过各种网站积极传播信息，使更多的朋友、同学、老乡和同胞积极参与到这次募捐之中。在此谨代表卢万斌博士一并感谢。恳请大家继续努力，关注此事，以帮助卢博士早日与家人团聚、早日得到中餐、中医的疗理和亲人的照顾。

谢谢大家！

殷锡纬(StoneWharf@gmail.com)
耿庆璜(651-263-8647)　关少英(651-436-3893)
孙中义(952-476-2167)　王章明(514-768-2764)
王小亮（651-644-1993）

给国内朋友的信

“名满天下”一别，已是一月有余。安排卢万斌回国的事也到了万事具备、只欠东风。“万事”包括：万斌的身体相对稳定，证得了这儿他的法律监护人、医护人等放他回国的认可，确认并联系上了他回国后的主治大夫，万斌家人从思想到操作上的准备，等等。

“东风”就是所需款项：送他回去需要的费用，回去后大夫普查、诊断和随后医药、疗养、护理的费用，及其日常生活的费用。这些费用将远远大于我在南京时估计的。如：光是机票就得上万美元。又如：他每天24小时的照看护理需两班人，那就要每月2000元人民币（那是我当时估计的每月所有的费用）。回去后起始医疗费当时也忽视了。如果他需注射胰岛素，据说那又是每月1000元人民币。

我们这儿的募捐已于二月底开始，定的目标是两万美元。你可以在http://way-yin.blogspot.com/2009/02/blog-post.html看到我们的呼吁信。很多有心人已把该信贴上了不少网站。两万美元的基础是机票加每月300美元（即2000元人民币）的看护费而已。

回去后的起始医疗费，之后历时两年的医药费、生活费和其它费用估计也需那个数，即十四万人民币。那笔数得靠国内的朋友、老乡、同学、同仁、同胞募捐了。那件事就得靠你和余校长操心、操劳、牵头了。

时间上，应该是趁热打铁、从早吧。对万斌而言，时间就是机会。他在美国已没有机会。早一天回去，就是恢复机会的早一天到来。

如有什么疑难、问题，或需要更多的信息什么的，请与我联系。

颂安！

Wanbin Lu: Updates

WB's future social security benefit estimate is fine
It was obtained directly from the Social Security Administration office, using WB's SSN. You may find the rules applicable to WB specifically by clicking here. You may click here to see the rules for those planning on living abroad upon retirement in general. Note indeed that not every greencard holder retiring to China will qualify for social security.

$$$ help is unlikely from Chinese Consulate in Chicago
The caption says it all. The Office did offer a visit to WB, but conditioned on two if's: if his family would fax to the Office a letter expressing the desire and wish to have WB return to China, and if his friends would also fax a letter describing his situation.

The procedure of formally filing a request and then getting approval for overseas Chinese (such as greencard holders like WB) to resettle in China is very cumbersome and time-consuming; it also can be done in China after one's return. For those who are interested to know more, see an example by clicking here.

The Chinese Social Service Center dives into WB's case
The Center, through its executive director Yi Li You's personal involvement, has been one of the cornerstones for the just started fund drive on behalf of WB. It adds to the effort credibility, experience, and expertise, among many other things. Thank you, Director Li, for your initiative diving deeper into the case.

Checks made to the Center will be tax deductible, with receipts provided.

WB's PhD adviser calls
Dr. Robert Erickson, WB's adviser back in his UMn days, called on 3/3, thanks to Hung Chen's spreading the words. I will accompany him to visit WB on 3/9.

WB's life saver emerges, almost
I went to Shanghai Market on 3/3, and asked the cashier whether the boss was in. She replied no but why? I said that I'd like to ask if the boss would help out with what the appeal letter described. She said: Oh, we all knew who that guy was (who alerted the rental office to check in on WB and found him immobile in his chair); and he described his visiting WB as if spirit- or god-driven (gui shi shen chai), for cellphone repair. But she demurred when I asked for his name. I told her how to contact me and asked to convey to him my interest to talk with him.

WB is bruised but in good spirit
I visited WB on 3/3. He got some bad bruises on the right part of his forehead--I checked with the nurse, who took out the daily log and told me that the bruises were just skin deep, due to a fall on 3/1 .

He was in a good spirit, a rarity. Perhaps, the prospect of going to china has lifted him up a bit already.

As customary, I spoke in Chinese to him.

I asked him whether he remembered Robert Erickson. He nodded his customary nod. I followed up with the question: Who is he? He cleared his throat and said clearly: wo de bo shi dao shi (my PhD adviser). Another question: Do you like him to visit you? He nodded affirmative. I said: "He'd like to visit you but wanted me to check with you first to see whether you still remember him." He broke into a broad smile, as if saying why anyone would think such a thing (remembering or not). I said: "Well, then, I'll let him know and he'll visit you." He looked very pleased with that prospect.

I asked him about the person who had essentially saved his life. That part of conversation did not go very far, except that he seemed indicating that the person was there asking WB to repair his cellphone.

I described to WB the fund drive on his behalf and showed him a copy of China Tribune carrying the open letter appealing for donations. He took the paper and laid it down on his recliner...

I said goodbye to him and then went to check his room. On my way out, I noticed that he was staring at the letter, although it was impossible to tell whether he was actually reading it.

To Donors & Donors in Heart

Every response from you is a heart-warming experience to me. It shows that you care.

It is sometimes debated which should be the basic tenet of the human society: humanity or the rule of jungle? The rule of jungle dictates the survival of the fittest, whereas the yardstick of humanity is how one treats the most vulnerable.

Wanbin Lu might have been among the fittest. But now he is definitely among the most vulnerable. Your caring for him as a friend or a total stranger demonstrates that humanity triumphs. That is an assurance to us all.

We may be doing well for the moment. We may feel invincible over the horizon as far as we can see. But how far can we see, really? Misfortune has its way of sneaking upon anyone. How many foresaw the on-going financial maelstrom that has sucked away so much of personal fortunes as well as of the world economy at large? How often do we hear news of yet another rich or famous just falling prey to some terrible disease or accident?

Whereas misfortune is hard to predict, one thing is as certain as death and taxes: aging. Recently I emailed my daughter in college some photos of my extended family, from my parents in their 90s on down. This was her feedback: It's interesting (and a little sad) to see the grandparents look more and more like kids, while the cousins look more like adults. It is the iron-clad rule of aging that everyone, if blessed with much-coveted longevity, will sooner or later be like kids again at others' mercy.

Social Security may provide a sort of basic safety net for those who qualify. But humanity is the ultimate safety net for each and every one of us all.

Call for Fund to Turn a Tragedy around

(This article is posted at ilist.com simultaneously but in a slightly different title)

A campaign has been launched to raise fund to help Wanbin Lu, a multiple-stroke survivor, return to his family in China.

Wanbin has been a long-time resident in the Twin Cities area. He started here in 1987 as a graduate student on the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus and was an IT specialist living in Woodbury when a series of strokes incapacitated him late last July.

Wanbin has been in a dire health condition ever since, but cannot afford any treatment. It is a tragedy to see this PhD and IT Specialist having been reduced to 1-yr-olds in terms of his physical, language and other life skills, and this 6-footer weighing down to mere 120 pounds from his former 180. It is a travesty of common sense that he has received no therapy or treatment beyond medications since last October, and that he has been served only with baby food ever since the strokes, while he is perfectly capable of enjoying food like chicken sandwich (which I ordered while visiting him in an emergency room and which he finished by even licking his figures to show his enjoyment of it).

Wanbin has in China a family of two dozens plus, from his 91-yr-old mother on down, but cannot afford to fly there and get reunited with them. It is heart-breaking to see him all alone by himself except for care givers, while all his family members are anxious to have him back to their folder, to help him with treatments, and to love and care him.

We his friends just launched the fund drive to turn those no-he-cann’ts into yes-he-can’s. We need your help to spread the story of this heart-wrenching personal tragedy and to mobilize Minnesota Nice to make the turnaround possible. Please read A Stroke Victim for details and for contact information.

Please act now. Please let Wanbin's family in the distant land know that, yes, we have exceptionally cold weathers here, but we have even more exceptionally warm hearts. That is how we survive the cold. That is Minnesota Nice.

Please accept my deepest gratitude to you for your help, from the deepest of my heart, and on behalf of Wanbin, my once great but now tragic friend.

请帮一把卢万斌博士

(Published also in Biweekly China Tribune 2/27/2009 Edition)
亲爱的朋友、老乡、同学、同胞：
在过去的几个月中，您可能听说过卢万斌博士不幸多次中风、长期沦落于医护所这件事。我们在与他的家人、医生、监护人经过反复权衡协商后，本着对病人高度负责的原则，特向大家就卢博士目前境况进行以下介绍，以期各位能伸出援助之手，使其与国内家人早日团聚。

卢万斌，江苏镇江扬中人，现年60岁。1982年获南京林学院学士学位，1985年获加拿大多伦多大学硕士学位。1987年到明尼苏达大学圣保罗校园求学，1995年获博士学位。毕业后曾辗转芝加哥、威斯康星城镇，于两年前搬回双城地区，一直从事信息技术工作。

2008年7月下旬，单身居住在Woodbury出租公寓的卢博士中风数次，先轻后重。不知有多少天，由于丧失了语言、行动能力，孤身一人瘫痪在一把椅子上，挣扎在死亡线上。天意使然，终有人因几日不见他而生疑报警，才被送往医院抢救。半年后的今天，他的肢体能力、语言能力及其生活能力相当于一岁儿童，不能自理。这位身高6尺，昔日体重170斤的汉子，现今只剩下１０８斤。由于中风急救之后又一直滞留医护所全时照看护理、以及为控制多种综合病症而需大量服药，致使卢博士现已分文全无，亦无任何经济来源或财产, 只得完全依赖于政府的施舍。医生讲，他恢复自理的可能性渺茫。因此按相关”施舍”法规，已数月不给予任何的治疗措施。

卢博士孤身一人流落他乡。国内老家却有91岁的老母，四个兄弟姊妹及其后辈。他只身在外身患重病, 家人在事发两个月后才得知，万分焦急，多次表达了强烈愿望，要把他接回老家疗养，帮他恢复。

鉴于半年来有医无亲、有餐无欲, 医效甚微，医生也认同与家人团聚对卢博士的恢复是最有利的举措。在家人周围，他不但能得到最亲近的看护和及时而可口的他久违了的中餐，还可以得到外加中医的治疗。同时，与家人、旧友的团聚对他的身心和体能恢复都是一种有力的激励，将产生不可估量的正面影响。根据我们这些朋友几个月来的了解和观察，使卢博士与家人团聚实属上策。

不难想象将卢博士送回国内老家需一定的费用。医生说，他只能乘商务舱旅行，还得配备一名懂英语、会护理的随行人员。随行人员需要来回票。光这机票就得近$10,000.

另外，卢博士不是美国公民，其身体和经济状况也不允许来回旅行来满足绿卡居住的要求。美中之间又缺乏有关对方公民回国定居而照付其残疾或医护福利的双边协议。因此，一旦离开美国，他将失去目前享有的一切美国社会福利和医疗资助。这种零收入的状况将一直延续到他年满62周岁（法定最低退休年龄)，届时他才能通过美国驻上海领事馆领取约为每月$600多的社会保障金。也就是说，即使按他将来社保金的一半去估算他每月的生活和医疗费(即$325)，卢博士回国后的这头两年（在得到美国社保金之前），就需要约$7,800的生活保障金。

综上计算，帮卢博士实现回家的夙愿，并支持他度过头两年所需要的生活和医疗费大约为$20,000.

各位朋友、老乡、同学、同胞，我们希望在您对卢博士的现状有所了解后力所能及，为帮助他早日与家人团聚献上一臂之力。也希望以此事引起您对自己和家人身体健康的关注。俗话说“出门靠朋友”。在卢博士不能自理的情况下，我们谨代表他向各位请求，期望您能为实现他与家人团聚的夙愿伸出援助之手。

我们十分感谢社区团体对此事的关心。特别感谢华兴报、华人社会服务中心、和江浙同乡会为此募捐提供的支持。请将您的爱心捐款寄往：China Tribune, 566 N Snelling Ave, St. Paul, MN 55104. 支票抬头: Chinese Social Service Center, 并请在支票上注明“为卢万斌回家捐款”。也可点击此处或上way-yin.blogspot.com用贝宝（PayPal）或信用卡（按新开网页左下方信用卡标记进行）捐款。华人社会服务中心将为您这可免税捐款提供收据。我们将通过华兴报和此站及时向大家汇报捐款情况。若有意探访卢博士者，或询问募捐详情者，请与我们中的任何一位联系。谨代表卢万斌博士及其国内家人对大家的关切和爱心表示最衷心的感谢！

祝各位与家人身体健康！

联系人：
殷锡纬(StoneWharf@gmail.com)
耿庆璜(651-263-8647)关少英(651-436-3893)
孙中义(952-476-2167)王章明(514-768-2764)
王小亮（651-644-1993）

A Stroke Victim

WB, a long-time personal friend, an avid basket ball player and fan, a PhD ('95, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities), and an IT Specialist in the Upper-Midwest, suffered a series of incapacitating strokes in his Woodbury apartment late last July. With no family in the U.S. and no personal resource, WB has since stayed in a health care facility, under the legal guardianship-conservatorship of the local county. Other than medications, he has received no treatment or therapy for months. His long-term prospect of rehabilitation is poor.

It is devastating to see a man of his caliber having been reduced to his current status. His physical, language and other life skills are comparable to those of 1-yr-olds. He is physically more feeble than his mother in her 90s, mentally more depressed than one can imagine possible, and intellectually unreachable behind the façade of physical and speech disabilities.

WB has his mother, all siblings and their children in China, who have repeatedly expressed their strong desire to have him rejoin them. I recently visited them and was very moved by their love for WB and for their commitment to care him on their own. “Nothing matters but flesh-n-blood kinship” was their refrain. I also visited with some of WB’s long-time local friends there. Their reactions were shock, disbelief, sadness, and sympathy. They inevitably cited the widely-held belief that the falling leaf shall return to its roots. They recalled stories of WB being an extremely generous man. They pledged to provide active social support to WB and his family.

The sentiment of his family is apparently shared by WB. After back to the U.S., I went to see him. I described thus in an email:

He seemed soundly asleep when I walked in. I tidied the place up a bit before sitting down next to him on his bed. I held up an 8½"-by-11" photo of his mom and his younger sister in front of his face. He suddenly had his eyes wide open, seemingly studying the photo. As his eyes didn't brink while maintaining a blank stare and a motionless expression for quite a while, I was not sure whether he was actually awake. So I moved the photo a bit, and his irides moved accordingly, following the photo. As I took time to show him more photos of his clan, his eyes began to turn pink and well up with tears. I told him about my visits with his folks and with some of his long-time friends... He seemed to be absorbing every word of mine. I told him that all of them missed him badly and wished to have him back... I asked him whether he wanted to go live there, and he nodded firmly. It is indeed a sad contrast to see him lying in bed alone, extremely frail and wearing nothing but a diaper under a sheet, after having just visited so many of his loving and loved ones…

It is the opinion of WB’s medical team that joining his family would be the best for him. In fact, his greatest progresses in walking and in talking came at his closest friends’ respective first visits. Re-uniting with his loved ones may, just may, trigger some major rehabilitation. Further, he will be able to get help from traditional medical practices that are not available here.

WB is a U.S. permanent resident (greencard holder). He has lived and worked in the U.S. for 20+ years, the prime of his life, paying social security and other taxes as required. Because of bilateral agreements (or lack thereof) between the U.S. and his citizenship country, if he leaves the U.S. permanently, he will lose his disability and other benefits, except that he will receive social security retirement fund upon reaching his 62nd birthday. He will not qualify for any benefit from his citizenship country because he has made no contribution there (just as here one must earn a certain number of credits to qualify for social security payments).

To have WB re-united with his family will need about $20,000 beyond their means. That amount covers the travel cost of WB and a companion (a must), plus some of his living, caring and medical expenses before the arrival of his monthly social security checks. His family will still have to bear the bulk of burden by providing him with free housing, free labor of love, etc.

On behalf of his family, his friends and his legal guardian-conservator, I appeal to you to make a generous donation by clicking here or the orange “Donate” button in this blog. To reach the $20,000 goal, the suggested giving amount is $100-$1000, although any amount will be deeply appreciated. Please note that the recipient will be credited for your donation less a fee of 2.9%+$0.30 charged for online transaction. Alternatively, you may choose to send a personal check to: China Tribune, 566 N Snelling Ave, St. Paul, MN 55104, payable to the order of: Chinese Social Service Center, with "Donation for Wanbin Lu" written on the comment line. Either way, Chinese Social Service Center will provide you with a receipt, and the donation is tax deductible.

I invite you to pose questions, write comments, or share your thoughts under this post or via email. From time to time I will post updates on WB, in part as a way of reporting back to you on the fruit of your generosity.

Thank you in advance for your kind consideration.