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!!!
Showing posts with label Wanbin9. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wanbin9. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
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!
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!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
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.
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.
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.
Friday, February 27, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
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:
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.
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.
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