| Disabled Children's Orphanage in Ba Vi, Viet Nam |
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My visit to the orphanage for mentally and physically disabled children was probably the most heart touching part of the mission for me. When I see severely disabled children and how they cope, it reminds me that the problems that crop up in my life really aren't that big of a deal. At this orphanage I saw a child born without eyes, not even an opening for them. I believe he was deaf as well and had some other obvious physical issues. I can't even imagine how separated from the world he is. There's a child here who's feet fold under his legs and who's hands never fully formed. Another life of endless misery compounded by the stigma of being different and having everyone constantly stare at you.The staff here has to be commended on being able to work with these kids and give them at least some kind of quality of life, they need more however... HSCV is graciously donating a number of dvd players and dvds to enrich the lives of the children. The ones who are bedridden spend their days staring at the ceiling or out a window at an unchanging scene. Over 280 people live at the complex, nearly 100 are disabled in some way. The staff cares for the most severely disabled while the others apparently cook for themselves. Overall, everyone seemed well fed but needed environmental enrichment. I observed several large crib like enclosers with multiple kids in each, I assume it's to better control them, but they had nothing to do. Our presence seemed a blessed distraction for the kids, but that's true in every orphanage I've ever been in.
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