Wei Senbao Comes Home

Blessing Hands Newsletter Wei Senbao's latest News In This Issue Sunny Rong Receives a Scholarship Five Long Months Wei Family Home Gifts to Ling Wang School Quick Links View our Website See our Pinterest Site Contact Us   Give $40 to Support a Primary Child.  Good News: Sunny Rong will receive a scholarship to Nanning College of Vocational Technology. Su "Sunny" Rong Shanni Sunny has  gotten a scholarship to study computer art design.  Two sponsors chose to co-operate to give her  a $650 scholarship. Sunny was born with cerebral palsy. These are her own words.    My name is Rong Shanni. but you can call me Sunny. I am a girl disabled in body, but I have studied hard in school and like math and physics. I have chosen to learn computer design. I like cartoons and have many ideas. I plan to open a studio to engage in interior decoration design in the future using my design philosophy and style.  I believe in God and I don't think he is prejudiced. My parents searched for a cure for me at birth but at last they realized that no drugs would help. Later in 2004, I had two operations to help my body be improved. Although my mother lost her job, my parents borrowed the operation fee. I am creative, but my body was hindered in its creation.  I am kind and friendly and I respect nature and love life. I have a positive attitude. Thanks for helping me complete my college studies.     Wei Senbao is Home  Wei Senbao is home. Over seventy people gave to Wei's medical fund. Thank you each and everyone. His medical fund will be reserved for another operation he will need when he is twelve years old.  I didn't get to visit him in his home on July 14th, since he came home by train on the 20th. However, I did get to meet his family and eat a delicious meal with them.  His extended family served us a great lunch of tofu, chicken, pork, and rice.    Five Long Months  Wei Senbao and his mom are back from Shanghai. Wei has come home to Longfu at last. I think he has grown taller in the last five months. He is fine now. He still has some swelling from three operations, but he is expected to recover fine. Wei Senbao was much better after his third operation.               Dr. Dai met them at the train station in Nanning with the hospital van.                 Dr. Dai, in the yellow shirt, has helped Wei to get medical care. Wei's mother stayed with Wei the whole time and helped other mothers at the Hope Foundation Love House. He was a favorite with the volunteers there. One went out of her way to help them, even buying Wei clothes. Lunch with Wei's Family The Wei family hosted our group as we visited Ling Wang School and Village on July 14th. We enjoyed their warm welcome and special meal.  We enjoyed the tofu and chicken soup lunch Wei's family served.         Wei's grandmother is a sweet, nimble lady, who is the head of her family. I was able to give $85 to her for the support of the orphans in her family. She does not speak Chinese, so our words had to be translated by the Yao health assistant for the village. We will be giving this supplement to his grandmother monthly. It is for the four grandchildren living with her who are without parents.  The Wei family home     Wei's home looks like it has been there a 100 years. This is a traditional design for Yao homes. The family lives on the second floor while the animals are on the first level. Wei's extended family Includes an aunt and uncle and four 1st cousins. Betty giving $85 to Wei's Grandmother. Mandy Ma helped to arrange everything.  Gifts to the Ling Wang School Children Eddy Wu from Hong Kong gave out art supplies. This is the third year that we have given school support to the Ling Wang one-room school in Wei Senbao's village. The first year our volunteers had to hike two hours to find the school, but now there is a new road. Our team took them toys, ping pong balls, art supplies, and other items like jump ropes. They knew right what to do with everything. Everyone enjoyed the toys given away. Eddie Wu demonstrates a kick toy.   Matthew Liu traveled with us this summer. He helped give out toys also.  College Scholarships Needed We will soon be featuring students who need scholarships for college in the fall. I interviewed many of them when I was in China. When they get their college acceptance letters, I can share their stories with you. Below are some of the present students in college on scholarships and some alumni of Blessing Hands. You can see more pictures at this Pinterest site.  Qinzhou Scholarship Dinner - 2013 We had many adventures during our summer China trip but that will have to wait for another newsletter.    Sincerely,   Betty Cutts Blessing Hands

Emergency Operation

Wei Senbao Update

Wei Senbao's Operation and Aftermath Wei took pain medicine and has been weak from two operations so close together. Wei had his first operation May 15th and all went well. He had the drainage tube taken out May 27th. However, he developed a bleeding blood vessel on May 28th and had to be taken back into surgery. This bleeding was unexpected and unusual. After the second operaton, he was in the intensive care unit, but he was moved to a common room on May 31st.  The unexpected second operation seems to be a success, but he is weak and has pain from the two operations so close together. They expect him to stay in the hospital for ten more days and then remain in Shanghai until they know he is well enough to go home.   Because the malformation was in a dangerous place, they were unable to remove all of it. Some is still there. They will be checking it at the end of the ten days to see if it is growing back. When emergency surgery for his bleeding became necessary, Mrs. Xia, the charity volunteer in Shanghai that has looked after them, guaranteed the 10,000 yuan ($1,626 USD) money for the emergency operation until Mandy could wire  Wei Senbao will have at least 10 more days in the hospital. a deposit to cover the emergency operation.  We still have to pay for his extended hospital stay, expenses at the Children's Hope Foundation, and transportation home. We have $5,586 left for these future expenses.    Doctor Dai will be requesting reinbursement from government insurance, but they only pay a percentage and not quickly. Wei's story is turning out to be complicated, but we have hope for his complete recovery. Soon he will look like anyother five-year-old boy we trust.  I hope to see him in his home on July 14th.              Will you be a blessing hand to Wei Senbao? Please give for his present needs and for his future medical care.                 Give $35 for his care  or send any amount by check to: Blessing Hands, 106 Timber Lane, Morehead, KY 40351.

Please keep Wei in your prayers.  Sincerely, Betty Cutts, Blessing Hands Director

Update on Wei Senbao

Subject: Special News from Blessing Hands

---

Blessing Hands News Dashuijing Primary School will receive a water purifier soon. Wei Senbao's Operation is a success Wei had his first operation May 15th. All went well, and he should be out of the hospital after his tubes are taken out May 27th. His mother is thrilled that the disfiguring malformation is gone. He looks like any other little five-year-old boy now. Wei's need touched many hearts. One of our administrators gave her salary for the year to his medical fund and our former students, who Wei Senbao after his operation have graduated, have started to give as well. I love it when people become Blessing Hands. The Angel Mother volunteer in Shanghai has put in extra time with Wei and his Mom. Before the operation, she took them to a park with her child. Wei got to ride on kiddie rides he had never experienced before. At first he was a little afraid, but he soon got over that.  Meng, Wei's mother, has been helping other mothers with seriously ill children, who are staying at the Children's Hope Foundation's home as well. Wei's story is turning out to be happy. I hope to see him this summer.  We had to put down a deposit of 15,000 yuan ($2,439 USD) before his operation. We raised $830 USD through our KY Gives Campaign on April 24th. Thanks to all of you who sent in support both during this campaign and afterwards. We still have to pay for his expenses at the Children's Hope Foundation and transportation home. Right now we have $7,212 reserved for his second operation and other expenses.  Thank you all.  Drinking Water is Boiled. Water Purifiers We are excited about our summer projects in China. The water purifier team from East Oldham Middle School took their training recently with WaterStep in Louisville. We will be leaving June 24th to start in Yangshuo with three schools - Fuli Dutou, Xiling, and Zhongnan Primary schools. Next, we will travel to Guizhou Province to install 5 more purifiers in the schools in the Anlong area. Wanfenghu Middle School will be the only middle school served. I think it is great that an American middle school will be  a blessing hand to a Chinese middle school. The water purifier team will return on July 8th, but Keisha Williams, our college intern, and I will continue on to Yunnan Province to meet Tibetian students we have been helping. Keisha Williams will travel with me as our summer college intern. In Qinzhou, Anlong, and Yangshuo, we will be interviewing graduating students who want to go to college. It is a busy time when we take movies of the students applying and feature them here in our newsletter and online. We will also be going to Du'an to take donated books from a primary school in Nanning to the Du'an students. I hope to see Wei and his cousins while I am there. Keisha and I will be returning on July 18th after a busy long trip. I will try to send out notices as we travel, but internet service is sometimes spotty. Look for pictures on ourPinterest site.  Summer Camp Teachers  We are not having a camp this summer, but I know of an opportunity for summer camp English teachers. The Association for Christian Conference Teaching Services is looking for teachers to serve from July 14th to July 28th.  Participants need to buy their own round-trip tickets and pay $1,500 for in-country expenses.  They fly into Guangzhou and then either take a high speed train or fly to Changsha. Interested teachers should contact Mr. He Gang at this Email or call 303-985-8808.  They only have two teachers so far and need a few more.     I hope to see many of our students and friends while I am in China this summer. I will be gone twenty-five days and visit three provinces. Eight people will be traveling with us to install eight water purifiers and assist in other ways. I really appreciate all of our friends and supporters, who make up the family of Blessing Hands.  I am most excited about adding thirty new primary students in three different areas. With the drop in the dollar against the yuan, we are going to have to start asking for $40 a semester for school aid for them. Expenses for students in China are rising as well. When we get a primary student sponsored, we can follow them for many years, and the sponsor sees their help make a deep difference.  Sponsor a primary child.  Sincerely, Betty Cutts Blessing Hands

Wei Has his First Sclerotherapy Treatment

Blessing Hands KY Gives Day is April 24th.   "Money Bomb" Charities The Morehead News Editor, Keith Kappes, Recently wrote a wonderful editorial about KY Gives Day. You can read it at this link.   He calls it a " Money Bomb".  In light of the recent bombing at the Boston Marathon, you can think of giving as your positive response to terror.    Ky Gives Day is Wednesday April 24th. Six other nonprofits in Morehead have now signed up. We encourage you to go to the KYGives.org page on the 24th and support nonprofits in Rowan County and Kentucky.    How to Give on 4/24 Log on to www.kygives.org Search for a favorite cause or organization. (Blessing Hands) Donate! Repeat steps 2, 3 and 4.(Give to other Rowan County Charities) Ask your friends to give too! Jason Justice, volunteer helping with Ky Gives Advertisement If you just can't wait, you can give any amount now atthis link. All proceeds from our participation will go to Wei Senbao's medical fund.    I want to especially thank Jason Justice who has volunteered his time to design and put up posters about KY Gives Day in Morehead. He also promoted it with a newspaper article.

Wei Senbao Wei Has Had His  First  Sclerotherapy Treatment Wei has had his first treatment.  I looked up sclerotherapy on Wikipedia. You can see it yourself atthis link.    "It is a procedure used to treat blood vessels or blood vessel malformations (vascular malformations) and also those of the lymphatic system. A medicine is injected into the vessels, which makes them shrink. It is used for children and young adults with vascular or lymphatic malformations. In adults, sclerotherapy is often used to treat spider veins, smaller varicose veins and hemorrhoids."   I have not heard if there were any complications or reactions. I heard it was a simple procedure and he should not have any problems. Instead of going home for 3 months, they have suggested that he and his mom stay in Shanghai for one and a half months at the Children's Hope Foundation. They are now paying 60 yuan ($9.68) a day for room and board to the foundation. It is still cheaper than having them go home and come back for the operation.  The volunteers and doctors feel that he will be better off near the hospital rather than in his small village where medical treatment is far away. They are home sick, but willing to stay for the operation.  Wei Senbao in his village Expense Report on Wei Senbao   I was checking the expenses of Wei and his Mother today from the time that we first sent them to Beijing for medical care and now that they are in Shanghai.  So far we have spent $4,655 for their care and needs during the two medical visits. You wonderful sponsors have given $12,166 for their needs. We now have $7,511 left in his fund with the first operation still to come. $645 has been given in advance for his hospital treatment, so some of the operation should be covered already by that deposit with the hospital. We don't know what is ahead or if he will need more complex care or transfusions. We did get  $50 for one of his cousins' school expenses. The rest of the children still need sponsors for school expenses.    Give $25 for Wei Senbao's medical needs.       Give $50 for the support of his cousins in school.

5 Water purifiers installed in Longfu Township, Du,an, Hechi, Guangxi, China

Longfu Primary Schools Receive 5 Water Purifiers Thanks to donors who have helped these schools, Blessing Hands was able to give five water purifiers. The pictures speak for themselves. We will be installing 7 more purifiers this summer.  A water purifier team from East Oldham Middle School will be going with us this summer to help the schools have clean water.  Kids get their first cup of pure water. The water purifier works by electrolysis and only needs a battery and sale to produce lots of clean water. Dr, Dai installed the purifiers. These students will not get water borne diseases. The purifier can clean as much water as can be stored.  Four more schools got purifiers. The stainless steel tanks keep the  stored water pure. Plastic pipe is welded with heat. Earthquake We recommend 博爱路 Agape Way as a good charity to donate to for earthquake relief. We were so saddened to hear of the earthquake in China. We want to suggest that you give to Agape Way for earthquake relief. They have many partners in the earthquake area and were able to help many people during the last quake. Agape Way has pledged to work with partners in China to join the earthquake relief efforts.  One of their partners has already gotten into the area after several hours of traffic jams on the road.  After the Wenchuan (8.0-magnitude) earthquake five years ago, Agape Way participated in the reconstruction efforts building 38 houses and 10 churches thanks to the faithful prayers and generous contributions from people like you. "Agape Way was initiated by Dr. Wanbing Frank Li and his wife Dr. Aijun Anna Li in 1999 and was registered in 2001 as a non-denominational, nonprofit organization with a 501(C)3 status with the USA IRS." They can give you a US tax deduction and have experience in the area of the earthquake. I have already sent them a check myself.  You can donate on their website at this link.    KY Gives Day at Fuzzy Duck Fuzzy Duck Book Store Offers Free Use of Computers to Donate People, who want to give to charities in Morehead featured in KY Gives promotion, can come to the Fuzzy Duck Book Store and Coffee Shop on Main Street in Morehead to give online. A Representative from one of the six Morehead Charities featured online will be there to help you give at the KYGives.org website.   Habitat for Humanity, KY Unite, Gateway Homeless Shelter, Doves, People's Clinic, and Blessing Hands are the Rowan County Charities enrolled.  Come on out for a cup of coffee or a good book, and take an opportunity to help others help themselves.  You can give here if you can't come out on Wednesday and want to give from your home computer.  You can also give by check by sending it to Blessing Hands, 106 Timber Lane, Morehead, KY 40351. If you want to give right now and not wait, you can give on our website.

Update on Wei Senbao

Newsletter  BLESSING HANDS
Wei Senbao Wei Senbao is an Outpatient Patient now.  I wanted to give you an update. Wei stayed two days in the hospital and then was able to take his medicine as an outpatient and be with his Mom in their rented room. He is now just waiting for the doctor to come back from the USA, so he can have his treatment. Mandy gave his Mom a cheap phone so she could keep in touch.  Wei Senbao at No. 9 Hospital in Shanghai    KY Gives   We have a college volunteer, Jason Justice, who has helped us make a flier and newspaper article about the KY Gives Day.    This is a state-wide event that takes place April 24th 2013. On April 24th, log on to www.kygives.org and search Blessing Hands. Click the link to give to Wei Senbao.  Kentucky Gives Day is a collaboration of the Kentucky Nonprofit Network, Inc., participating nonprofits and corporate, foundation and media partners. The Kentucky Nonprofit Network, Inc. exists to serve, strengthen and advance the Commonwealth's nonprofit organizations.    Wei is in need of an operation and Blessing Hands is asking for your help. All Kentucky Gives Day donations will be used to help give Wei the operation(s) and therapy that he needs.  For more on Wei Senbao and his story, please visit our website. If you would be interested in joining the Blessing Hands fundraising team then please volunteer to be on our KY Gives Team . With your help we can make this Kentucky Gives Day event a success!
Dr. Dai delivering  school supplies            Ling Wang Kindergarten                 & Primary School    The narrow road is new.     We just got pictures of Dr. Dai giving school supplies to the 50+ students at Ling Wang School.  Dr. Dai helps us get school supplies up to this one room kindergarten. He also checks on their health. Wei Senbao lives in this village. Until last year it was 2 hour hike to visit the school. Now they have a new road and the hospital van can travel to their door.                 The kids get workbooks and notebooks. The kids are eager to see what Dr. Dai has brought. All the kids get about 10 pencils The kids got balls too.         They are of the Yao Minority and very remotely located in high mountains. About half of the students will board at the larger school and sleep in dorms with large amounts of students when they get old enough to go to 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. Blessing Hands put cash jars in Chinese restaurants to get the cash to help these kids. Thank you for your donations in Morehead and Lexington.  The one room school students line up for a picture.
Check out Wei Senbao's page on our website	Give $25 to Wei Senbao with this PayPal button, or send a check to Blessing Hands, 106 Timber Lane, Morehead, KY 40351.   Sincerely,   Betty Cutts Blessing Hands