Lessons learned in Luoyang - in correspond to Public Health& Genetics

In correspond to the previous article on public health genetics, I guess this is an eye opening for most of us!

The child that was peeling the banana skin and laughing and murmuring was literally a 'potato' which take no response to touch or words in July 2007. And he had also a several spasm that led to fatal, and had to be sent back to the homes, where the medical care was more intense.

But the love of the adopted parents and prayers, as well as the principle of Tender, Loving, Care had caused a miracle in his life. Just as the foster parents refused to give up the child, the child miraculously responded and had a breakthrough since then. This was a video clip taken while we went to Luoyang in December 2007.

The improvement of the child and the other children were amazing and kept as testimonies that encouraged the workers and officials at the homes. The stories had inspired the villagers, and caused them to seriously consider to pour out their love and care to these seemingly 'no hope' children.

What we had thought from a medical history background, we would probably had defined this children as hopeless. Children with cerebral palsy, hemiplegia, spinal muscular astrophy etc. , even if they are with their own parents, their homes had often been filled with sadness and clouded by a dark atmosphere. However, in these homes that had taken the children in, we found ourselves in a bright and an atmosphere filled with hope!

The doctor and the nurse in the home had shared with me that they felt so excited after they had been with this project! Their lives had been changed completely. They had never felt so much for the patients before, and now seeing the improvement and daily changes of the children, seeming are their own children. Their lives had never been the same as before!

The lesson that I learned from this trip was: Focus on what we can give at this moment! The right thing to do at the right moment!

May God bless you!

P/s: The organization which had done the fabulous job is called CEO. For further details, and to know how to get involved, please visit http://www.ceo-foundation.org/

Reflecting on Public Health Genetics and areas Christians can serve

Having to read the stories of families with genetic disease, their real life battles, I was lost in the waves of painful memories......

Neither me or my family had been diagnosed any genetic disease, yet the similar experiences of having someone dear passed away, either expected or unexpected; experiences of cold shoulder treatment of insensitive healthcare professionals, being ignored and treated as naive child; experience to wait in a hospital for hours after the appointment time; scheduled for appointments several months later while the condition was urgent and worrying; experiences of not having anyone to talk to, being shut off of communications and proper care...... all of these added to remorse feeling and guilt for the bereaved. 

Public Health Genetics had helped me to understand the needs of care to the patients. Reading their stories, positive or negative led me to come to a conclusion, it is about how much do we care, and how we are going to live with it? There is a choice to be made, as the patient survived. Are we going to live with him/her just as any normal person, or are we going to grief and regret all the time for his/her condition?

Prenatal screening is widely available these days, thus give parents a reproductive choice. But having very limited knowledge and prejudice over an issue might lead to a regretful decision. Many people are struggling in searching the meaning of life, many people point towards genetic mutations as a mistake or imperfection. How we Christians respond to these questions? Are we equipped with knowledge in truth and love? Are we able to walk with them through times of difficulties and frustrations? 

In most countries, the states/institutions do not have enough support in terms of care and finance. Churches and non-profit organizations need to take notes on this.

A mother who had a son with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT) commented as she learned about someone's decision to terminate her pregnancy as the fetus were diagnosed CMT, " All I kept thinking was, if given the opportunity at the time, I had thought the same and terminated my pregnancy with my son, I would have missed out on a lovely person being part of my life."

A mother who had a mild-Down Syndrome girl said, " We've found out that there is a lot we can do to help our daughter reach her full potential, as you would with any other child, and there is hope for the future...... My daughter has a much more positive future than those neglected and abused."

Having said, there were a lot of things that they had to face as they came to this statement. What do you think, soldier of Christ? There are a lot of things that we can do in this field! Doctors, nurses, mid-wives, physiotherapists, there are ways that you can get to know these people personally, be with them and walk with them.  Make a difference in the medical field! Let us have more Christian workers in Medicine!

Re: www.geneticseducation.nhs.uk/tellingstories/index.asp