Release date: June 2012
Editor's note:The author faced immense hardship from a very young age. At just 3 years old, he experienced the death of his father, mother, and grandmother in succession. The following year, he contracted polio, leaving his limbs deformed. Despite these tragedies, he was taken in and cared for by his uncle and aunt, allowing him to continue his studies.
Ruan's unwavering determination and strong work ethic enabled him to excel academically, driven by a thirst for knowledge despite his physical limitations. Our organization is committed to supporting Ruan in completing his university education and embarking on a new chapter.
Northern Guizhou, with the overlapping mountains and beautiful scenery, connects the south to Guiyang and the north to Chongqing. It was once a military stronghold in history, with the remains of the Hailongge Ancient Site and the history of the Long March of the Red Army. However, it has been swept by the wheels of history, leaving only bricks, tiles, and statues to tell the passage of time. Despite its beautiful homeland, a tragic story lies behind it.
Suddenly, memories that had been sealed for thirteen years were opened, painfully reminding me of my great father. With the simple character of a farmer and the selfless dedication of a doctor, he sacrificed himself for the medical cause, unable to save a patient covered in tumors due to the backward medical conditions. On the 6th day of the first lunar month in 1997, while others welcomed the new spring, I tearfully sent off his soul. He left with the wish to send his children out of the mountains and his infinite love for the medical profession.
Eighteen days later, my great mother, unable to bear the loss of her beloved, overworked herself and tragically fell into the fire, suffering severe burns. In her last moments, with her sunken eyes, she conveyed her final care as a mother, urging me to strive to survive and take good care of my 37-day-old younger brother. She stretched out her swollen, burned hand and pointed, before departing from this world. Despite being only 3 years old, I have forever remembered that moment.
Sometimes, I wonder why the heavens have dealt me such pain, as a child having to bear the most profound, distant, and prolonged separation between life and death. But this was only the first punishment from the heavens. Two months after my mother's passing, my 90-year-old grandmother also left this world. How can I bear such agony? Where is love? Who cares for me? Who will care for me in the next moment?
After my parents passed away, all the belongings in our home were used up for the funeral. My second uncle took me in, preventing me from becoming a beggar. My younger brother was sold to someone at a young age, but my second uncle kept our family intact. Fate perhaps sets ladders especially for the weak. At the age of four, while playing on a hillside with my siblings, I suddenly felt weak and could no longer stand up. At first, I thought it was just physical weakness, but later I learned that I had fallen ill. In that moment, I was disheartened, thinking my life would end. Fortunately, my uncle, with the perseverance of a farmer, carried me on his weathered shoulders through the muddy roads and bustling markets, seeking treatment to give me a chance at survival. After half a year of seeking medical help, if I had been older, I might have told my uncle, "Forget it, let me just perish." But I was too young to truly understand the essence of kindness. In my next life, I vow to wholeheartedly repay those who supported me, especially my second uncle. I laid in the sickbed for a year, and was finally diagnosed with polio at the county hospital. With the government's assistance, I was able to walk again and run on the road of life's aspirations, though my hands and feet remain permanently bent and cannot be straightened.
Now, my aging uncle supports the family, and when I return home, I try my best to ease the burden on him by fetching water and chopping firewood, but I can never fully balance the guilt in my heart. Every time his weathered, wrinkled hands hand me the 250-dollar monthly living allowance, I can't help but have tears in my eyes, but I cannot bring myself to say anything. I really want to quit studying to reduce the burden on my uncle, but I know I can't because learning is the only way for me to pave a brighter path forward.
Finally, I received a donation from Care Action Macao, which helped alleviate my guilt and allowed me to choose to live resiliently. During the most difficult time in my life, it was my aunts and uncles who gave me that extra push - otherwise, my feet would have been as heavy as lead, unable to stride toward a better life. Just when I was about to give up, my aunts and uncles gave me that reassurance, without which my future would have been unforgivable.
The love and support I've received is immense. No matter how heavy the burden, I will stand up. I will dedicate myself wholeheartedly, and I will strive to repay your selfless generosity at any time. Though I was born and raised in the mountains, I will embody the spirit of the mountains - no matter how the wind blows or how thorny the path, I will press on resolutely, just as Zheng Banqiao wrote in his poem "Bamboo and Stone": "Clenching the blue mountains, never letting go, taking root right where I stand, breaking through the rocks. Battered a thousand times, pounded a million, yet still unbreakably strong, no matter which way the wind blows."
I have nothing but a sincere heart. I will be a steadfast person, unlike Wang Bo who lamented his misfortune and troubled fate. Instead, I will have the unwavering belief that "the virtuous shall seize the opportunity, the wise shall accept their destiny. Though impoverished, I shall grow ever stronger, never losing sight of my aspirations to the clouds." I wish to "ride the long wind, break through the myriad waves," and all of this is thanks to the sponsorship of my aunts and uncles. I truly don't know what words can fully express my gratitude.
At this moment, my heart is as vast as the sky and the sea. In the school canteen, I can volunteer and receive a free lunch and breakfast, and with the support of my aunts and uncles, I no longer have to ask my family for living expenses. I truly thank all my dear aunts and uncles. I pray and sincerely wish for your lasting good fortune; and I thank you for your selfless donation, which has given me the courage to be myself in the next moment.