Translated:Chin-Yin Hsu

 

Ms. Arunee Lohacheba came to the US for a visit from Thailand twenty years ago.  Because she felt that the opportunities are more abundant in the US than Thailand, she decided to stay in the US.  She met a man and had a daughter.  Both of them lived together for the next ten years and she was supported by her boyfriend.  The living and personal expenses were not a problem.  However, after ten years, her boyfriend left her.  She worked as a nanny to make ends meet.  After another ten years, her daughter was grown up and left home to pursue a career.

 

In 2000, Arunee noticed a small itchy growth over her left foot.  She had no money and because of the language barrier, she did not seek care.  Instead, she asked her friends to bring medication cream from Thailand to treat this growth.  The cream could only stop the itch for a few hours and this growth continued to get larger. Although she had saved some money to see a doctor, the fees are still too expensive for her. Therefore, she continued to apply different medications brought by her friends from Thailand.

 

In 2004, the growth began to spread and became dark.  It was so itchy that she could not stop scratching it. When she scratched the growth, the wound began to bleed and her right leg was starting to develop spots.  She was worried but she had no solution.

 

Just then, a neighbor, Mrs. Varaporn Chistilcharoen, who also came from Thailand, had moved in.  They became friends because people from Thailand are rather sparse in the neighborhood and they can communicate easily.  Arunee showed her new friend her leg problem. Varaporn speaks English and began to help her neighbor with a solution.  She took her to a public hospital and helped her apply for low-income assistance.  They waited for a day and were told that the fee is about $80 and the medicine cost is extra.  Arunee could not afford it and they left the hospital.  They also inquired several other places and none of them were willing to see patients who cannot afford medical care.

Varaporn continued to help Arunee to seek care.  Finally, a friend told her to go to Tzu Chi Free Clinics, which will see patients for free.  They both drove to the Free Clinics. Without any identification, they still could not seek care. But volunteers in the clinics noticed Arunee¡¦s discomfort, they asked the doctor to see her.  They also urged her to get a personal identification card.

 

After seeing Doctor Ming Chang Hsu, his diagnosis was severe infection and bandages and medications were needed to prevent further infection. After several treatments, her wound began to heal.  When the bandages were removed, it was 80% better. Although it is still a bit itchy, it is much better than before.  Finally, they were both happy and smiling.