Can you help me?

I am a young mother, living in the outskirts of Danang. My husband has no connection to the military. Despite poverty and a hard life, I've lived a very healthy life. So, when I gave birth to my first child in 2004, I was so hopeful! My baby arrived and was beautiful! I was so happy to finally be a mother.

Two months later my baby still could not begin to support his head. Today, at four months old, he is still unable to support any motion in his body or lift his head. The doctors delivered a diagnosis of severe cerebral palsy and other physical defects. With a young, healthy mother and a strong father, we have no idea what happened.

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I am a student, working with the Danang / Quangnam Fund, Inc during the spring of 2007. In my entire life I have never seen anyone weep as bitterly as this beautiful young Vietnamese girl as she held her limp son. I was so moved - so affected - I had to step outside of her small stucco home.

Yes, this situation plays out sometimes in America, too. There is suffering everywhere. But what do we do when we even suspect that there is a connection between our suffering and someone else's actions? We get lawyers, we begin inquiries, we find support, we host road races and other fundraisers, we rally an able people to the cause and at minimum we find social support. Here in central Vietnam, she carries on with her life, and the lingering doubt that there is nothing to do and no one to help.

We can help... you can help.

Will you?