Mr Mao’s tricycle

Recently on her way home from work, citizen journalist ellenlee spotted Mr Mao Zhone-ren slowly peddling his tricycle, carrying his severely mentally handicapped daughter Yu-ying. Mr Mao took early retirement in 2002 after his workplace began to adversely affect his health and from that point began caring for his handicapped daughter Yu-yin full time. At present, the family relies on Mrs Mao’s intermittent part-time waitressing and dishwashing work to make ends meet. The small van Mr Mao formerly used to transport his daughter Yu-yin was damaged two years ago in the floods of Typhoon Morakot. Mr Mao sold a three-wheeled motorcycle he had and after adding a little money managed to buy his current tricycle for the specific purpose of taking his daughter to school and for exercise. When the citizen journalist put away the camera, the sadness and struggle over so many years was plain to see on Mr Mao’s face.

The ever-worsening condition of his daughter Yu-yin’s scoliosis means that even short walks leave her stooped over in pain. Her vertebral deterioration has also caused Yu-yin to develop one leg longer that the other – this means she must deal with these physical problems in addition to her mental challenges. One would imagine that with such suffering Yu-yin would be eligible for government assistance that could provide a walker or wheelchair, but on the family’s first approach to a local hospital to apply for such assistance they were nonchalantly rebuffed by the first doctor.

The family has no alternative but to grin and bear it, and continue to struggle forward with life. Right now, the most pressing issue for Mr Mao is to find a canopy for the tricycle that will provide a shelter from the blistering heat of the sun as well as shelter from the wind and rain. Mr Mao also hopes that the community at large can find the love within to lend a helping hand.

PeoPo 公民新聞

Mr Mao’s tricycle (by ellenlee)

URL:

http://www.peopo.org/portal.php?op=viewPost&articleId=99624 

 (以下為中文對照)

毛爸爸的三輪車 ( ellenlee ) 

照片

公民記者ellenlee最近下班途中，會見到毛忠仁緩緩踩踏著三輪車的背影，原來被載著的，是毛爸爸18年來患有極重度智能障礙的女兒。毛爸爸於民國91年因身體狀況與職場不順，提早退休專心在家照顧患有極重度智能障礙的女兒昱茵，夫妻倆目前靠著毛太太在外洗碗或端盤子，不定時的打零工維持家計。毛爸爸平時載送昱茵的自小客車，在八八風災時泡了水壞掉了，兩年多前，他將僅存的一輛載貨用大型三輪車賣掉，貼了一些錢，買了現在這台專門載送女兒上下學，以及休憩運動用的三輪車。

公民記者收起攝影機後，毛爸爸放下了鏡頭前的矜持，好幾次皺著眉，吐露自己長久以來一直撐、快撐不下去的心酸，昱茵愈來愈嚴重的脊椎側彎，讓她每走一小段路，就會因為不舒服而90度彎腰停歇著，還有因為脊椎問題而產生的長短腳，都讓他覺得昱茵除了智能障礙外，也該申請肢體障礙的證明，多為女兒爭取一些社會福利，例如助行器或輪椅等，無奈他在第一關的醫院門診詢問，被不明就理的醫生一口回絕，只能咬著牙，還是要繼續生活，繼續撐下去。目前毛爸爸最迫切需要的，是三輪車的「遮雨(陽)棚」，希望有人能夠提供材料與協助完成，讓他們除了抵抗即將到來的夏日豔陽外，還可以提供遮風避雨的功能，也希望社會大眾能發揮大愛，伸出援手。

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