Little boy needs wheelchair for Christmas
By Kerry McBride |
December 13, 2012, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
XIANG Xiang'er has been trapped in his body his whole life, unable to lift his arms for a hug from his mother, or tell his father he loves him.
The 10-year-old suffers from severe athetoid cerebral palsy and is wheelchair-bound, unable to move or speak.
Instead, the bright and happy young boy communicates using eye signals and captures everybody's heart.
But his condition is challenging for his disadvantaged family, and nearly all of their possessions have been sold to pay his medical bills.
With resources tight, Xiang spends his days in a wheelchair designed for a five-year-old CP patient, with the need for a new one increasing every day as he grows, risking injuries, poor joint formation and a curved spine.
But this Christmas may be extra special for Xiang and his family, with the city's expat community coming together to raise money for the new wheelchair he so desperately needs.
Bonita Lim, founder of social enterprise and fashion company NuoMi (Brown Rice Designs), has known Xiang's family for five years and watched them work through difficulties.
"They have been very inspiring. Despite the little that they have, the family has stuck together," Lim says. "I don't know how they have pulled through. I'm humbled by their struggles, perseverance and challenges."
Xiang's mother, Li Xueqin, works with Lim at NuoMi, which employs disadvantaged people to create fashion clothing, while giving them useful skills and the opportunity to become financially independent.
Lim has been working to raise the funds for an Ottobock wheelchair for Xiang, which would last for 10-15 years. But at a cost of 67,000 yuan (US$10,720), it has been a big task.
The chair would make a world of difference for Xiang and his family.
"The goal is to equip him to communicate, learn, and grow with less pain and discomfort. He has been trapped in his own body for the past 10 years," Lim says. With this wheelchair, he will sustain fewer injuries and long-term pain or discomfort. He will be able to sit up to learn and use his hands, or learn to use educational aids.
Lim herself has raised 30,000 yuan toward the target and a further 10,000 yuan was donated anonymously.
A branch of the Shanghai Rotary Club, Fresh Start aims to help praise the remaining 27,000 yuan through a fundraising dinner on December 20.
Jenny Lo, who is involved with Fresh Start, says the aim of the new branch was to give entrepreneurs and business leaders a chance to get involved with community service projects.
"The club's motto is to 'empower entrepreneurs with social purpose' because it wants to help people operating social enterprises as a way to provide greater impact," Lo says.
Getting Xiang a new wheelchair was the perfect project for the new group, and the whole team is hopeful the fundraiser will be a hit.
"It has been wonderful to get the wider community involved," Lim says. Last month, she informed them she was still short but working on it. "Last week, we informed them we may have many friends who can help get the chair by December 20."
If all goes well, the family may be surprised with the new chair at the dinner, which is being held at BOCCA restaurant on Zhongshan Road E2.
Currently, Xiang communicates primarily using eye signals, Lim says. "If his mum was looking for something, he already would know where she misplaced it and would use his eyes to indicate where it was."
The new chair includes a table and it's adjustable to accommodate Xiang as he grows. It would give him the physical support to try different rehabilitation techniques and improve his communication.
"His mum hopes she can hear him call her 'mama' one day," Lim says.
Date: December 20, 7-9pm
Address: 5/F, 22 Zhongshan Rd E2
Tickets: 300 yuan per person
Bookings at www.eventbrite.com/event/4987477680.
For more on Xiang Xiang'er, check http://freshstartchina.com/service-projects/about-xianger/.
The 10-year-old suffers from severe athetoid cerebral palsy and is wheelchair-bound, unable to move or speak.
Instead, the bright and happy young boy communicates using eye signals and captures everybody's heart.
But his condition is challenging for his disadvantaged family, and nearly all of their possessions have been sold to pay his medical bills.
With resources tight, Xiang spends his days in a wheelchair designed for a five-year-old CP patient, with the need for a new one increasing every day as he grows, risking injuries, poor joint formation and a curved spine.
But this Christmas may be extra special for Xiang and his family, with the city's expat community coming together to raise money for the new wheelchair he so desperately needs.
Bonita Lim, founder of social enterprise and fashion company NuoMi (Brown Rice Designs), has known Xiang's family for five years and watched them work through difficulties.
"They have been very inspiring. Despite the little that they have, the family has stuck together," Lim says. "I don't know how they have pulled through. I'm humbled by their struggles, perseverance and challenges."
Xiang's mother, Li Xueqin, works with Lim at NuoMi, which employs disadvantaged people to create fashion clothing, while giving them useful skills and the opportunity to become financially independent.
Lim has been working to raise the funds for an Ottobock wheelchair for Xiang, which would last for 10-15 years. But at a cost of 67,000 yuan (US$10,720), it has been a big task.
The chair would make a world of difference for Xiang and his family.
"The goal is to equip him to communicate, learn, and grow with less pain and discomfort. He has been trapped in his own body for the past 10 years," Lim says. With this wheelchair, he will sustain fewer injuries and long-term pain or discomfort. He will be able to sit up to learn and use his hands, or learn to use educational aids.
Lim herself has raised 30,000 yuan toward the target and a further 10,000 yuan was donated anonymously.
A branch of the Shanghai Rotary Club, Fresh Start aims to help praise the remaining 27,000 yuan through a fundraising dinner on December 20.
Jenny Lo, who is involved with Fresh Start, says the aim of the new branch was to give entrepreneurs and business leaders a chance to get involved with community service projects.
"The club's motto is to 'empower entrepreneurs with social purpose' because it wants to help people operating social enterprises as a way to provide greater impact," Lo says.
Getting Xiang a new wheelchair was the perfect project for the new group, and the whole team is hopeful the fundraiser will be a hit.
"It has been wonderful to get the wider community involved," Lim says. Last month, she informed them she was still short but working on it. "Last week, we informed them we may have many friends who can help get the chair by December 20."
If all goes well, the family may be surprised with the new chair at the dinner, which is being held at BOCCA restaurant on Zhongshan Road E2.
Currently, Xiang communicates primarily using eye signals, Lim says. "If his mum was looking for something, he already would know where she misplaced it and would use his eyes to indicate where it was."
The new chair includes a table and it's adjustable to accommodate Xiang as he grows. It would give him the physical support to try different rehabilitation techniques and improve his communication.
"His mum hopes she can hear him call her 'mama' one day," Lim says.
Date: December 20, 7-9pm
Address: 5/F, 22 Zhongshan Rd E2
Tickets: 300 yuan per person
Bookings at www.eventbrite.com/event/4987477680.
For more on Xiang Xiang'er, check http://freshstartchina.com/service-projects/about-xianger/.
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