Visiting the Korean National Rehabilitation Center again

Me in front of the
 map of the NRC

Today, I visited the Korean National Rehabilitation Center again. There, I helped the nurses finish their work and entertained the patients. I met a female patient who could not talk. She was about twenty-three years old and her entire body was curved inwards, making her look small relative to her age. I read a simple picture book to her so that she does not stay bored. The book was a series of memoirs, all of which were written by handicapps who overcame their disabilities and became renowned people. Although she could not tell me that she enjoyed it, her facial expressions and grunts told me that she loved the stories.

Beside her was another female patient, the same age as me. Her legs were paralyzed, which meant that she could thankfully use her upper body. However, she was extremely shy, barely communicating with me, except for nods and short replies. For she was an intelligent patient, she owned a special computer, in which she learned many new things every day. However, the computer was operated by her brain signals and eyes. The mouse was controlled by the eye, and the letters were written by her brain signals and slight movements in her hands. I was quite amazed by how she operated her computer.

Research building of the NRC

Finally, I also helped the workers at the hospital. I assisted in cleaning the patients' quarters, copying documents, and feeding the handicaps. Again, I felt that disablities were similar, in fact, same as regular humans. They are just as kind, if not more, as normal people, although they have a slightly different view of life. I can understand how their physical body leads many to believe that they are different people. However, I hope that I can visit the NRC again in the near future.

A Handicap Who Struggled

Donovan Forde was a cute baby until he was six months old. He laughed and he loved singing, especially nursery rhymes such as "Baa Baa Black Sheep". One day, Mrs. Forde left the house for a day of work and arrived late at night at her parent's house. They said that "something happened to the baby". When Mrs. Forde rushed to the hospital, she saw Donovan, a six-month old infant covered with equipment and pipes. He was in a fatal coma. When Mr. Forde, Donovan's father went to buy a baby bottle, he left Donovan in his friend's care. While the friend and Donovan was walking along Broadway, an under-age driver handling a stolen car crashed into them at top speed. The friend's leg was obliterated and Donovan fell on the cement pavement so hard on his head that his heart jolted and did not beat for days. After six weeks of coma, Donovan revived, but his optical nerves and other part of his nervous system was utterly destroyed. Then, after some time, he came back home, with a new self. (bottom: Donovan is being visited by his mother and little brother)

When Mrs. Forde had a second son, she made the heart-rending decision to send Donovan to Coler-Goldwater Memorial Hospital, where he could be monitored 24-7 and Mrs. Forde did not have to pay the bills. There, Donovan learned the most basic things that an infant could master in weeks. Because his optic nerves were destroyed, the first thing he learned was to blink his eyes, which he barely manages to do right now. Then, he learned fundamental math and science, which are a necessity in daily lives. In a three-month science course, Donovan was taught how to identify and differentiate seeds and fruits. Donovan touches the seeds and fruits for hours, make queer sounds, and just stares blankly at the teacher. The teacher is afraid that he does not know if Donovan understands what seeds and fruits are. Fortunately, Donovan is making quite a progress in science. On the other hand, Donovan is severely struggling with math. Math is all about seeing coins, bills, and numbers. Since Donovan is blind, he has to feel the money. Usually, he spends an entire hour touching the coins and bills, and then gives an answer that is way off the right one. Luckily, Donovan does have a favorite subject: physical education. During physical education, Donovan cries out like a maniac (that is his singing) when the R & B music comes on.

I believe that all the people of the world must understand the state of these people. These handicaps are poor, helpless chaps who don't know what to do. We must help them, both emotionally and physically. The UN and other organizations are doing a nice job and I hope that this continues.

Please refer to : http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/education/20donovan.html?ref=handicapped