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Update: 2007 - July 2008
The UPDATE of 2005 - 2006 ended with my expressing a desire to be more actively engaged with the Viet Nam Laryngectomee Humanitarian Project in 2007. I had expected 2007 to be a year that would see me return to Viet Nam and again have the opportunity to work with Physicians, Nurses and Therapists at hospitals in Ha Noi, Da Nang, and Hue. Unfortunately that was not to be the case. It's been necessary for me to continue focusing my attention, energies, and efforts on restoring my health. A trip to Viet Nam wasn't feasible in 2007 and as we are closely approaching the close of 2008 it appears unlikely for this year as well. However, I'd like to share a couple of ways we have been able to remain engaged with Laryngectomees and others with communication disorders in Viet Nam.
During 2007 and through July 2008 we have been in contact, via the Internet with the Physicians and Therapists we'd previously worked with in Viet Nam. We have received specific requests from Physicians for educational materials and adaptive communication devices for Laryngectomees. We have been limited in the type of equipment and the quantity we've been able to send. We have been able to provide some electro-larynx devices and educational materials related to the acquisition and development of speech and language.
There appears to have been a significant increase in the awareness of communication disorders in Viet Nam beginning in 2007. In 2007 and now again in 2008 we have been able to serve Doctors, Nurses, Therapists and Teachers in a new capacity. We started to receive inquiries from these disciplines as well as the general public in Viet Nam. They have specifically requested information related to communication disorders; i.e. dysfluency, sign language, and delayed development of speech and language. In some cases they were interested in what search words or websites they might review on the Internet. Some have asked for references to quality therapy materials and professional books. Several were people with communication disorders or family members who have a son or daughter with a communication disorder. There were those who wanted direction in finding services for communication disorder near them in Viet Nam. One specific case was that of a 21-year-old female. The family first indicated she had a speech problem and she "couldn't talk". The family was focused primarily on her inability to speak. Over a period of about three weeks we developed information related to this young women and her learning and communicative ability. We learned that she had as a child suffered from severe and chronic ear problems. She had at about the age of 12 been seen on a limited bases by an Otolaryngologist (Ear - Nose - Throat) in Viet Nam. She was diagnosed as having a severe sensory-neural hearing loss and she was fitted with hearing aides. However, she received no training in either the optimum use of the aides or the possibility that she could learn an alternative means of communication; e.g. sign language. The hearing aides "bothered" her. As well, there was a negative stigma attached to her level of intelligence related to having hearing aides. She stopped wearing the hearing aides. We have been working with an American Non-Governmental Organization to evaluate her potential for an educational program that would both teach her an occupational skill while at the same time instruct her in sign language. They would also be able to provide education related to optimum use of the hearing aides.
Over the past two years we have been able to interact with Non-Governmental Agencies providing humanitarian assistance in Viet Nam. I'd like to mention two in particular and seriously invite you to see what they are doing by reviewing their websites.
Lotus Humanitarian Aide Foundations (LHAF). The Founder and Coordinator on the ground in Central Viet Nam is John Ward. I have had the honor of knowing and being associated with John for a number of years. John is a Viet Nam Veteran who in the midst of War developed a love and respect for the people and culture of Viet Nam. He has devoted his life to assisting the Vietnamese people. LHAF assists the Vietnamese people through a number of programs they have established:LHAF: www.lhaf.org.
- Building of Compassion Homes,
- Funding of children's educations
- Training young adults with handicaps in occupations for employment so they can be self sustaining and/or contribute to the economic needs of their families
- Sponsoring of open-heart surgeries for children
- Pre-School and kindergarten construction programs
LZ Russell Association. This is an organization primarily of former Marines who served on Landing Zone Russell, a remote Fire Support Base, in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam 1968 - 1970. This organization was initially established as a tool for former Marines and other military personal who had been associated with LZ Russell to re-connect with each other. For some 30+ years the majority of these men had no contact with those they had served and fought with. The organization has expanded its purposes over the last eight years. One area of change has been that of engaging in humanitarian efforts benefiting both the men and women of our military and the Vietnamese people. LZ Russell Ass. through donations to its humanitarian fund has sponsored scholarships for members of the U.S. Armed Forces. They have provided funds for the building of a memorial to those killed in the Iraq War. They have co-sponsored the building of a kindergarten in the Quang Tri Province of Central Viet Nam. Acting as a co-sponsor we have at times joined with non-profit organizations that specifically provide humanitarian services in Viet Nam; e.g. Lotus Humanitarian Aide Foundation.
