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"A
Letter From
China"
By
Yisuyuan
Esteemed Mr.Bush:
am a Chinese mother, writing to you on
this side of the Ocean - Northeast China. I hope to tell you the
story of how Dr. John Aldis - an American doctor - helped my son.
What he is doing gives the best interpretation for the friendship
between the peoples of our two countries.
My son, Zhangxu, is a young orthopedic doctor
working in Anshan - a city in Northeast China. In 1996 he was
sent to work in Yemen by the Chinese Government. In a diving accident
he broken his neck and became a quadriplegic. When he was sent
back to China he was so depressed and frustrated that he even
wanted to kill himself. Just at that time he met Mrs. and Dr.
Aldis. They felt pity for him and decided to do whatever they
can to help him. They encouraged him to accept the fact. With
the encouragement of them and other friends Zhangxu translated
an American autobiography JONI written by Joni Eareckson in his
ward bed. Now the book is already published in China. In Feb 2,1999,
Dr. Aldis donated an advanced computer to Zhangxu to help him
contact the outside world.
 The
Health Ministry of China, China Disabled People Foundation and
China Rehabilitation Research Center all together held a ceremony
for his donation and the copyright signing for JONI in Beijing.
Many press reported the ceremony. On the ceremony the Yemenese
Ambassador shook Dr. Aldis' hands and said: "I want to express
our gratitude on behalf of our government. Dr. Zhang injured himself
while working in Yemen and you have done so much for him."
Now many Chinese people know that Dr. Aldis saved
my son with his love and kindness. In July 1999 he finished his
service in China and went back to the United States. But he is
still making every effort to help my son. He established "Zhangxu
Spinal Injury Assistance Fund" for (1) Helping Zhangxu to
set up a rehab center in Anshan to help more disabled people,
and (2) Sending Zhangxu to the United States for further rehab
and training for advanced rehab techniques.
It is Dr. Aldis' humanism and internationalist
spirit that makes me write this letter. I want to tell you, Mr.
President, the great friendship between our two peoples and our
gratitude to Dr. Aldis. He is the pride of all American People!
With best regards and thanks
Yisuyuan
A Chinese mother
For relative material about Dr. Aldis and Zhangxu,
please check the web site: www.zhangxu.org
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