Love @ Po Leung Kuk

883歲的劉伯伯與71歲的太太同住觀塘區，主要靠高額長者生活津貼生活。二人皆患有長期病患，劉伯伯患有嚴重糖尿病，每天都需要自行注射胰島素控制病情，惜胰島素並不屬於醫療豁免藥物內，故每月僅有的津貼大部分都用來買藥，經濟壓力沉重，已無力再負擔糧食和日用品，平日清菜加粉麵就當一餐，談不上什麼營養。   劉婆婆則患有心臟病、高血壓、高膽固醇等，雙眼又因為黃斑點病變和青光眼，現時只餘下2、3成視力，不久前更發現身體出現如雞蛋大小的腫瘤。婆婆受盡病魔煎熬，情緒低落，又擔心受到病毒感染，令抑鬱症加劇了許多。 保良局劉陳小寶長者地區中心同事有見劉伯伯夫婦的需要，便貼心送上防疫物資、寄上餐飲劵，又不時致電慰問婆婆，提供情緒和生活上支援。當婆婆得悉保良局推出「關愛無限‧共跨逆境」扶弱計劃，可以與丈夫一起享用營養熱餐，她十分感激，「感謝保良局一直以來的關顧，在疫情初期送上防疫用品，又提供食物援助，在捉襟見肘的情況下，深深感受到人間溫暖。」 原來簡單的一句窩心問候、一份看似微不足道的熱餐，對於劉伯伯夫婦來說，意義重大。 保良局邀請您在這關鍵時刻伸出援手，支持「關愛無限‧共跨逆境」扶弱計劃，捐款HK$350即可為一名低收入、失業或其他有需要家庭提供為期一周的食物券/熱餐，你的捐款亦可讓本局推行其他多方位支援項目，靈活變通與他們同行。 疫情對經濟民生產生沉重壓力，對基層家庭的影響尤大，希望各位繼續伸出援手，與弱勢社群共跨逆境。

每日在菜檔做兼職、接子放學，母子兩人攜手回家，吃一頓家常便飯，是申麗平（阿平）最簡單的幸福。不過，兒子耀揚約在半年前，右腳股骨突然移位，需要套上支架長期卧床。 相依為命的兩母子生活大亂，10 歲大的兒子頓成嬰兒，洗澡、如廁都要照顧；阿平難以離家工作，柴、米、油、鹽、房租等金錢壓力湧至，她都會偷偷躲起來哭。但擦乾眼淚後，就繼續上路，四出尋求幫助。她說：「做阿媽係咁㗎啦，堅持！如果唔係我個仔點算！」 五年級的耀揚與其他小孩無異，好玩好動，最愛打籃球。去年11 月，耀揚右腳膝蓋疼痛，阿平起初以為只是兒子太好動致肌肉酸痛，帶他去看鐵打。但他其後膝蓋腫脹，無法走路，一到急症室就要立即留院。原來兒子患上罕見兒童疾病「股骨頭缺血性壞死」（PerthesDisease）；阿平憶述，當時已心知不妙，「醫生話佢右邊股骨移位，仲有骨枯，要做大手術」。   擔心兒子未必能承受手術，阿平一邊聽醫生解釋，已一邊淚流滿臉。可幸是，手術前仍有一線轉機，假若耀揚帶上支架後，穩定到股骨位置，能夠靠骨頭增生，移正股骨，未必需要做手術。為了讓兒子有機會逃過手術，阿平將耀揚接回家照顧。塑膠製支架套著耀揚的腰部至大腿，轉身都有難度，更莫說要自理。阿平說：「真係當佢BB 咁，抱佢起身，推佢沖涼、去廁所。」   原在菜檔的兼職因而放棄，阿平已是「手停口停」，房租限期將至，本堅持自力更生的她要申請綜緩，每次到元朗市中心交文件，都不能留下耀揚一人在家，只好推著兒子上輪椅，擠上輕鐵綫，其間更要擔心耀揚的右腳受碰撞而移位。四周的壓力令阿平難以入睡，亦常常流淚，但為免影響兒子心情，亦只得偷偷地哭。   綜緩審批期需時，其間阿平四處打探不同的經濟緩助，最終認識到保良局轄下，服務元朗和天水圍區的「天朗膳糧坊」的短期食物援助計劃。阿平說，一致電已有即時回應，社工得悉她不便外出，就派人家訪，「一見到吳姑娘已唔識講嘢⋯⋯ 覺得好溫暖」。   食物援助最長為期8 星期，派發乾糧如米、麵、餅乾、超級市場現金券等。計劃因應阿平特別需要，提供上門派餐服務。一包餅乾已令耀揚很高興，阿平說，兒子拿著餅乾不放呢。   透過食物援助計劃，阿平渡過了綜緩審批期，兒子卧床半年後，情況已大大改善，可望未來可拆除支架。耀揚學業因病而暫停，他時有擔心，但阿平勉勵他，照顧好身體，不怕沒將來，「我同仔仔講，人生無咁順⋯⋯ 但係都要堅持落去，雖然有波折，但總會過去。」 天朗膳糧坊 查詢電話︰ 2658 1511

Every Saturday morning, Lawyer Wong takes the time to visit the children, playing and interacting with them, and even preparing snacks for them. “I’ve always felt very fortunate in my studies, work, and family, so I want to give back to society and bring happiness and warmth to the children!”   Lawyer Wong's connection with the children at Po Leung Kuk began in 2019. Initially, she learned about volunteer activities involving visits and interactions with children through a member newsletter from the Hong Kong Law Society. During that event, staff from Po Leung Kuk informed her about the facilities, programs, and sponsorship details. Lawyer Wong found the program meaningful and decided to become a sponsor, hoping to improve the children’s living environment and provide them with opportunities to participate in various extracurricular activities.   After completing training for sponsors, she officially began visiting the sponsored children. Although the COVID-19 pandemic caused multiple delays in visitations, it did not deter her compassionate spirit. She expressed that she enjoys every visit, fully engaging with the children, saying, “Whatever the children want to play, I play along with them, even if it’s in the garden.” She also keeps track of each child’s interests, personalities, and memories to make future visits more familiar and enjoyable.   “I remember on my first visit to one child, he asked if he could hug me.” Unfortunately, due to visitation rules prohibiting close contact, Lawyer Wong couldn’t give him a hug. However, that experience deeply moved her, highlighting the children's need for love and care. With a heart full of compassion, Lawyer Wong hopes to reach out to and visit even more children, bringing them joy. Thus, she decided to “expand her family” by increasing her sponsorship from 5 to a total of 12 children. “I hope that in the brief hour of our visit, the children can have fun and find a different experience in their daily lives at the facility; I also want them to feel that there are many people in society who care about and love them.”