Love @ Po Leung Kuk

Sharing Love

感謝．信讓自閉學員接通愛的世界(Chinese Only)

今日的軒源媽媽（林太，長椅左），在保良局鄭翼之中心與斌Sir（陳衍斌助理經理）、洪姑娘（洪婉蓉社工）談笑緬懷。林太信中「進步良多」四字承載著的，就是足足二十年的汗水眼淚、起承轉合。自閉症是一道隔閡，分隔了軒源的內心與外在世界，攔阻彼此的感受交流。隨著軒源踏入青春期，內心湧動情緒急欲表達，就接連出現推倒電視、拍打他人的發泄攻擊行為。軒源的突發行為與日俱增，父母疲於奔命，也無可避免影響到專注備試的兄長，轉移暫宿就成為無可避免的選擇。「我將軒源帶到這世界，卻不能給予他正常的家庭生活和關愛，作為母親，這是一輩子的愧疚。」林太曾經如此感受，如此寫下。洪姑娘與斌Sir都記得，經歷三年醫院精神病房生活，初轉至鄭翼之中心的軒源也有著推人扯髮等攻擊行為，情緒陰晴不定。但當軒源初見寬敞的課室設施、花園環境，職員與年紀相仿的同儕……這些前所未見的事物令他心生好奇，在中心同事的教育照顧下，軒源的表現亦開始漸見穩定。今日的軒源，偶爾也會有脾氣與突發行為，但只要中心同事介入導引，不久就能平復冷靜。軒源溝通能力的進步與當初相比，更是不可同日而語—— 從一開始封閉自我於內心世界，斌Sir就回想軒源有一次提起紙筆主動抄寫汽水機上「Orange」字樣，見證他對外界漸生好奇；今天軒源會離開房間踏足客廳，主動與同學一同看電視劇集，甚至成了Hotcha、糖妹的忠心粉絲；而最令洪姑娘欣喜的，莫過於軒源今日更懂得照顧他人，投入集體活動，甚至有同學會喚他作「阿哥」。「雖然他不善表達，但也一樣有喜怒哀樂，教導軒源不重在經驗，請待他以真，相信軒源會感受到的。」今日林太與家人都會定期探訪軒源，回想過往一同生活的片段，她十分清楚：「軒源雖不擅表達，但內心是很愛錫我們的。」往日軒源一聽到嫲嫲的腳步聲就會跑來擁抱：現今每週一次的探訪環節，他依然表現出滿心雀躍期待。手握感謝信，林太與斌Sir、洪姑娘再次感謝彼此的耐心、努力與信任。或者軒源未必能夠將「愛」與「多謝」宣之於口，他的步伐，他的笑顏，未必需要事事說白，看見軒源的生命改變，他們已經心有答案。

Compassionate Lawyer Sponsors 12 Children: Aiming to Bring Happiness and Warmth to Kids

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.”

「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。」(Chinese Only)

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

Leaving Nursing to Nurse Her Son Back to Health

For every mother, feeling her baby growing inside of her during the 10 months of pregnancy is one of life’s most incredible journeys. Ms. Yiu, soon to be the mother of Laam Laam, could not wait to welcome her little one and start their small family, Born prematurely at just 26 weeks, Laam Laam’s tiny organs were not yet ready for the world. He spent crucial months in the hospital fighting to survive and he requires round-the-clock care – a ventilator breathes for him at all times. Laam Laam couldn’t run and jump like other kids in the past 6 years because he had to go to the hospital for various treatments. His ventilator must be monitored constantly. As such, Ms. Yiu had no choice but to leave her job to be Laam Laam’s full-time caregiver. While the financial, physical, and emotional demands soon became overwhelming, money grew tight as the income of Ms. Yiu’s husband alone could not cover Laam Laam’s expensive medical costs. Professional team of Po Leung Kuk Chao King Lin Early Learning Centre is helping Laam Laam on his muscle training Thankfully, she heard about the Po Leung Kuk Chao King Lin Early Learning Centre-Special Child Center. When the professionals of the center heard about Laam Laam’s circumstances, a dedicated team of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, childcare workers and social workers were fully geared up to provide holistic support for Laam Laam and his family. His performance on his speech, muscles and eating abilities were weaker than other children of his age at the beginning of training; however after 3 years of time at the center, Laam Laam made tremendous strides in developing his overall abilities. Ms Yiu feels immensely grateful to Po Leung Kuk and the center for providing her family with comprehensive support She cherishes how their care gave her strength and courage to face each hurdle along this difficult journey. “Because if I did not hang in there with courage, who else could Laam Laam count on?” While uncertainty remains about the future of Yiu’s family, Po Leung Kuk will continue to support children with special needs and their families like Yiu’s family through the Kuk’s full backing in fostering children development and meeting their family needs. With the assistance of Po Leung Kuk’s resources and generous contributions from donors, we are able to provide adequate and comprehensive training services for underprivileged children and families, safeguarding the children's growth and offering holistic support to families.

(CHINESE ONLY)運動是……打開心窗的匙

Cathy 2 歲時，因家庭問題入住保良局家舍。性格內斂的她不太擅於與人溝通相處，朋友不多，說話不多，直至遇上了欖球，徹底打開了她的世界。欖球是種簡單的快樂Cathy 從小熱愛運動，自學了乒乓球、籃球等。偶然一次看見別人在球場上打欖球，便被這項運動吸引。透過本局與香港欖球總會合辦的語文培訓計劃，Cathy 自2013 年起接受欖球訓練，並獲資助到海外參加欖球活動及文化交流，一步步成為青年欖球錦標賽的香港代表。回想當日看見別人在球場上作賽的畫面，她表示，「感覺欖球帶給運動員的快樂是很純粹、很簡單，也是我喜歡欖球的原因」。欖球帶我遊歷世界年僅18 歲的Cathy，已經代表香港到過多個國家參加欖球比賽，如去年8 月到老撾參與亞洲欖球總會20 歲以下亞洲七人欖球賽，她坦言︰「我從來沒有想過我有機會可以代表香港到世界各地作賽，這個夢想對以前那個小女孩來說，有點遙不可及，但現在我覺得我可以」。運動是種共通語言去年9 月，Cathy 獲選到訪日本觀摩2019 年世界盃欖球賽，學習頂尖運動員的技術，並與來自世界各地超過一百名年青運動員交流。雖然母語不同，但他們對欖球的熱愛卻打破了語言的限制，成為了他們之間的共通語言，讓她認識了來自泰國，甚至是約旦的朋友︰「以前的我不太自信，但欖球讓我變得健談，使我認識了更多的朋友，謝謝欖球擴闊了我對這世界的想像」。