By Catherine Sherrod | Director of Development
Meet Linh. Because of YOU Linh now has hope!
I wasn’t afraid of poverty. I didn’t know another way. What got me was the loneliness. Would my dream of a complete and happy family ever be reality?
When I was little, my mom passed away. She wasn’t my real mother—but my adopted one. I’ve never known my biological family. Afterwards, my adoptive father stopped caring about everything in his life—including me. I was neglected and treated badly so I ran away, becoming homeless at fifteen.
I fell in love with a guy I thought could turn things around for me. Although he didn’t have a job and we weren’t technically married, we were going to have a baby! We never expected our daughter to suffer from congenital heart disease. My boyfriend couldn’t handle the baby’s cries of pain. He turned to alcohol and violence. Again, taking it out on me.
I found Hagar in my darkest days.
When Linh came to Hagar, it was clear her greatest need was her baby’s heart surgery. Together Hagar, along with East Meets West and a group of individual sponsors, were able to provide the treatment. Hagar also took Linh to the hospital for a check-up where it was discovered she had a tumor in her neck which needed attention. At first, Linh was frightened and unsure of whether or not she’d be able to get help because of everything that had just been given to her for her daughter. However, Hagar’s counselors helped to calm Linh, and she underwent her own successful surgery.
Currently, Hagar is helping Linh secure an ID card—as well as her family record— so she can finally be an official Vietnamese citizen right as she celebrates her 33rd birthday. This will allow Linh to access the social services she needs to build a stable life. She’s also participating in a career orientation so she can start working. Linh can’t wait to be a hair dresser!
According to Linh, if Hagar hadn’t been there to help her overcome her darkness, she’d still be living on the streets. Now she’s able to work hard to provide a good life for her child—one in which, unlike Linh, she’ll always know her mommy.
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