Hsiang-hsiang (not his real name) (祥祥), 8, was born premature with a cleft lip and palate deformity. His father Lin Wen (林文) said that he looked frightening, "like a piece of black coal with distorted features."
Because of his family's economic situation, Hsiang-hsiang was unable to undergo surgery during the critical 18-month-period after his birth. His mother wanted to give him away, but his father insisted on keeping him.
Unable to withstand the pressure of having a disabled child, Hsiang-hsiang's mother left home when he was three years old and his father and grandmother now take care of him.
Hsiang-hsiang is fed via a feeding tube which is painfully inserted into his nostril, but he makes light of the situation by calling himself an elephant. And although he cannot speak, he laughs, runs and plays just like any other child.
Hoping to raise public awareness of the plight faced by disabled children like Hsiang-hsiang and their families, Business Weekly Magazine yesterday held a premiere for a documentary made by director Lin Yu-hsien (林育賢), whose previous film won a Taiwan Golden Horse Award for best documentary last year.
Lin said that the experience of spending time with Hsiang-hsiang and other children had not made him feel sad.
"This documentary is not intended to make people pity disabled children. It is not sad," Lin said. "I see [the release of the film] as the beginning of an exciting life adventure for [disabled children]."
Lin said that he hoped the film would bring hope and opportunities to disabled children and their families.
The public still does not accept such children, Lin said. In the documentary, Hsiang-hsiang was running around in a hospital trying to play with other children, but their parents appeared frightened and pulled them away, Lin said.
"I do not blame them: at first I was shocked by Hsiang-hsiang as well. But the public needs to understand these children. That's the message I hope to convey through the film," Lin said.
Hsiang-hsiang's father said that he was grateful for the social workers that have helped his son.
"I want to say to other parents who have disabled children, to never give up on them," he said. "As long as Hsiang-hsiang lives happily, I will support him."
Wang Chang-hui (
"They [disabled children] do not need your pity, they need help and care," Wang said. "Next time, try saying a simple `hello' to them, to show that you care."
Hsiang-hsiang is set to undergo surgery today to cure his ear disease, which is a common symptom of those suffering from clefts.
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