Trip Freedom, Trip to Love

How would you define the term “Freedom”?  For Healthy people, traveling can be easily achieved. But for patients on wheelchairs, traveling is never an easy way. As for rare disease patients, traveling is something that seldom comes into their minds because it could be even harder for them just to step out of their home., let alone going abroad. But now, we are telling you a story about two brothers’ trip of belief, love and surprise from Taipei to New York, and a brave girl’s trip to tell people in another continent about her story. You’ll be surprised to know that rare disease patients can achieve so much.

Yi-Kai and Yi-Chi are both afflicted with Duchenne Muscular dystrophy. Yi-Kai said, “the must important thing in life is freedom. I can’t move around freely because of my disease. However, my heart can fly high and I know my heart is free.

” His dream is to see the Statue of Liberty because it is to him the symbol of freedom. Luckily, an entrepreneur know about Yi-Kai's wish and decided to support him for this trip. Two brothers were lucky to have many people's help all the way to New York. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs helped the two brothers to get the visa to enter the U.S.  China Airline provided first calss seats for them and their mother in order to make their trip  a comfortable one. Tzu-Chi Buddhist foundation, New York Branch sent out volunteers to  bring the two brothers to see New York cith. Yi-Kai and Yi-chi visited the flushing Mall, Corona  Park, Central Park Zoo, American Museum of Natural History, Metropolitan Museum, and  of course the famous Statue of Liberty, “I'm very glad that I finally see the Statue of Liberty  and I thank everyone who has helped me during the trip. I couldn't have been here if there  weren't your help.” They even met the Ms. Ellen Young, the New York State assembly  Member, who encouraged them to go for their dream, despite of their disease.      

Pei-Jin, another brave girl who just returned from her trip to Nu Skin's annual global assembly  held in San Francisco. She is a patient of Epidermolysis Bullosa and blisters are all over her  skin. At Nu Skin's annual Global Assembly, in front of more than ten thousand audience, she  played two piano songs with her atrophied fingers. Although she paused because of being too nervous, but audience's applause encouraged her to finish the songs perfectly. She also  donated one of her paintings for charity sale in order to help more people in other countries. 

This trip is a brand new experience and challenge for Pei-Jin. It is a difficult challenge for Pei-Jin to stand the long flight and tiredness cause by the trip. Luckily with many people's help  and encourage, Pei-Jin and her mother returned safely and brought back news about treatment  of EB from dermatological Research Center at Standford University. Se hopes to encourage  other patients with her story and just as what she said to us, “If I could do make it (this trip),  anyone could. Don't give up!”