‘Elephant arm’ girl returns to Taiwan for middle school
‘Elephant arm’ girl returns to Taiwan for middle school
2024-06-12
When she was two, Reachny Mich was brought to Taiwan from Cambodia to treat a massively swollen "elephant arm." Fourteen years later, she returned to Taiwan to attend middle school. Being an art lover, Mich is gradually developing her voice by teaching herself piano and drawing.
Today’s gym class is badminton. Since Reachny Mich doesn’t have the strength in her right arm to hold the racket, she’s particularly adept with her left, managing to serve one-handed.
Reachny Mich
Middle-school student
I can’t drop the birdie and then hit it. I can just drop it and then hit it with the same hand.
Although she’s from Cambodia, Mich speaks and writes Mandarin fluently. Astute and sociable, she fit in quickly with her classmates and has made some close friends.
Lin Ying-yue
Mich’s classmate
The first time I spoke to her, I for some reason struck up a conversation right away. It was really easy. I also thought she was really adorable. Also kind, good to people and thinks of others.
Since she attended elementary school in Cambodia, Mich says her math skills aren’t very good and she’s still trying to catch up. But her teacher can vouch for her desire to learn.
Chen Chien-ming
Homeroom teacher
Her level wasn’t the best when she started in the first year, but she’s slowly caught up. It’s a very clear improvement. I think before long she’ll be up there with all her other classmates.
In 2010, Mich was diagnosed with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, a congenital vascular disorder. With help from Yu Tzu-hsun, director of the Formosa Budding Hope Association, she was brought to Taiwan for treatment. Her arm that was 32 centimeters in diameter was successfully reduced to 14.5 centimeters and Yu became like a second mother, establishing her connection with Taiwan.
Yu Tzu-hsun
Mich’s guardian
When she was born, her entire community thought she was a monster, so no one was looking after her. The first time I saw her and heard her story from her mother, I felt horrible. I thought no matter what, this is a child. This is a person.
The compassion of this one social worker was able to turn life around for Mich. Now she is bursting with creative potential, teaching herself piano and how to draw.
Lively and carefree, Mich also serves as a cultural ambassador for her classroom, often sharing words in Khmer with her teachers and classmates.
This story was provided by the program "We Are Family"
Funded by New Immigrant Development Fund
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象臂女孩返臺就讀中學中文流利與同儕相處融洽
2024-06-12
14年前因為先天性血管瘤，來到臺灣接受手術治療的柬埔寨象臂女孩余君妮，以僑生身份回到熟悉的臺灣就讀國中。喜愛藝術創作的她，自學鋼琴、繪畫，慢慢展現藝術天賦。
這天的體育課，上的是羽毛球，因為右手無法使力拿球拍，余君妮的左手格外靈活，單手揮拍發球。
[[柬埔寨新住民 余君妮]]
“我沒辦法丟、然後發，我只能這隻手丟，然後這隻手也一起打。”
來自柬埔寨，但余君妮的中文聽說寫流利，善解人意、又好相處，很快的就跟同學們打成一片，也交到知心好友。
[[余君妮同學 林螢玥]]
“我先跟她講話，莫名其妙就跑去搭訕她。滿開朗的，第一眼看到她，覺得她也滿可愛，又很溫柔，對人很大方，也會為別人著想。”
因為國小階段在柬埔寨就讀，余君妮說，她的數學理解力較差，還在急起直追，但老師非常肯定君妮的學習精神。
[[班導師 陳建名]]
“她的程度，一年級的時候剛開始還沒有那麼理想，不過後面就慢慢有上來喔，而且是還滿明顯的，我覺得不見得會輸我們臺灣的小朋友。”
2010年，罹患先天性血管異常合併骨肥大症後群的余君妮，透過台灣希望之芽協會執行長余慈薰的協助，來臺就醫，原本32公分巨大的右手臂，恢復成14.5公分，余慈薰成為她的臺灣媽媽，開啟她與臺灣的緣分。
[[余君妮在臺監護人 余慈薰]]
“她生出來的時候全村都認為她是怪物，所以她在那個鄉下是沒有人理她的。我第一次看到這個孩子，又聽到她媽媽講這個故事，還滿心酸的，就覺得，怎樣都是一個孩子，怎樣都是一個生命。”
一位社會工作者的堅毅精神，翻轉了柬埔寨女孩的人生，原來曾經臉上總是憂愁的她，充滿藝術潛能，能夠彈琴、愛畫畫。
活潑、開朗的余君妮，也是教室裡的文化交流大使，經常跟老師同學分享她熟悉的柬埔寨語。
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