Tzu Chi's Medical Mission: Relieving Suffering with Love

September 10 is an important day in Tzu Chi's history.

On September 10, 1972, Tzu Chi set up a free clinic in Hualien, eastern Taiwan. This was six years after Tzu Chi was founded in 1966. The store front Tzu Chi used as its free clinic was provided by the mother of Master De Ci, a monastic disciple of Dharma Master Cheng Yen. With the clinic, Tzu Chi provided free medical services twice a week and had done so for 15 years.

Back then, the medical volunteers would also go on medical outreaches to bring medical care to people along the east coast, and Master Cheng Yen would often go with them. Every time they went on a medical outreach, they'd help hundreds of people. Sometimes they even traveled around Taiwan to provide medical services to people in need.  

Now, Tzu Chi has its own hospitals around Taiwan. The hospitals are not set up to make money. They not only serve the poor in Taiwan, but have even treated many patients from abroad with complicated conditions. Take Sofyan from Indonesia for example. When he first came to Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, his vision was damaged due to the tumor on his face. As there is no known cure for his condition, Tzu Chi doctors operated on him to remove his tumor and reshape his face so he could be more confident in himself again.

After he recovered and went back to Indonesia, his family moved to Tzu Chi's Great Love Estate and he attended Tzu Chi's school there. He is in college now. He often takes part in Tzu Chi's events to share his story with others and also helps other visually impaired children. He majors in counseling and is now in his senior year in college. He'll graduate from college next year, and then he'll serve as a counselor to help others.

There were also the Pan siblings from Singapore who suffer from an inherited neurological disorder. When one Tzu Chi volunteer from Singapore showed Master Cheng Yen their photos, their bodies were deformed. Due to their conditions, they couldn't stop shaking. They'd been like that for many years, so their parents felt deeply helpless. After they were brought to Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, they each had a neurostimulator implanted and underwent physiotherapy. Eventually, they could sit and lie still and no longer wailed in pain or kept shaking anymore. After they went back to Singapore, Tzu Chi's medical volunteers there often go to help them with physiotherapy and even provide dental services to them. Up till now, Tzu Chi volunteers are still caring for them. Every time there is a Tzu Chi event, such as the Buddha Day ceremony, the volunteers will take them there so they can have more interactions with people and won't be shy. They've grown up and are now in their 20s.

There were also the conjoined twins from the Philippines, Lea and Rachel. When they first came to Tzu Chi Hospital in Hualien, they were conjoined at the upper abdomen and chest. Tzu Chi's medical team and volunteers spent some time giving them enough nutrition so they could be at a healthier weight and also grow more skin to cover up the wounds after the separation surgery. The operation was very successful. They have grown up, as two individuals, and are now very outgoing, beautiful and adorable. They are now in elementary school and even learning Mandarin.

This is how Tzu Chi members give care and support to people in need regardless of religion, race, and borders.