Message from Chi’s Aunt Mary…

First, I want to tell all of you who have been supporting Dai with your love, your stories, your donations, your prayers, your precious time and energy – how much it lifts and strengthens the family.  Dai listens to your messages of encouragement.  He knows.  It helps all of us more than I can say.

I am his Aunt Mary.  I read the stories you post about Dai and I think, yup – that’s Dai!  He has been doing those acts of kindness and generosity since he was a little guy – since he could reach out to give away his cookie or his toy.  He was such a loving and compassionate kid, and he has never lost that.  I’ve been happy for his successes, but so proud of him for retaining his generous and sincere nature, and for being such an awesome dad, and loving son and brother.

My sister, Jeanne, is my best friend.  She is indefatigable in her determination to bring Dai through this.  I have always felt like her kids were my kids, too.  For my daughter, Michelle, spending time with her cousins was the joy of her childhood.   I try to spend as much time with Jeanne and Dai as I can – I try to make it there every weekend, but like so many of us, I feel limited and frustrated in the scope of what I’m able to do.  I want to do more, to make a difference in his recovery, and to support those who are closest to him.   So I do what I can to love and encourage and support Dai and the family.

The Chengs are a close, loving family — very funny and high energy.  The kids have such a strong bond.  The family is all pulling together, and supporting each other.  Mae and Ming and Jeanne and Gabriel and Jeff and Alice have been able to be here most consistently and  Dai really responds to them.  He is surrounded by love.

Dai is getting such wonderful care from the family and the hospital staff.  (No talk about  insurance companies here, cause I don’t want to go negative – grrrrr!)  But Dai is fighting one very tough battle after another –from the initial trauma and surgeries, to the fevers and pneumonia that he has had to fight off.  And he does fight.  It must be terribly frustrating for him, because we can see that he understands what is going on, that he wants to respond, but his brain isn’t making all the connections yet.  Healing is a painfully slow process.   But he is making progress.

I am so touched and grateful for the incredible loyalty and devotion of Dai’s immediate and extended and world-wide family.  Gina, you have made such a major difference to all the Chengs.  We are so grateful for your efforts every day.  I will be so happy when I finally get to meet you, my sister.  You are helping us all – Dai, his parents and sibs, the extended family, the world-wide family, the wonderful caring people who have started pages and blogs and on-line cards.  It is truly inspiring to witness so many people, who were touched by Dai in some way, reaching out to touch him when he needs them.  When he wakes up, he will have a story to tell, and stories to hear about the loving people who remembered his kindnesses.

One Love For Chi…

Aunt Mary