Seeing hope

Just when I think I can get through a mission without visually tearing up and having tears trickle down my face, this mother brought her young son to the clinic in Binh Phuoc. About 3 years ago, this relatively healthy child was diagnosed with "pneumonia" and was admitted to the local hospital. He was given antibiotics and Oxygen therapy. This child remained on high pressure Oxygen therapy for 8 days in the hospital. The Oxygen therapy destroyed parts of his retina and surrounding eye tissue. Overnight he was blind. What could have been a normal healthy life, turned into a tragedy that is very difficult to comprehend. As I was hearing the story from his mother, my eyes welled up so quickly with tears. I was so sad for this young boy and his mother. I couldn't come to grips with his normal eye sight turned dark. I felt helpless! Its situations like this during this mission where I become very emotional and distraught. It tears me apart to see the destruction of a sense that I take for granted!
I stepped out of the clinic after his examination and finally let the tears flow. When I returned a few minutes later, and saw him sitting in our waiting area with the sweetest, most angelic smile on his face, it immediately transformed my feelings from despair to hope!! If he can smile through this, his smile will assist me to feel hope!!!!