Story about Feng Shuang

I was visiting my sponsored student in her dormitory at the School for The Blind. As I was talking to her, I noticed a girl standing in the doorway. I invited her to join us, but she said, "I cannot." And my sponsored student explained that they were not allowed to enter other students' rooms. The way this little girl looked at me told me she wanted to talk.

I walked to meet this girl and followed her to her room. Her name was Feng Shuang. She told me about the new computer her father had bought her. She could play computer games with the audio device though she had limited vision.

She asked me why we came to visit them. I explained that we were there to show our love. She continued to open up more and said, "I was not blind before and went to a regular school. A tumor was found in my brain a few years ago. I am losing my vision gradually because the tumor is adjacent to my optic nerve. My body is not growing well, either. But I can still see colors and shapes." I marveled at her medical terminology and how eloquent her speech was.

When I asked how old she was, she bowed her head slightly, "I am 12-years-old. If it were not for the tumor, I would be two heads taller." My heart sank and I felt silly to ask such an insensitive question. I am short, too, and should have known better. I wanted to say something to make up for my insensitivity. I told her, "Look, you can still see me vaguely, right? I am short, too, probably just two heads taller than you. See how much I can do! I studied hard and became a civil engineer. I build bridges and roads and give instructions to 6-foot-tall workers on construction sites! I also have a three-year-old son. Being short does not prevent you from having a full life. There are a lot of things you can do if you think outside the box. You are a very clever and sweet girl, like me. Your future holds a lot of promises. Maybe one day you can fly to Seattle to visit me!" As I was talking, I felt like I was not only encouraging her but also reassuring myself.

She smiled and became excited, "Is what you say true?" "YES, absolutely!" I assured her. She nodded, and I could tell she was seriously pondering this revelation.

"Ms. Ho, you are pretty." What a sweet compliment from my new friend. Was I encouraging her or the other way? Who would have guessed that because of my small frame I was the perfect one to witness to Feng Shuang. This young girl left quite an impression on me, and I hope to visit her again.