Family Pen: A 6 year old in China left to care for himself.

Six years ago, Ah Long's parents built a house on a hilltop until they passed away and left Ah Long orphan. Last year, his mother died when he was only 5. She got so sick, was really bad and got so skinny. The once robust father showed the same symptoms and passed away after a year. At an early age, Ah Long discovered life's hardship with his mother gone. But life is not only hard but cruel for less than a year after his mother's passing, his father followed. He also died of AIDS. It was heartrending for a child so young to become an orphan.

His parent's family took pity on him but were all scared of being infected. In fact, someone was willing to to adopt him. Before the adoption process, Ah Long went through a series of test and the doctors diagnosed him with AIDS. It is for this reason that the couple who wish to adopt him no longer want to proceed for concern of getting it. He was ready for school but was refused because the parents were against the idea of him in the school because of AIDS. He end up staying home, like a hermit, like a prisoner of his own home. It was like a life nobody wanted. A person nobody wants to be part of.

His grandmother who is 84 years old comes to visit when she can and check on ah Long. It takes a 15 minute walk to get to Ah Longs house. She planted some vegetables close to the house for him to eat but that is all she can do for him. He learned to cook to take care of himself. He learned to read and write. He lived by himself, alone and surviving.

Upon hearing this true story of a 6 year old, I ask myself what kind of a life would that be? 6 and alone. How can he survived loneliness? How is he going to learn love when no one is there to love him? So many questions in my mind, with no answers. He must have a heart of stone. He must be tough...

What could be the driving force that keep him going on life, to keep surviving, to keep living, alone? What about those moments when he needs someone to talk to? Those moments when he has questions and he could not find the answer? Those nights when it is cold and there is nobody to keep him warm? What about if he slip and get a booboo and nobody to comfort him? I am at loss of words for my heart is crying for his pain, for his loneliness and for his health...

I pray that someone, somewhere out there would give this 6 year old boy the love that he needed. That God will send angels to keep him safe, to enhance his earthly life with new discoveries each day to survive and enjoy the heavenly blessings - his surviving power to live with the life given to him. His acceptance of his life prepared him to keep going, I suppose.

My admiration for this young boy made me realize that if he made it, why can't I? And so I pray...