In Memorial of Shuang Ing Shi Jie
When I opened my phone in the morning, in the group there was a message sent by Shu-Juan which read, “A Shijie in Indonesia died of Covid-19. I know this Shijie, I feel really sad.” I was surprised and asked, “Who?” Shu-Juan replied, “Hiu Suang Ing.”
I shouted, “Oh dear!” Tears suddenly flowed uncontrollably. For the first time, I feel that Covid-19 and death are so close to us.
Hiu Suang Ing is reported to have died on July 27, 2021. In August 2004, my son and I went to Jakarta, Indonesia for an interview. We met many Tzu Chi volunteers and wrote many articles. One of them is entitled Virginia Kusuma Shelter.
I present this article again so that everyone can get to know this Dharma brother from Indonesia who is full of love and compassion. I also pray for Shijie Suang Ing, who has perfected his mate in this life, to be born soon and come back to the world of Tzu Chi. Hope we can meet again.
*****
Virginia Kusuma Shelter
Around five o'clock in the afternoon (2/9/2004), traffic jams began to occur on the streets of Jakarta. Volunteer for the Indonesian Tzu Chi Committee, Virginia Kusuma, drove her car and couldn't help but follow the stuttering flow of vehicles.
“I used to have a driver too, but most of the time when I got to the foundation office or the location of the health service, I spent the whole day waiting for the driver to do nothing,” says Virginia, “so I decided to just drive my own car.”
Commonly called Suang Ing, Virginia Kusuma took us to her “dormitory”. The “dormitory” referred to here is a multi-storey boarding house located near two universities. The room inside is divided into many rooms for rent to students.
“There are over 100 rooms in total,” Suang Ing explained with a smile, “I have left two special rooms for Tzu Chi patients so they can stay here temporarily. I can't remember how many people have lived here in the last four years."
Suang Ing's ancestors came from Meixian, Guangdong, China. Meanwhile, her husband is from Fuzhou. Despite studying at a Catholic school and attending mass every week, Suang Ing did not become a Catholic. After a friend introduced her to Tzu Chi in 1996, she immediately fell in with it and became more and more involved in it.
Since she is responsible for the health services and case surveys, she often finds patients from out of town who have to stay in Jakarta to undergo surgery. Suang Ing took care of their accommodation before and after the operation, as she had a very practical “dormitory”.
"My boarding house has a buffet canteen, the food is cheap, and there is a washing machine to wash clothes," explained Suang Ing, "by living there, they are comfortable, I am also comfortable, not at all a hassle."
Suarsih: First Patient in Dormitory
The first Tzu Chi patient to stay in the “dormitory” was Suarsih, who had a large tumor on his back. To make a living, she had to beg in a remote fishing village.
Seeing Suarsih at the health center, Suang Ing thought she was an old woman in her sixties. “She was very thin and her hair was matted, in fact, she was only 37 at the time,” recalls Suang Ing.
Because her body was too weak, the doctor advised her to be hospitalized first to recover her body condition. Suang Ing and other Tzu Chi volunteers often visited her and brought her nutritious food. “I asked her to eat an egg and drink a glass of milk every morning and evening,” said Suang Ing.
Suang Ing explained that Suarsih had a 13-kilogram tumor on his back, underwent eight hours of surgery, and received a blood transfusion of four thousand cc. After undergoing surgery, it turned out that she did not have to be admitted to the intensive care unit and could be directly transferred to the general inpatient room. Unexpectedly, her condition improved rapidly.
After being discharged from the hospital, Suarsih had to undergo outpatient treatment and periodic check-ups, making it impossible to return to her village immediately. Without thinking, Suang Ing vacated one of her “dormitory” rooms for Suarsih to live in.
After the tumor was removed, Suarsih's body became fuller, her hair was cut short, her overall appearance changed. She stayed at Suang Ing's boarding house for three months before returning home.
"She found it hard to leave and said she wanted to stay as my maid, I told her, 'Your daughters are still small and still have to go to school, you have to look after them'," recalled Suang Ing.
Suarsih then returned to her hometown and worked as a laundry worker. When Tzu Chi holds a health service, she will be involved as a volunteer to bring patients to Jakarta.
Suriana, who Surprised the Students
The room that Suang Ing provides for Tzu Chi patients is located next to the lounge, adjacent to the laundry room and manager's office. The location is the area that most students pass through.
"Sometimes students will ask me why I brought patients to live here, I always tell them that it is a blessing for us to be able to help others and give them comfort," said Suang Ing, "we must cherish this relationship."
However, there is a case-patient that scares the students, namely Suriana who came from Pekanbaru.
When she was five years old, Suriana accidentally dropped an oil lamp and caused her body to burn. The burns caused the skin on her chin and chest to stick together, so her mouth couldn't open and close properly. Apart from her appearance making people cringe, when she wanted to eat just a little, Suriana also had a hard time. She was found by volunteers at a health service, then taken to Jakarta for further examination and surgery.
Aware of her scary appearance, Suriana always hides in her room and doesn't dare to come out. However, she still had to go to the toilet and bathroom. When she came out, the students would be scared and run away from the place.
Suriana has undergone four operations at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Jakarta. She always stayed at Suang Ing's boarding house before and after the operation. Now, the part of his skin that sticks out has been cut off, so she can move her head freely. The suffering that had plagued her for more than two decades had finally disappeared completely.
“Already become a normal person!” Suang Ing exclaimed happily.
The Loss of Fatmi's "Duck Beak"
“Now there is another patient in my boarding house, her name is Fatmi, a 24-year-old girl who also comes from Pekanbaru. She has had a lip tumor since birth. As she got older, the tumor got bigger, her lips looked like Donald Duck, making her feel very shy, often covered his face, and was afraid to meet other people,” said Suang Ing.
In August 2001, Tzu Chi found Fatmi during a health social service activity in Pekanbaru. Every time he comes to Jakarta for surgery, she and her mother always stay at Suang Ing's boarding house. The treatment is expected to be completed after two or three surgeries.
Fatmi had surgery in October 2001, August 2002, August 2003, and August 2004. Each time, she would stay for one month before surgery and two months after surgery.
"It's very nice to be here, it feels like home," said Fatmi with a smile. Fatmi's mother sells vegetables on the roadside in her hometown. She had twelve children, and Fatmi was the eighth. She said, “We don't have money to go to the doctor. Even if they can, the doctor also looks down on us.”
Fatmi has stayed at the boarding house four times and is familiar with the employees there. Every time I come to Jakarta, it feels like going back to my mother's house.
Fatmi's “duck beak” is gone, her lips are back to normal, but she is still wearing a bandage after the surgery. She always covered his mouth and laughed non-stop.
Pointing to Suang Ing, I asked Fatmi, "Who is she?"
"Mama!" replied Fatmi sweetly.
As long as I'm healthy, I'm willing to do anything
After the construction of the Tzu Chi Compassionate Housing in Cengkareng, Jakarta was completed, several units were left vacant to be used as temporary residences for patients who came for treatment from other cities. With that place, the mission "Virgina Kusuma Shelter" can be said to be temporarily completed.
"It's just that some old patients are still more used to living here," said Suang Ing with a smile.
Suang Ing is in the business world, often having to travel overseas for business. Wherever she is, her cell phone is always active to receive incoming calls or short messages. For her, carrying out Tzu Chi activities knows no boundaries of space and time, because volunteering has become a part of his life.
"As long as I'm healthy, I'm willing to do anything," said Suang Ing, "Tzu Chi is a place for self-training and I really appreciate it."
From a “boarding mother” who collects rent from students to be a “foster mother” who cares for and cares for patients, Suang Ing has contributed by providing a boarding house which she uses to generate money for patients and their families who come from far away to seek medical care can have shelter. This real, selfless contribution is the best humanist cultural education for the students who live in the boarding house.
Author: Chen Mei-Yi (Taiwanese Tzu Chi) | Subtitle: Nagatan
Translator: Olivia Tan (Tzu Chi Volunteers)
Sitemap