Solitary Grandmother receives outside aid after fire consumes home

The elderly Hong Chen-ze who lives alone in Caoshan Village, Fanlu Township, Chiayi, lost her home after it was raised to the ground in a fire. The fire swallowed up all of Hong Chen-ze’s tools, leaving her stranded in her cold mountain abode, in need of urgent help. The predicament of 72-year-old Mrs. Hong became worse after her 76-year-old husband had an accident while working in the fields. He suffered head injuries, and despite being saved from the jaws of death, was left in a bedridden state. Following illnesses, her eldest and second sons passed away in 2009 and 2012 respectively, each leaving behind three grandchildren. Due to her daughter-in-law’s poor financial predicament, Mrs Hong was forced to dip into her own meagre betel nut income to pay the schooling fees for all six grandchildren. Now, with even the roof over her head being turned to ashes, Hong Chen-ze feels an even greater sense of helplessness. Though neighbours have tried to help, residents in these outlying areas rely on the land to eke a living, and so for the majority of them, it is a case of ‘The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak’.

Solitary Grandmother receives outside aid after fire consumes home
URL:http://www.peopo.org/news/107810

(以下是中文對照)

獨居阿媽 老宅遭祝融 急需外援 影音

嘉義縣番路鄉草山村4鄰4號獨居阿媽洪陳澤，唯一棲身的老宅，被一把無名火燒的精光，其存放工具的工具間，也被火吞噬，寒風陣陣的山城更添悲情，阿媽急需外援。洪陳澤現年72歲，76歲的先生洪榮池97年間在田裡意外摔傷，頭部重創，雖經送醫挽回一命，但卻成為植物人長期臥床，長子與次子則分別於98年與101年因病相繼過世，二子分別留下三個孩子，由於媳婦收入微薄，6孫的教育問題依然得倚靠阿媽山上那少得可憐的檳榔收入苦撐，現在連棲身的屋子也化為煙灰，洪陳澤更感無奈，縱然左鄰右舍出手幫忙，但一樣靠幾畝坡地為生的聚落居民，實在也力不從心。

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