Max
05-07-2003, 10:47 PM
A mother's love endures
GWANGJU - A 101-year-old mother fills her days taking care of her 68-year-old daughter here, who has been paralyzed since 1939.
Park Ok-rang will certainly celebrate Parents' Day today, with the gift of her daughter's gratitude for her mother's vigilant love and care. She has passed the 100-year mark, but Ms. Park said she would like to live as long as it takes to take care of her daughter, who spends her entire day lying down, lacking the ability of movement below her neck.
A former middle school teacher, Ms. Park was busy at school when a babysitter accidentally dropped Ms. Park's then-4-year-old child. The daughter, Cho Eui-soon, was diagnosed with permanent paralysis because the fall had badly injured her neck.
It was just after the accident that Ms. Park's husband left his family to live with his mistress. The single mother had to be fully responsible for her daughter, while keeping her teaching job to support their family. Ms. Park's older sister babysat while Ms. Park was away at work.
"I quit teaching in 1953 because I needed to take care of my daughter more closely, whose health had gotten worse," said Ms. Park.
The mother started teaching her daughter how to read Korean and traditional Chinese letters. Ms. Cho was a quick learner, sometimes memorizing poems.
Ms. Park, however, said she could not help getting older and her hearing and memory have weakened.
"I don't want to imagine dying before my daughter," Ms. Park said. "How is my daughter supposed to live then?"
The mother and daughter live in a tiny studio apartment, leased by the Gwangju city government.
The government gives 520,000 won ($433) per month to the mother and daughter. Ms. Park said she never fails to save some portion of the money every month for her daughter's future.
"I need to save money in case I die ahead of my daughter. Then, she definitely has to have some money," Ms. Park said.
Ms. Cho praised her mother as the best mother in the world. Her life can be attributed to her mother's sacrifice, she said.
Yoo sang-yeop, a 44-year-old nurse who comes to help Ms. Cho, said Ms. Park has such a strong will to protect her child, that it has allowed her live more than 100 years.
by Lee Hai-suk <celine54@joongang.co.kr>
2003.05.08
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200305/08/200305080234494139900090409041.html
GWANGJU - A 101-year-old mother fills her days taking care of her 68-year-old daughter here, who has been paralyzed since 1939.
Park Ok-rang will certainly celebrate Parents' Day today, with the gift of her daughter's gratitude for her mother's vigilant love and care. She has passed the 100-year mark, but Ms. Park said she would like to live as long as it takes to take care of her daughter, who spends her entire day lying down, lacking the ability of movement below her neck.
A former middle school teacher, Ms. Park was busy at school when a babysitter accidentally dropped Ms. Park's then-4-year-old child. The daughter, Cho Eui-soon, was diagnosed with permanent paralysis because the fall had badly injured her neck.
It was just after the accident that Ms. Park's husband left his family to live with his mistress. The single mother had to be fully responsible for her daughter, while keeping her teaching job to support their family. Ms. Park's older sister babysat while Ms. Park was away at work.
"I quit teaching in 1953 because I needed to take care of my daughter more closely, whose health had gotten worse," said Ms. Park.
The mother started teaching her daughter how to read Korean and traditional Chinese letters. Ms. Cho was a quick learner, sometimes memorizing poems.
Ms. Park, however, said she could not help getting older and her hearing and memory have weakened.
"I don't want to imagine dying before my daughter," Ms. Park said. "How is my daughter supposed to live then?"
The mother and daughter live in a tiny studio apartment, leased by the Gwangju city government.
The government gives 520,000 won ($433) per month to the mother and daughter. Ms. Park said she never fails to save some portion of the money every month for her daughter's future.
"I need to save money in case I die ahead of my daughter. Then, she definitely has to have some money," Ms. Park said.
Ms. Cho praised her mother as the best mother in the world. Her life can be attributed to her mother's sacrifice, she said.
Yoo sang-yeop, a 44-year-old nurse who comes to help Ms. Cho, said Ms. Park has such a strong will to protect her child, that it has allowed her live more than 100 years.
by Lee Hai-suk <celine54@joongang.co.kr>
2003.05.08
http://joongangdaily.joins.com/200305/08/200305080234494139900090409041.html