LUU
age 9

LANG
age 16

Besides being born with severe facial deformities, Lang's ears never developed properly, leaving her with a hearing disability, which has also caused a speech impediment. Still, she loves to show off the little English she has picked up from visitors by proudly announcing in her determined fashion, "Hello, my name is Lang. What is your name?"

Like teenage girls across the U.S., Lang has pictures of the hottest boy band pasted to the wall behind her bed in the room she shares with three other girls.

Luu has been without parents most of her life, so she has been raised by friends in her village. Physically, she is in good condition, but she has a slight retardation. Luu is very outgoing, is quick with a smile and a sweet laugh. Because she isn't physically disabled, as are most of the other kids in the village, Luu cheerfully helps the house mothers care for the other kids. In Vietnam, having a family is very important in many ways, so Luu has created her own family at the village.

When the dinner gong sounds, you can always find Luu helping Hoa, whose thin, bent legs barely support her weight, slowly make her way to the dining area as many of the other kids race by. She serves Hoa before eating herself. Then, Luu makes sure the tables are clean, chairs are put away, and Hoa has been taken care of before running off to the exercise area to play.