Woan-Harn Running a Race
New Taipei City, Taiwan ~ 2016
Oil on Canvas
30" x 24"
Woan Harn lives in New Taipei City, Taiwan, which is a beautiful and humane country, welcoming to friends to come to Taiwan to vacation. She recalls a time when in her youth, she found herself with the realization that she appeared different (café au lait spots). At the age of 22 and after some searching and medical examinations, she learned that she had neurofibromatosis. She had a very large tumor on her neck. The doctors said at the time: there is no medicine to control and no treatment. They were not going to operate on it as it was too risky--the tumor was intertwined with nerves in her neck.This left her feeling quite depressed, almost every night wanting to tear her face, feeling so miserable.
Woan-Harn was lucky because she received the support and encouragement from the Sunlight Foundation. The Sunlight Foundation, National Taiwan University, and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital also hold occasional free clinic and medical lectures, through talks and clinic activities, so the NF community can better understand the disorder.
Woan-Harn wanted to help more people and decided to engage in social welfare work. She joined the Spiritual Child Development Center, which gave her insight into different life experiences and empowered her to believe that she can do the things she wants to do, and have the ability to help other NF friends!
Woan-Harn was lucky because she received the support and encouragement from the Sunlight Foundation. The Sunlight Foundation, National Taiwan University, and Chang Gung Memorial Hospital also hold occasional free clinic and medical lectures, through talks and clinic activities, so the NF community can better understand the disorder.
Woan-Harn wanted to help more people and decided to engage in social welfare work. She joined the Spiritual Child Development Center, which gave her insight into different life experiences and empowered her to believe that she can do the things she wants to do, and have the ability to help other NF friends!