A Family Bond Across the Oceans - The Story of Mrs. Lin

Born in China in Guangdong province 1931, Mrs. Lin's life was hard as she worked non-stop to try and raise her four daughters. Mrs. Lin was living alone in China after her husband passed away 30 years ago. When her daughter married and had children in Canada, she applied for her mother to immigrate and live with her in Vancouver. For six years, Mrs. Lin helped the family by doing the housework and babysitting the kids while her daughter and son-in-law worked.

Mrs. Lin was involved in a family abuse situation and claimed she was badly beaten by her son-in-law. After the neighbours called the police, Mrs. Lin was removed from the house and taken to a temporary shelter where she stayed for 2 months.

Mrs. Lin was left without a home in a country where she couldn't even speak the language. Her sudden departure also left her with no money and only a few articles of clothing. With no means to support herself, Mrs. Lin was dependent on welfare and the goodwill of the shelter that helped her find low-cost housing and gave her furniture and all of her current belongings.

With police advice not to contact or disclose her address to her daughter and son-in-law, Mrs. Lin is isolated and cut off from the rest of her family. With no other family or support system in Canada, she is very lonely and wishes to see her family back in China. Her daughter in China desperately wanted to come visit and offer support for her mother, but could not afford to fly to Canada.

Mrs. Lin is very excited about the prospect of traveling back to China. She desperately wants to see with her daughters that remain in China. She also dreams of the moon festival, moon cakes, and hopes to return in time to experience the mid autumn festival!

On October 1st 2003, Mrs. Lin's wish came true as C.A.R.E. gave her an airplane ticket to Hong Kong, donated by Cathay Pacific's Asia Miles program. Her daughter in China heard the good news and excitedly prepared to receive her mother.

Mrs. Lin had such a good time visiting her family that she even extended her stay an extra week! Returning to Vancouver, she now knows that she is not alone. The stress of the situation Mrs. Lin found herself in is now dampened by the comfort of her families love and support.