Patient Testimonials

The Ultimate Price

“If it wasn’t for Sequoia, we would be lost.”
Story by Luis Baez & Ka Yang, Outreach Specialists

Through our outreach efforts, we have heard many stories; however, one that stands out the most is the story of a courageous Hmong family. During the Vietnam War in Laos this family paid the ultimate price to get to freedom. After overcoming many other ordeals, this family ultimately landed at one of our Sequoia clinics where they were able to finally see light at the end of the tunnel.

This story began when Nhia Bee, his wife Mee & 6 children had to flee their village in Laos because of the Vietnam War. Thousands of people died due to the war and there are estimates that the Hmong are still suffering the consequences in Thailand (where many settled as refugees). For this family though, the price paid was even greater. Tragically, they had to bury 5 of their children on their way to the camps. After the U.S pulled out of the Vietnam War, word spread that if you could make it to Thailand and across the Mekong River, you would be out of harms way. However, it was much easier said than done.

Nhia Bee, his wife Mee and 6 children, suffered through devastating events. Many of those included lack of food, water and a wide array of sicknesses. Nhia Bee explains, “During that time many people died while fleeing the communists. We survived many situations, but we could not save our most prized possessions - we lost five of our children. No matter what we did during those years of travel, no matter how hard we tried to work against everything that was against us, sickness followed. There was no food around; we had to survive on plants and other things that we found on our way. One by one our children got weaker and weaker until sickness struck. We could not control their fevers. I don’t know why! I don’t understand! We tried everything to bring the fever down! We could not save them! Five of our children died on the way to the refugee camps. I can still remember the last breaths of my children as one by one they were stripped from my arms”.

After years of traveling, Nhia and family arrived at the refugee camps where they lived for many years. “The conditions were very bad at the camps, but at least we did not have people shooting at us and trying to kill us. The majority of the people who were in the camps suffered from intestinal illness that could have easily been cured here in America. In the camps, there was no medicine to cure us. Despite the conditions in the camp, we did what we could with what was given to us and managed to save our youngest and only surviving baby Mai Lee”, says Mee.

Mai Lee is now 17 years old. After many years of living in the camps, in 2005, the family was cleared to come to the United States as refugees. Once again, they were going to an unknown land. “We hoped for the best and held each other all the way through the trip, I think that it took us 3 days and three nights and various plane changes. Upon arrival, we knew that we had to clear all requirements with immigration in order to become U.S. residents. With no money in our pockets we could not afford to hire anyone to assist with the paperwork.

Then one day through word of mouth we heard that Fresno Interdominational Refugee Ministries was holding an event called, “Green Card Day” in which there would be doctor’s, nurses, people taking pictures for the passports and volunteers to help fill out the adjustment of status applications. We could not believe it! This was exactly what we needed! And this is where we met Ka Yang, a representative from Sequoia Community Health Centers. During this event we were able to get our immunizations records checked and put in a sealed envelope for immigration to review. We were so thankful to have received all the assistance to complete and submit immigration requirements. We were now on our way to becoming residents,” explained Nee.

“After anxiously awaiting a response, one day I received a letter from Immigration stating that our residency was approved. However, our daughters’ application was not approved and additional information was being requested. The news was bitter sweet, we were happy to hear about the good news and at the same time devastated. We did not know what to do. We wanted to call Ka Yang, but had misplaced her contact number. Then one day, we heard her voice on the Hmong radio station while she was presenting on disease and how to prevent them. Again we felt some relief because we knew that she would be able to guide us. We made contact with her as soon as we could and explained our situation,” explained Nhia

It turned out that their daughter required additional testing due to a positive TB test in the past. Ka assisted Mai Lee with obtaining an appointment with one of our providers who then followed up on her tests and results. Sequoia providers were able to assist this family by providing the additional information requested by the INS that would clear their daughter's application for approval.

A couple of months later, Mai Lee received her residency approval. The Bee family was so thankful to Sequoia and staff for making a difference in their life. “If it wasn’t for Sequoia, we would be lost,” said Nhia Bee.


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