In November 2016, my girlfriend Tracy, and I volunteered at a Thai orphanage, Home Hug, located in Yasothon, a northeastern province of Thailand. The orphanage was established in the aftermath of the devastating tsunami that struck on Boxing Day in 2004, which left entire communities in ruins and thousands homeless. Many children in this remote area became orphans as their parents perished in coastal regions that were decimated.
After the tsunami, survival was a daily struggle for these children. They scavenged for food, resorting to eating rats, lizards, and whatever they could find among the debris.
Home Hug was founded by the compassionate Mae Thiew, who moved to Yasothon to help these vulnerable children. With a degree in psychology, Mae's dedication to her cause earned her the title of Reader’s Digest Asian of the Year in 2011.
Tragically, all the children at Home Hug have been affected by AIDS—some lost their parents to the disease, while others were born with it or contracted it through horrific abuse. The repercussions of the tsunami were compounded by the stigma surrounding AIDS, which often forced these children to fend for themselves, leading to further loss of life.
Before Hands Across the Water became involved in March 2010, the situation was dire. Children were dying weekly due to poor sanitation, lack of food, and inadequate medical care. One young boy, Nut, was burdened with the heartbreaking task of digging graves for his friends. He would sing to lift his spirits as he worked. Thankfully, since the organization’s involvement, not a single child has died.
During our five days at the orphanage, Tracy and I joined a group of Australian volunteers to renovate several areas of the orphanage. We painted from sunrise to sunset in sweltering heat, and many of the kids joined in, helping us while they sang happy tunes and told us stories - both uplifting and achingly sad. Other projects included building a concrete path from the kitchen to the schoolhouse and cleaning out a dilapidated water tank. Tracy and I also donate books, coloring pencils and clothes for the children.
Despite the challenges, the children always seemed so happy. One memorable moment was when we took a ride on the school bus with them and they sang English songs for us. When I showed a little boy a photo of himself on my phone (which he'd never seen before), his joy was infectious. Check out his smile...
Many of these children have been orphaned more than once—first by the tsunami and then again when their elderly caregivers passed away. Their stories are heart-wrenching, and impossible to fathom, often moving me to tears.
In my book, First Fate, I introduce a little girl who becomes orphaned on a crippled cruise ship that loses power in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Much like the orphans I met, she doesn't know her last name, her address, or even her date of birth. While my action-packed disaster thriller is fictional, the emotions and struggles depicted in my book reflect the harsh realities faced by many children in the aftermath of disasters.
Volunteering at Home Hug was one of the most draining yet rewarding experiences of my life. Despite their hardships, the children still laughed, played, and treated each other with kindness and respect. Hands Across the Water, is an organization I highly recommend for anyone interested in volunteer opportunities.
I also want to highlight a remarkable man who visits the orphanage annually to care for the stray dogs and cats that roam freely. He brings donated vaccines and treatments at his own expense to treat these animals, that are not pets, but they are as welcome at the children. Now he's my definition of a hero.
This volunterering experience was a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of compassion. Now, on a lighter note, if you love reading disaster survival thrillers (that are fiction), I have a treat for you - my Waves of Fate trilogy is a heart-pounding thriller series of 3 ebooks that will have you turning the pages all night long.
FIRST FATE - book one in the Waves of Fate series.
No power. No comms. And no-one coming to save them.
Prepare for the cruise from hell.
When an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) strikes Rose of the Sea, the pleasure cruise becomes a drifting nightmare. Powerless and desperate, the eleven hundred passengers and crew must face their new reality: No one is coming to save them.
The First Mate. The EMP destroys the captain’s pacemaker, killing him in a heartbeat and Gunner McCrae is thrust into the top position. But no amount of training could prepare him for the savagery of desperate humans and an unforgiving ocean.
The Anchor-woman. Gabrielle Kinsella is known for bringing shocking stories to the world. She should be reporting on the headline of the century. Instead she’s fighting for her children’s lives.
The Acrobat. Held captive by a predator as a child, Madeline Jewel found freedom as the ship’s acrobatic dancer. But being trapped in an elevator brings her worst fears back to life.
The Gambler. Zon Woodrow, notorious gator hunter, won his ticket to the cruise in a poker match. But that isn’t the only pot he’s looking to score. With the ship’s security system obliterated, Zon turns his attention to the casino’s vault. And this time, the house won’t win
As resources dwindle aboard Rose of the Sea, the body count continues to rise. Will ordinary people survive an extraordinary disaster? Or will they drown in darkness? Find out in Waves of Fate - a gripping disaster/survival thriller!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“OMG! First Fate hooked me in the first few pages and I didn't want to put it down!” Wayne Mikel
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐“I have to warn you, if you read this series it is something you will not want to put down until it is finished! It is a very exciting survival story that can be enjoyed by all book lovers.” Carly Flis