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Wednesday, May 19, 2004

Homeward, healed
By Victor Balta, Herald Writer

SEATTLE - The scene couldn't have been more different. Eight-year-old Tae-Wau Ryu was near a ticket counter at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport throwing a baseball in the air, dishing out smiles for pictures, joking and laughing. Seven months ago, he wouldn't speak. Lost, confused and tired from a long flight, he only shook his head no, regardless of the question. "The poor kid just sat on the floor, hugged his photo album and cried for about four days," said David Cash of Lynnwood, Tae-Wau's host father.

Tae-Wau was one of three South Korean boys brought to Snohomish County by Healing the Children, a nonprofit group. The boys suffer from microtia, a condition in which the ear, usually the right one, never fully develops. Monday, the boys went home, each sporting a significantly improved ear on the right side of his head. Tae-Wau was still unhappy. "Not good," he said about his new ear, although it didn't seem to dampen his spirits.

Dr. Ron Krueger, a Healing the Children board member who did the surgery, doesn't take Tae-Wau's reaction personally. He can understand that after 26 office visits and four surgical procedures, Tae-Wau might have expected more. "It's imperfect. It doesn't look exactly like the other side, but these kids can walk through public and not be scrutinized," Krueger said. "The sad part, for me, is that I don't get to see the parents' reaction. I think his parents are going to be ecstatic." The operation, though cosmetic, is valuable in Tae-Wau's home country, where people with physical disabilities are often shunned, even by their own families. At a glance, Tae-Wau's ear appears normal, but a closer look shows that his upper ear is not quite released from the side of his head. Still, most people don't notice any deformity and are surprised to learn about the surgery.

Since he arrived, David and Cheryl Cash and Tae-Wau have shared memories that will last all of their lifetimes. His English improved tremendously, along with his confidence. He abruptly decided several months ago that "Peter" would be his name in America. He quickly made friends at Oak Heights Elementary School in Lynnwood, where he enrolled six weeks ago and had a "birthday" cake in class Friday. (His birthday isn't until August.)

His love for fishing also came to light as he spent hours scouring through rods and tackle at G.I. Joe's or Wal-Mart stores, and more time on the area's lakes. And he developed the true taste of the Pacific Northwest. "He's been one of Starbucks' best customers," Cash said. "They're going to see a little dip in their income and say, 'Oh, that's when Tae-Wau went back to Korea.'" After sucking down his last grande chocolate chip frappuccino on Monday, Tae-Wau gave his final hugs and headed for the departure gate with an escort and the two other boys.

His host parents stood side by side, their arms pulling each other close, as Tae-Wau turned to give them one last smile and waved goodbye.