You might remember Pan Young from Myanmar, Malaysia, and several prison/refugee camps. She is now a Bishop Maginn High School senior heading for Sage College and a full scholarship to enter a pre-med program.

Her long time friend, teacher, and fierce advocate Sue Silverstein described her to me in this way:

“Pan is exceptional,” says Sue Silverstein, “life has thrown many obstacles in her path. More obstacles than any young girl should have to endure. She never gives up; she finds a way. She is an exceptional student, an exceptional daughter, an exceptional friend, an exceptional member of her community, and basically an exceptional human being. I am so proud of all she has accomplished and know that she will change the world.”

I met Pan more than a week ago, and Sue was not exaggerating.

Today was a good and richly deserved day for her.

The digital camera that I bought for her arrived at Bishop Maginn. A wonderfully generous blog reader – Nancy Frakes, a reader of my blog, contacted me and asked if it was okay to order an Ipad for Pan as she prepares to head off to school.

It sure was. Pan could hardly believe people are that good.

Pan sent Nancy a message today: She said she was shocked when her Theology Teacher (Sue Silverstein) gave her the digital camera that I bought for her, and then was told that a blog reader “also bought me a new Ipad with keyboard and pen! I was so shocked and ecstatic and wanted to thank you personally…Thank you so much. I truly appreciate the gifts and can’t wait to see and use them.”

Thanks so much, Nancy, for your generosity; a new Ipad will mean a great deal to Pan when she gets to Sage University in September. Sue said she was shocked and happy.

It is a gift itself to be able to give this exceptional human being a hand.