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Inscribed in Ink By Sinath Duong If only you had met her, If only you would have known her.

Those who knew Yoeun Svay would definitely agree with me that she brought joy, laughter and smiles to people around her. To my life, she did. Someone this wonderful and important to me deserves to be remembered. I decided to honor her by getting a tattoo in her name. She was born and raised in Cambodia where life was hard. The Khmer Rouge settled in 1975 and the Cambodian genocide began led by Pol Pot. The new regime attempted to rebuild a country for their own sick and selfish ideas that caused thousands of death along the way. Many Cambodians planned to escape, including Svay along with her two daughters, my mom Pok and my aunt Hing Duong. She had to leave her husband who is handicapped from the waist down behind. As any other father would do, he agreed with the decision for his family to be safe. Svays goal was to seek asylum and shelter in nearby Thailand. The escape across the war-torn land was not easy. The Khmer Rouge hid land mines in the ground and until this present day, there are signs that say DANGER: LAND MINES. Dont give upwere almost there, she said holding her daughters close because their lives where in her hands. The journey was dangerous and life threatening. In the midst of rain, vast jungle and limited food with no place to call home, Svay and her teenage daughters reached their destination. A year or so went by and good news had arrived that they and many other refugees were able to be sponsored to live in the U.S. Because of her I was born and raised in Chicago, IL. My Grandma and mother raised me and my siblings the best they could. All my love and respect was toward my Grandma.

Throughout her life she risked herself for her family. Our family grew to many. For 30 years since moving to the states and escaping the regime, she watched us grow. She saw her grandkids start a family, attend school, got jobs and of course watched them make mistakes in life. But gradually in her life span, Svays health issues played a major role in her declining. She developed diabetes and asthma which led to frequent trips to the hospital and ICU. I remember her last of many blood transfusions she had. Sinath, I know you dont like me doing this but I need it, she said, as I cried and watch her go through the pain of just trying to survive. Watching her go through that was hard and it made me cry. When she was weak, I was weak. It hurt me to see her suffer. This suffering she went through and the experience of the needle in her arm came to my memory as I got my tattoo. Ever since I was young, my Grandmas bed was in the living room. Every house we lived in and every state we moved to, her bed resided in the living room. In my opinion, she wanted to be surrounded by her family that she loved dearly, and the living room is where my family and I have those memories. All those memories of her providing me with love, guidance, laughter, smiles and counsel are cherished deep within me. Yoeun Svay, my Grandma at the age of 77 passed away in that very same living room where she rested her head every night. Before she passed away, Hospice told our family that we have a day or two with her. She was in the dying stage. She laid there unconsciously breathing the best she could being supported by an oxygen tank. Our family and friends gather around her bed pouring out our tears and love. The atmosphere was filled with emotions.

Yoeun Svay was the first person in our familys life to pass away. Just writing those words down cause stream of tears to roll down my eyes; I miss her voice, I miss her laughter, I miss her smile and I miss her presence in the living room every time I visit my mom house. A name distinguishes and identifies an individual. How that person brings that name to life is up to them. Yoeun Svay was filled with loved. Her name reminds me of this attribute. My Grandma made me the person I am today. On her gravestone is inscribed Our beloved mother, grandmother and friend and she will truly be missed but never forgotten. I honored her by inscribing her name in ink because her name means love to me. I want to keep her memories forever in my thoughts and love in my heart. I decided to have her first and last name on my skin. With help from my uncle, I got the Cambodian script to spell out Yoeun Svay. With help from my girlfriend, I made an appointment at a tattoo shop called Mos Eisley located in Grand Rapids. My experience getting my tattoo hurt, but that pain didnt compare to what I already had been through with losing her. Thoughts of my Grandma ran through my head as I sat there on the chair in the shop. There is meaning behind this name written on me. This name inscribed in ink reminds me of the person I love and every day when I look at it, I think of her. I get this question a lot when people see my tattoo, What does it mean? I reply, It means Yoeun Svay, my Grandmas name. I am happy to tell you about her if youre curious.

Yoeun Svay Our beloved mother, grandmother and friend June 10, 1935 August 4, 2012

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