Girl Sells Lemonade to Raise Money for Brain Operation
2021-03-08
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1Liza Scott is a seven-year-old girl in the southern U.S. state of Alabama.
2Like many young girls, she became interested in earning money.
3So, she created a small table where she sells a cold drink made from lemon juice, water and sugar.
4This is called a lemonade stand.
5The stand is at her mother's bakery, a business that sells baked goods like bread.
6Her mother, Elizabeth Scott, runs Savage's Bakery, near the city of Birmingham.
7At first, the lemonade stand was something to do for fun.
8Liza sold the drinks for 25 cents a glass.
9She was going to use the money to buy toys and pretty shoes.
10But then the stand became much more important.
11Liza has a health problem that will require surgery.
12She suffers from seizures because part of her brain did not grow correctly.
13Doctors in Boston will work to fix the problem during several visits.
14Elizabeth Scott said she has good health insurance, which will help pay for some of the treatment.
15But the trips to Boston will be costly and the insurance will not pay for them.
16Now, instead of just being a way to raise money for fun things, the money from the lemonade stand will help pay for the treatment.
17Selling cold drinks for less than a dollar will not actually raise much money.
18So instead, the stand is a place where people can visit to give money that will help Liza with her medical treatment.
19So far, people have come to the bakery to buy lemonade and given Liza some extra money, too.
20"I've got a $20 bill, and a $50 bill and a $10 bill and a $5 bill and a $100 bill," Liza said, counting donations.
21So far, people have given over $12,000.
22But Elizabeth Scott also created an internet fundraiser where people from anywhere can donate money to Liza.
23It has gathered over $300,000 so far.
24"I can't fund that by myself," Elizabeth said about the extra medical costs for her daughter.
25She called the costs "pretty exorbitant."
26Critics of the U.S. healthcare system say they do not think a child who needs a brain operation should have to raise money to fund her own care.
27Liza said she thinks running the lemonade stand makes her feel like she is helping.
28"It's better than just begging," she said.
29The family did not find out about Liza's problem until late January.
30She had a seizure that lasted 45 minutes, her mother said.
31If Liza's brain problem is not treated, doctors say she could suffer a more serious brain injury, like a stroke.
32Liza's first surgery will be on March 8, but she could need additional visits for another 25 years.
33Liza said she tries not to think too much about her brain problem.
34"I'm not worried, but I'm afraid," she said.
35I'm Dan Friedell.
1Liza Scott is a seven-year-old girl in the southern U.S. state of Alabama. Like many young girls, she became interested in earning money. So, she created a small table where she sells a cold drink made from lemon juice, water and sugar. 2This is called a lemonade stand. The stand is at her mother's bakery, a business that sells baked goods like bread. Her mother, Elizabeth Scott, runs Savage's Bakery, near the city of Birmingham. 3At first, the lemonade stand was something to do for fun. Liza sold the drinks for 25 cents a glass. She was going to use the money to buy toys and pretty shoes. 4But then the stand became much more important. 5Liza has a health problem that will require surgery. 6She suffers from seizures because part of her brain did not grow correctly. Doctors in Boston will work to fix the problem during several visits. 7Elizabeth Scott said she has good health insurance, which will help pay for some of the treatment. But the trips to Boston will be costly and the insurance will not pay for them. 8Now, instead of just being a way to raise money for fun things, the money from the lemonade stand will help pay for the treatment. 9Selling cold drinks for less than a dollar will not actually raise much money. So instead, the stand is a place where people can visit to give money that will help Liza with her medical treatment. 10So far, people have come to the bakery to buy lemonade and given Liza some extra money, too. 11"I've got a $20 bill, and a $50 bill and a $10 bill and a $5 bill and a $100 bill," Liza said, counting donations. 12So far, people have given over $12,000. 13But Elizabeth Scott also created an internet fundraiser where people from anywhere can donate money to Liza. It has gathered over $300,000 so far. 14"I can't fund that by myself," Elizabeth said about the extra medical costs for her daughter. She called the costs "pretty exorbitant." 15Critics of the U.S. healthcare system say they do not think a child who needs a brain operation should have to raise money to fund her own care. 16Liza said she thinks running the lemonade stand makes her feel like she is helping. "It's better than just begging," she said. 17The family did not find out about Liza's problem until late January. She had a seizure that lasted 45 minutes, her mother said. 18If Liza's brain problem is not treated, doctors say she could suffer a more serious brain injury, like a stroke. 19Liza's first surgery will be on March 8, but she could need additional visits for another 25 years. 20Liza said she tries not to think too much about her brain problem. 21"I'm not worried, but I'm afraid," she said. 22I'm Dan Friedell. 23Jay Reeves reported this story for The Associated Press. Dan Friedell adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 24Do you think the little girl should have to raise money for her own surgery? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. 25________________________________________________________________ 26Words in This Story 27surgery -n. medical operation to repair or remove damaged or diseased parts 28seizure -n. an attack in which you might become unconscious and your body moves in an uncontrolled and violent way 29insurance -n. an agreement in which a person makes regular payments to a company and the company promises to pay money if the person is injured or dies, or to pay money equal to the value of something (such as a house or car) if it is damaged, lost, or stolen 30fundraiser -n. a social event held to collect money for a political party, charity, school, etc. 31exorbitant -adj. going far beyond what is fair, reasonable, or expected : too high or costsly 32beg -v. asking people for money or food