Tran Van Te Story of Hop Phuong, Quang Hop, Thanh Hoa; 68 years old

Tran van Te is 68 years old. A brain malfunction caused him to suffer complete paralysis at the tender age of thirteen. I saw him with his wife and son from across the room, and was moved to speak with them. Mr. Te has been immobile for many years and can no longer talk, but his wife could help. They are getting old, they have a difficult life. They have 4 children, 2 of them who work far from home and 2 others who were paralysed from birth. His wife cried while she spoke with me. I could feel how hard she it was for her to have 3 people paralysed in one family. Mr Te’s wife not only takes care of him but 2 more children, and the entire burden rests solely on her shoulders.

She said that receiving this wheelchair will reduce the difficulties for all three of her crippled family members. The happiness was apparent on Mr. Te's face. I was really moved by their situation.

Actually there are many families like Te's family in need of the kind hearted assistance provided this day. Thank you very much to the sponsors who make these miracles happen. It is really a big gift for these disadvantaged people and helps them to overcome the difficulties of their lives.

Written by Quynh Nhu, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Tran Thi Mai Story of Thien Thang, Quang Loi, Quang Xuong, Thanh Hoa; 34 years old

Tran Thi Mai was the first wheelchair recipient I met when I came to Quang Xuong District, Thanh Hoa province. She is now 34 years old but at the age of 28 her life was transformed at the hands of a horrific traffic accident. After that fateful day she could not walk or work as she had so proficiently in her former life and she was incapable of helping to support the family unit. The entirety of this grave burden then fell on the shoulders of her younger sister.

Mai’s unjust twist of fate also left her unable to take care of her own children -a beautiful boy and girl. Her children have become the shining light for Mai, their resilience, adaptability and positivity have filled her with hope and optimism for the future and have helped Mai to accept her new situation with the grace that becomes her. Her children are always eager to lend a hand and help ease the pressure of everyday life.

Despite her difficulties, Mai still earns money to feed her children even though she must work long hours doing difficult work. She said that her children have a right to learn and live as their friends do and she will do all she can to provide this for the angels in her life.

I hold people like Mai in the utmost esteem and respect. Mai never lets her new situation get the better of her and is never pessimistic, no matter how hard her life gets sometimes.

For Mai her wheelchair has been a sublime gift, a gift the likes of which has never been received by her before. A gift which is a watershed moment. A gift that she wishes to thank her sponsors for, from the bottom of her heart.

Written by Quynh Nhu, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Quan Nhu Tan Story of Quan Xa, Thieu Hoa, Thanh Hoa; 55 years old

I met a man, a man sitting on a wheelchair with austere, hollowed and haunted eyes. I met him in the meeting-hall of the wheelchair distribution ceremony of Thieu Hoa district. He was Quan Nhu Tan, a 55 years old man, hailing from Thieu Hoa district, living with his wife and 2 children.

Five years ago while he was working on the farm, he had a devastating accident, leading to irreparable and crippling damage to his spine and spinal chord. He was left without the use of his legs, rendering him unable to undertake the labor-intensive farming that was the lifeblood of him and his family.

“Sitting all day like this makes me feel despondent and impotent - I am supposed to be the backbone of my family” he said, “Sometimes, I think that we should borrow money from people or save money to buy a wheelchair then I can help myself! I could find a job and help my wife and children. But I don’t think this would ever have been possible, as my family is very poor and my 2 children have to go to school.”

To Mr Tan his desires seemed unable to be realized but today he is a very happy man. His kind-hearted sponsors, who come from countries far from Vietnam, have provided him with the wheelchair he has dreamt of.

“I think that God heard my prayers.”

Looking into his eyes, I believed that the wheelchair truly could take away those frown lines and make them into the creases of a grateful smile.

Written by Thuy Hong, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Pham Cong Chung Story of Quang Duc, Thanh Hoa; 26 years old

Amongst the sea of distressingly young faces at the Wheelchair Ceremony in Quang Duc, Pham Cong Chung’s stood out to me. Chung is 26 years old, an age where people usually have a lot of dreams for a bright future, and the energy and commitment to bring those dreams to fruition. But Chung has not been afforded that luxury. Following a tragic traffic accident six years ago, he has lost all power in his lower body. He can not work, can not walk, and is confined to the 4 walls of his small residence. In spite of his difficulties, Chung feels a pressing guilt that he cannot do anything to help his parents; in fact the opposite is the case, as they are now required to care for him. He wants to help his family and has often dreamed of having a wheelchair to develop some level of independence, but his family is very poor. They do not have enough to guarantee the whole family a daily meal, so they certainly could never afford a wheelchair.

As was the case for so many people there, it was the first time Chung had ever tried a wheelchair. The excitement in his eyes was uplifting. This wheelchair will be the bridge that connects him with the life outside of his home. It is like being granted a second pair of legs – a second chance at life. With this wheelchair, he will try to find a job and work so his young life is not wasted. He looks forward to developing an active and productive social circle.

The simple happiness of the wheelchair recipients is reflected in our own faces – we are all privileged to be here this day.

Written by Quynh Nhu, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Story of Nguyen Thi Trang of Quang Ngat, Thanh Hoa; 11 years old

Thanh Hoa is a poor rural area. I had heard about this quite a lot before I arrived as a volunteer for the wheelchair distribution there. I often wonder if the difficulty of their situations gives these disadvantaged peoples more energy and willingness to make their dreams true. Trang and her dreams compile one story I wish to share with you.

A small, dark skinned girl was sitting, seemingly engulfed by the wheelchair she inhabited. I sat next to her and said, ‘Could I talk with you?’ She smiled innocently and agreed without hesitation. Her words were moving:

“I am Nguyen Thi Trang, and I am eleven years old. My family has 4 people, my mother, my father, my younger- brother who is 9 years old – and myself.

‘I do not know what disease I have but since I am aware of everything, I see the very big difference between me and my friends. They are walking around happily, going to school on their own, playing, while I just stay at home. I have asked my mum about my condition, but she was too sad to talk about it. People have told me that I have had this problem since birth.’

Trang loves school; the day of the ceremony was Saturday so she had a day off. The wheelchair had been kept as a surprise by her family – when her father told her they were coming to get the wheelchair that morning, she was overcome with joy.

Trang has been an excellent students for 4 years, her teacher and friends love her very much and help her as much as they can. Her eyes looked bright when she talked about her teacher, her friends and her school.

Everyday, her parents or her friends take her to school on their backs. Now she is so happy that she can go by herself:
‘Now I have my wheelchair, I will go to school by my self and go out with my friends, and I will be able to clean the house for my parents!’

Looking at Trang with her innocent smile, I felt happy for her. I leant over to her and asked, “What is your dream?”

Trang smiled and whispered in my ear: " I would like to become a teacher."

A teacher - it is a dream of many children and now a dream that Trang can make come true- a little girl who was born and raised with paralysed legs in a small and poor village has the chance to reach for her stars. I will always remember her and her dream as well.

I stood up and said goodbye to her, adding my wish that she would study well and always try her best!

She held my hand and once more whispered to me: “Today, I am very happy, you know?”

Written by Thuy Linh, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Story of Nguyen Dinh Long of Thieu Hoa, Thanh Hoa; 7 Years Old

The 7 year-old-boy is very thin, small and is sitting in front of me with melancholy eyes.

Coming from a poor family in Thieu Minh commune, in Thanh Hoa province, Nguyen Dinh Long is not a lucky boy and doesn’t have the chance to enjoy the “normal”, carefree and joyous childhood of his peers. His legs were paralysed at birth and as such, he often cannot venture into the world and is spends his time confined to his home for one long day after the other.

Long loves to go to school and implores his parents everyday to carry him there on their backs. Even on rainy days, he still asks his parents to let him to go school. Long told me eagerly “I have Trung Kien – my dearest friend at school who always plays with me and also my teacher Ms. Ha who loves me a lot".

Although going to school has lifted Long’s spirits, he is timid; he does not dare to go out but sits in the classroom to look at his friends playing in the school- yard. However this sad and needless situation is soon to be replaced with the activity and mischievous energy enjoyed by most 7 years old boys, thanks to the generous donation of a wheelchair to the family.

Long's mother said: "I was miserable for him and my family also but from now on, with this wheelchair, it will be much easier to care for and nurture Long and he can have the experiences that were once only a dream.”

Long looked at me and smiled slightly “You know, tomorrow, I will go to the school yard, by myself, on this wheelchair and play with all my dear friends”

Looking into his eyes, I understand that this wheelchair will improve his prospects immeasurably. Before saying goodbye to him and his mum, I heard the whisper from Long: "I promise to study well…" The promise of a child seems even more meaningful than the many thanks that made him unforgettable.


Written by Thuy Hong, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Story of Hoang Kim Manh of Quang Long, Thanh Hoa; 19 Years Old

Looking around me, I was stunned by the sheer numbers of people in need of wheelchairs. How does this happen in a country, in a society? I had a chance to talk with Hoang Kim Manh. He is 19 years old, and came from Long Dai, Quang Long, Thanh Hoa.

Manh also had his body paralysed at birth. Every day, his parents go to work, his younger brothers and sisters go to school, but Manh stays at home with his grandfather. The Grandfather is very old and blind. The two of them just sit next to each other all day, his grandfather holding Manh's hand very tightly and some times, they share with each other their feelings.

Manh had not sat down on the new Wheelchair yet when I was talking with him. He sat on the earth in front of us, looking from the wheelchair to his mother and back again, until finally his mum said “This is your wheelchair Manh. You sit on it, ok?” Manh looked nervous. He stammered an uncomfortable reply – but before long, the wheelchair was his new domain, and he was undoubtedly king.

Now he has a wheelchair, he will not have to crawl around his house any more, his younger siblings can take him out, he will be able to help out around the house with daily activities.

Manh's mother said to me quietly, "He looks like he likes that wheelchair very much. We have a lot to be grateful for."

Saying goodbye to Manh and his mother, a thought occurred to me – Manh is 19 – the same age as me. Yes, we all have a lot to be grateful for.

Written by Thuy Linh, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath