Story of Bach Thi Huong

Age: 13; Address: Cong Liem village, Nong Cong district, Thanh Hoa city

I have traveled to many places but to be honest, most of those places were urban, and filled with the sounds of laughter and bright conversation. Sure, there were some poor people but they were mixed in with the wealthy crowds, so their minority was often hidden from the careless eye. In Cong Liem village, nothing is hidden. My careless eyes were truly opened.

Life in the countryside is very poor. From year to year people only trade in rice and sweet potatoes. If the weather changes unexpectedly, it can ruin an entire crop – and destroy a farmer’s livelihood for the year.

When we joined this program, which distributes wheelchairs to crippled people, I arrived with a great faith that I could bring a little happiness to troubled families in areas like this. Mrs Bach Thi Thu, of Cong Liem village in the Nong Cong district, is a prime example. She has given birth to 3 babies, but the first baby died only minutes after he was born and the second baby died when she not even 2 years old. The third baby is now grown into a young girl – Ms Bach Thi Huong. But sadly, at the age of 13 Huong exhibits few signs of life.

Looking at the inanimate child held firmly in her mother’s arms, I felt my heart wring with pain. Huong often suffers from convulsive attacks so her mother must be watchful at all times. During the attacks, it’s very difficult to keep Huong still. The family sold much of their farm land to pay for Huong to be treated but unfortunately, this did not have a particularly positive result. “Our last faith was lost,” said Mrs Thu. “The smiles had been stolen from our faces.”

When we gave them the wheelchair, tears welled up their eyes.


Cong Liem village is so isolated that few people hear the tragic stories of the people who mete out a meager existence here. Support, when it comes, usually comes from the neighbouring villages, rather than the authorities. Still, it is enough to encourage the farmer’s spirits. Mrs. Thu shared with me her hope that Huong like other similarly disadvantaged people, would receive increasing support and assistance from the local authorities and the kind hearted elsewhere. It made me wonder how many others like Huong don’t have access to even the most basic of treatments; and how long it would be before they received the assistance they need.

Interviewed and written by Mai Nga, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath