Story of Pham Thi Ha, 15 tuoi Quang Xuong Thanh Hoa

When I stepped into the meeting hall of Quang Xuong village in Thanh Hoa district, I was totally shocked by the number of small children who had come to receive wheel chairs. Looking at the faces of those small angels I could not understand why God would bring them to life, yet take away their right to live like normal people.
Pham Thi Ha is one of those children. You could not tell from looking at her, but she is 15 years old. Like other teenagers, she must have had so many hopes and dreams about the future. She has the right to go to school, to make friends, and to enjoy her life. Unfortunately, these dreams have never been a reality for Ha – she lives in a world defined only by pain and suffering.
By looking into her eyes, I know that inside her, there must be a fight between herself and her illness; I know she has been trying her best and her bravest for 15 years. Her mother told me that from the moment she was born, she could not do anything except sit in her mother’s lap. Ha contracted Agent Orange contamination from her grandfather who fought on Laos’ battlefields many years ago. Fortunately, Ha’s mother has not been overly affected by the poisons, and both her brothers have grown into healthy adults, but Ha was not so lucky. It is very sad that the War not only caused so much damage and loss at the time, but also continues to affect and damage the innocent generations to come.
However, what’s passed is passed, and we should let time take away the sorrow, the injury and the hurts of days gone by. We should start a new peaceful world without war. I believe we are taking steps towards this goal by helping these unlucky people.
This is the first time she has used a wheel chair, and I believe it has so much potential to bring a little joy into Ha’s life, and improve her quality of living. On behalf of this brave young woman and her mother, I wish to extend a special thanks to the sponsors and all of the peace-loving people who have brought smiles and happiness to these unfortunate souls.

Written by Quynh Nhu, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Story of Nguyen Van Phuong, 20 years old

When I entered the hall, I noticed a woman looking at her son with tears in her eyes.
Her son’s name is Nguyen Van Phuong. He is 20 years old, but the woman shared with me that she knew as soon as he was born that something was not right with him. . He couldn’t focus on anything, and one day, he suddenly got a high temperature and was confined to hospital for 6 months. The doctors concluded that Phuong suffers the effects of Agent Orange, which is the most toxic man-made organic chemical ever created. Thanks to this debilitating disease, Phuong cannot talk, think or move on his own.

Phuong’s father, Nguyen Van Thu, was a solider in the war in Cambodia and Laos, where many toxic chemicals were used as defoliants. His health, too, is deteriorating and he is often unable to care for his wife and 3 children. Phuong is the youngest, and while the older children do not suffer from the same disease, they have always been weak and sickly. Consequently the majority of daily burdens rest with Phuong’s mother.

The family is very poor. They could never have afforded a wheel chair on their own. But with the wheel chair they are receiving today, they reduce the difficulties inherent in Phuong’s daily care.

Phuong’s mother was extremely grateful for this life-changing gift. She wished to extend her sincere thanks to the donors who provided her family with such a meaningful donation.

Written by Phuong Thuy, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Story of Nguyen Thi Nhu, 46 years old

Ms Nguyen Thi Nhu is 46 years old, and has been unable to move her legs or neck since she suffered a debilitating illness at the age of 5. Her life is very difficult – she is unable to help herself with most basic daily routines, and is incapable of maintaining employment in order to sustain her own economic status.

Nhu’s parents are in their seventies, and are supporting both Nhu and her two younger sisters. Her greatest fear is that something will happen to her parents, leaving her with no way to support herself or her siblings.

Her new wheelchair will make all the difference. As soon as she was presented with it, Nhu vowed that she would begin searching for part time work to improve her current economic status, and create a more secure future for herself and her family.

She wished to thank the donors for their generous gift.

Written by Phuong Thuy, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Story of Lu Trong Truong, 52 years old

Lu Trong Truong is a middle-aged man; he is 52 years old. When I came and asked him for an interview, he welcomed me with a radiant smile: “I haven’t gone out in public for ages!” he replied.
He shared that he had lost the use of his legs 15 years ago following a serious stroke.
Mr Truong was on the verge of tears as he revised his sad story. It is hard to imagine how a person would feel in such a situation: one day you are healthy and the next you wake up paralyzed. More tragically, he was no longer able to work. This seems brutally unfair at the age of 38; a time when an adult is reaching the peak of his capacity and experience. He used to be the breadwinner of his family but after the accident, he became a burden for his loving wife and children. They have been trying harder and harder, not only to earn their own livings but also to take care of him. His wife shoulders a heavy load on the family’s farm, while also carefully assisting Mr Truong with his basic daily needs.
Mr Truong’s story is tragic, yet after a moment, a smile flowered again on his face. He was overcome with emotion as he expressed his gratitude towards the local authorities for having cared for his specific case, and the charity organization for giving him the chance to possess a brand-new wheelchair. He has wished to buy one for so long; unfortunately, the poor financial position of his family prevented it. As we parted company, he exclaimed blissfully; “Now I have new legs! Now, finally, I can go outside the limits of my own home and live a life of freedom”.

Written by Hanh, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath

Story of Cao Thi Nhung Thao, 4 years old

Cao Thi Nhung Thao is only four years old; however, unlike other normal children of the same age, she has never had the chance to go out to play. She is paralyzed; she cannot walk.
The woman accompanying her is her grandmother, Nguyen Thi Khanh. She is also the main person taking care of the little girl, as Thao’s young parents are very busy earning their livings to support the family. It was Mrs Khanh that shared Thao’s story.
Soon after she was born, Thao was diagnosed with a disease, and her family was told that she would never live to see her sweet sixteenth. The poor family made every effort to save her life but they tried in vain. They are now bearing a huge debt of roughly seventy million VND (approximately $4500USD, or four times the amount that the average Vietnamese person earns in a year) that will take years for them to pay.
Because of the disease, Thao is also unable to talk. However, her spirits would surely be raised by having the opportunity to communicate frequently with other children. Her elderly grandmother cannot take her around all day long to play at other children’s homes. Thao’s basic daily needs already take too much of her effort, time and fast-deteriorating health. The family has always wanted to buy a wheelchair to make life happier for Thao and to ease the burden on the old woman’s shoulders, but they have never been able to put aside enough money to afford one.
Thankfully, the local authorities noticed Thao’s case and decided to give her the opportunity to possess a brand-new wheelchair, making her eligible to be a recipient of assistance from Humanitarian Services for Children of Vietnam,. After Thao was presented with this precious gift, Mrs Khanh looked at the tiny, innocent face of her ailing granddaughter and said: “I want to do everything I can for her during my short time left on Earth. But I don’t know if my wish can come true as there is no promise that she will be here tomorrow. I’m so grateful that she has the opportunity to live out the time that she has left with some level of independence and fun!”

Written by Hanh, Edited by Jodie-Lee Trembath