“I wish I could be a bird flying in the sky…”
Nguyen Thi Xuan was born into a poor farming family in the rural district of Kim Bang, Ha Nam province. Her father suffered from muscle atrophy and was unable to walk. When Xuan was 12 years old, she and her younger brother were also diagnosed with the same condition. Their world came crashing down as difficulties piled on top of each other, with their mother shouldering the family’s financial burden.
Xuan’s body was slowly betraying her, with her muscles wasting away and causing her immense pain with every change in the weather. For two long years, her mother took her to hospitals all over the province and beyond, desperately seeking a cure. The doctors said her condition was incurable, but driven by the belief that “where there’s life, there’s hope,” they refused to give up. They traveled to seek treatment from renowned folk doctors, clinging to the hope of a better future for Xuan.
With three sick family members, the family fell into debt and poverty. Xuan decided to put her education on hold and took up a handicraft job working with bamboo and rattan to support her family. She recalls those days spent indoors, too self-conscious to interact with others. Even during the hot summer months, she avoided wearing short sleeves to hide her physical disabilities. All she dreamed of was to be like a bird, free to soar in the sky.
A shared home that empowers a life of service
In 2009, Xuan and her brother asked their parents for permission to pursue vocational training. Her brother chose a college education, while Xuan opted for a course in computer skills and photo editing in Nam Dinh. Living under the same roof with nearly a dozen others who shared similar fates, Xuan found the strength, optimism, and confidence she needed. Her frail hands created thousands of beautiful photographs and hundreds of creative advertising banners.
Upon returning to her hometown of Ha Nam, Xuan took on various roles and positions within the provincial and district associations for people with disabilities. Notably, she served as the Vice Head of the Youth Club for People with Disabilities in Ha Nam province. Every year, she and her club members raise support from kind-hearted donors, gathering gifts worth over 150 million VND to present to people with disabilities in the area. Xuan also connects with local garment companies to provide stable jobs for club members, earning them a monthly income of 3.5 to 5 million VND. Additionally, she established a design team for Pixel Vietnam, providing stable monthly incomes for club members.
Xuan also engages in various social activities with a charitable spirit, dedicating her youth, health, and knowledge to giving a voice to people with disabilities and meeting their needs. Before joining the association, she used to work on wedding photo editing but gave it up once she joined. “My income has decreased, but I still choose to work for the association because I am living for so many people. Many people need me because they can’t do it themselves. Who knows, maybe one day I won’t be able to do it anymore, and I’ll regret it,” she says.
Embracing the unknown with love and service
Xuan has overcome her own limitations and the prejudices of those who once looked down on her. She has dedicated her youth to serving the community of disadvantaged people. Instead of pursuing personal gain, she volunteers for unpaid work that often goes unrecognized.
“To be honest, I’ve always prepared myself for the possibility of ending up like my father, confined to a chair. So, while I still can move and have more health than many others, I will strive to do what they need. I will continue on this path until I can no longer walk. That’s my advantage compared to others,” Xuan shares.
For 20 years, Xuan has bravely faced her life-threatening illness without losing heart. She not only overcomes her own challenges but also reaches out to help others less fortunate than herself, helping them break free from the shackles of self-doubt.
Currently, Xuan’s left leg has atrophied, and sometimes she loses sensation and cannot support herself while walking. “But I still have tomorrow,” she says. “Tomorrow is unknown, but I choose to love the journey. My path is not too far-fetched or difficult to tread. I will continue to walk based on the health I have today. I want to encourage young people to be confident and dynamic.”
Seven years ago, Xuan’s family was still considered poor, with three out of five family members living with disabilities. Xuan and her mother struggled to put food on the table and borrowed money for medical treatment. Today, everything has changed, and her family has risen above poverty. Xuan was also one of the 35 recipients of the 2023 Vietnamese Willpower Shine Awards. “I believe that people in society can do the same and even better,” she says.
Xuan’s story of resilience and her desire to contribute to society was featured in the “Connecting Love” program by Humanitarian Television (VTV) in January 2024.
Vu Phuong Thanh, Swiss Ultra 2022 Champion and Brand Ambassador for Number 1, felt Xuan’s positive energy during their first meeting in her hometown of Kim Bang. “Xuan has a strong desire to contribute. She is a testament to the saying, ‘If you have 100% strength, you will give 100% to everything you do. If you only have 30%, you will still give your all.’ I would like to thank the program for giving me the opportunity to meet and be inspired by people like Xuan.”
Driven by a desire to serve society and inspire resilience in others, Tan Hiep Phat Group has been a proud partner of the “Connecting Love” program since 2019.
Over the past five years, the program has honored many inspiring individuals across Vietnam, celebrating their spirit of overcoming adversity and calling for social support for people with special needs.
Tan Hiep Phat Group embodies a spirit of service, spreading love and resilience to those in need. The group continuously contributes to community welfare activities, such as sponsoring 50 orphans affected by Covid-19 until they turn 18 and providing care for Vietnamese heroic mothers from families with revolutionary traditions.
