Also a part of people...

(Baonghean) - People still call him Dung "khe". He said his life can be summed up in two words: unfortunate. He was disabled when he was born, and shortly after getting married, his wife died, leaving him and his foolish son behind. The two of them could only rely on the love of the neighbors, surviving day after day in a dilapidated house.

The one-room house in Thai Hoc hamlet, Nghi Thai commune (Nghi Loc district) has been the place where Vuong Tien Dung and his father have lived for many years. The villagers used to call him Dung "khe" because he was disabled since childhood, his legs dragged, his arms were always clasped together. According to the neighbors, when his mother gave birth to Dung at Nghi Thai commune health station in 1967, he suffocated due to breech birth. At that time, the skills of the health station nurses were limited, to save the newborn, they could only hold his legs and shake his arms vigorously. In the end, Dung was saved but had to suffer lifelong disability.

Mr. Vuong Tien Dung sits with his aunt in front of his old house. Photo: Thien Thien

At that time, his family was considered well-off in this village. His mother stayed home to farm and raise Dung's five siblings. His father worked hard day and night to send money home to his wife and children. During his lifetime, Dung's father was an official of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs. Dung was disabled so his parents always loved and cared for him more than anyone else. Everything became difficult when his father suddenly passed away, and he became a burden to everyone. From then on, his life continuously encountered misfortunes and setbacks.

When his friends started to chatter and invite each other to go to school, Dung could only sit in the house and look outside, his eyes filled with tears. The dream of going to school with his friends was too far away for Dung, partly because he was disabled, and partly because his family was too poor. “Being teased by friends, all my childhood days I only dared to hide in the house, playing with my mother and brothers and sisters,” said Dung.

Dung is not able to work like a normal person. Dung’s hands tremble and fumble whenever he touches anything. Feeding Dung, bathing him and even using the toilet, his mother takes care of her disabled son every day. Vuong Tien Dung grew up completely dependent on the care of his elderly and sick mother.

When his brothers and sisters were all married, Dung's mother focused all her worries on her unfortunate son. Dung grew up to be a gentle disabled boy who was sympathized and pitied by the villagers. The villagers loved Dung and arranged a marriage for him with a girl from Phong Phu village, Hung Hoa commune (Vinh city). That girl's name was Duong Thi Oanh and she was also disabled in one leg. In 2002, everyone in the village was overjoyed to witness Dung's wedding.

Mr. Dung's life "khe" seems to have opened a new page since the day he got married. Although he is not healthy, his wife still takes care of him every little thing. Before being his mother, now his old mother is fortunate to be loved and cared for by his wife. Their happiness multiplied when more than a year later, Ms. Oanh gave birth to a healthy son. Although the disabled couple do not have the working conditions like everyone else, but with the love for each other, the complete joy when their son was born, has helped Mr. Dung's poor family become warm.

Day by day, their son Vuong Dinh Thanh grew up. Dung could not go to work so he stayed at home and did the cooking. Or rather, he cooked rice and braised fish that his wife had prepared before going to the field. Meanwhile, Oanh followed her aunt and the neighbors to catch crabs, snails, and pick vegetables to sell at the market, earning a hard living to take care of her small family. Although she was not healthy or agile, Oanh was honest and hard-working, so everyone loved and respected her. The snails and crabs she caught every day were sold out that day. Many times when the weather changed, Dung's legs were often tormented by pain. At that time, Oanh took the opportunity to let her child sleep and used essential oil to massage her husband's legs. The happiness of poor couples was sometimes just like that, which was warm enough.

Besides being able to sit and watch the pot of food, Mr. Dung can only turn over and over the worn-out clothes drying on the line in front of the porch. Photo: Thien Thien

After living together for more than 10 years, an unexpected accident took away Mr. Dung's wife. His life after the days of disability once again suffered pain. While picking water spinach in the middle of a storm, his wife unfortunately slipped and was swept away by the water. Her body was not found until several days later. That tragic day still haunts Mr. Dung until now.

The disabled man and his 10-year-old son suddenly lost everything. The small house without the woman's hand became deserted and cold. After Oanh's death, Dung and his son were mentally broken. He relied on his aunt and sisters to help him with the fields, but there was still not enough rice to eat. Dung could not earn money because no one hired him. His son was now in 8th grade but was still very naive and could not help his father.

Sometimes Mr. Dung thinks, he wishes he was never born. Having to live is almost the biggest sadness of his life. But then he thinks about his little son, what would happen to him if one day he did not wake up anymore./.

Thien Thien