"Happiness at the end of the road"

(Baonghean) - Life has been filled with suffering and misfortune, including being orphaned at a young age, having to work as a servant, and suffering from a serious illness. However, her fervent desire to live has given her the strength to overcome these hardships and find happiness. She is Vo Thi Loan, a resident of Quynh Lap leprosy village.

She was engrossed in her old sewing machine, her feet moving steadily on the pedal, her hands gripping the thread, her eyes fixed on the needle. Around her were old clothes that customers had just brought in for repair. When a stranger unexpectedly visited, Ms. Vo Thi Loan paused her work and offered a friendly smile as a greeting. Then she explained her work: “The people here are still struggling financially, so they repair torn or too tight clothes so they can continue to use them. Knowing a little about sewing, I take on this job to earn some extra money, use my free time, and help others.”

Ms. Vo Thi Loan.

Those miserable months

She was born in 1962 into a poor family in Hung Xuan commune (Hung Nguyen district), downstream of the Lam River. Her parents were very poor, working tirelessly all day but still unable to earn enough to feed their four children, who were also often ill. Many years have passed, but she is still haunted by the hunger of her childhood. When she was nine years old, her parents passed away one after another. After their deaths, her family was torn apart; the four sisters went their separate ways. Some were taken in by relatives, others had to work as domestic servants. She, however, had to go work as a maid for a family in the mountainous district of Tan Ky.

Loan's daily routine consisted of looking after her younger siblings, doing laundry, tending buffaloes, cutting grass, and caring for the pigs... She had been taught these tasks by her parents when she was still at home, so they were not difficult for her. But one night, Loan woke up to find her hands and feet numb and her whole body aching. At first, she thought it might be due to overwork the day before, but the next day, and the following days, the symptoms persisted. In fact, they worsened until her hands and feet completely lost sensation. She panicked and ran around asking for help. When she finally found a doctor, she was told it was a symptom of leprosy, commonly known as the disease.

The doctor advised her to go for examination and treatment at the Quynh Lap Leprosy Hospital. Shocked, that was her feeling the moment she heard the news. She couldn't understand why such a small girl's life had to bear so much misfortune. Loan packed her belongings and quietly made her way back to Quynh Lap. In her perception, it was a journey filled with pain and despair, a long, desolate road, and a solitary figure in the world.

A shelter in the leprosy village

The Quynh Lap Leprosy Hospital is nestled in a lush green valley, with a pristine beach stretching out before it. That day, upon arriving, Vo Thi Loan stopped on the beach, silently watching the countless waves crashing against the shore. The young woman felt her heart shatter. Then she closed her eyes; the vastness of the ocean vanished, replaced only by the relentless sound of the waves. Yes, even though they come ashore and then disappear, the waves still create their eternal song. Each person has a life, and so does it—a life to sing its own song, never giving up, never faltering...

It was a day around the end of 1982. Her life became intertwined with the Quỳnh Lập leprosy village, with this pristine and beautiful beach. Coming here, she realized how many people around her suffered from this terrible disease, yet they overcame their circumstances, cherished life, and many had found happiness. They were role models who helped her reflect on herself, lessen her worries and anxieties, and strive to assert herself. She realized that at 20, she was still too young, and ahead lay a long and arduous journey, forcing her to persevere in her search for joy. A new journey had begun...

Ms. Vo Thi Loan and her friend, who shares the same plight, in Quynh Lap leprosy village.

Compared to many patients being treated at Quynh Lap Leprosy Hospital, Ms. Vo Thi Loan is more fortunate because her condition is mild, and she is young, so her resistance is high. She gets along well with everyone, wholeheartedly helping the seriously ill and elderly, earning everyone's trust and affection. She also participated in literacy classes and soon became proficient in reading and writing, able to help others learn to read and write. Immersing herself in life in the leprosy village, she realized that life still holds so much meaning, and that she must always maintain her enthusiasm and love for those in similar circumstances, opening her heart to the world around her. That is why she met him and became his life partner.

A peaceful harbor

His name is Tran Van Bo (born in 1964), originally from Ninh Thuan, the southernmost point of "Central Vietnam" with its seemingly endless sand dunes. He is also a leprosy patient who traveled thousands of kilometers to Quynh Lap for treatment. The two young people found love unexpectedly, and they decided to build a family together.

The couple borrowed land to build a temporary house and grow vegetables to supplement their income. Like many other families in the Quỳnh Lập leprosy village, their lives were fraught with difficulties and hardships, due to the meager government assistance and their limited health. But with love and determination, they overcame life's obstacles to build a happy home. Especially since the birth of their two sons, Trần Quỳnh Nguyên and Trần Quỳnh Văn, the small family was filled with the cries of children, and the hardships and worries increased even more.

She couldn't remember how many times she had to work hard, running around everywhere to earn enough money to buy milk and medicine for her children. Then, when the children entered school, the money for books and school supplies became a huge worry. For healthy parents, it wouldn't be a problem, but for those with illnesses like her and her husband, it was a significant issue. The couple always encouraged each other to persevere, saving money to raise their children and provide them with a better future. Seemingly understanding their parents' hardships and deprivations, Nguyên and Văn were very well-behaved and diligent students from a young age. Both were healthy and always helped their parents with their work. Watching her two sons grow up day by day filled her with joy; perhaps the years of suffering and misfortune had been compensated, and her efforts had been rewarded by life.

To date, after 26 years of marriage, the couple has a house, not grand or luxurious, but sturdy enough to shelter the whole family. Their two sons have grown up and become adults. Quynh Nguyen is studying cooking and is currently doing an internship. Quynh Van recently passed the university entrance exam but has temporarily put his dream of attending university on hold. He understands his family's difficult circumstances; his parents are both ill, and if he were to go to university, it would be too much of a burden. Currently, Quynh Van is working as a factory worker in Ho Chi Minh City, determined to save money to retake the university entrance exam in a few years and pursue his dream of higher education. “In the blink of an eye, my husband and I have passed 50. The older we get, the more illnesses we have, and our health declines. But thinking of our family, thinking of our children, all the weariness seems to disappear. We only hope they grow up quickly…” – Ms. Loan shared.

PHAM TIEN - TUONG ANH