Society

The extraordinary journey of mothers with VIP children.

Diep Thanh • April 3, 2026 07:22

Overcoming the pain of being "different" with unwavering perseverance and steadfast faith, the love of mothers with autistic children (children affectionately called "Very Important Persons" - VIPs) acts as a "door" helping their children gradually step out of their lonely world.

Overcoming the pain of being "different" with unwavering perseverance and steadfast faith, the love of mothers with autistic children (children affectionately called "Very Important Persons" - VIPs) acts as a "door" helping their children gradually step out of their lonely world.

1.

Looking at the radiant smile of Ms. Ha Thi Thuy (Vinh Loc ward), few would imagine the hardships she has endured. Once a bright student at a specialized high school, winning a promising scholarship to study abroad, her future took a sudden turn when she became pregnant with her second son.

At 19 months old, Khai, Thuy's son, began exhibiting unusual behavior: he didn't speak and showed no reflexes. Despite her family's objections, Thuy resolutely took her son for a medical examination, only to be devastated by the diagnosis: severe autism. The following months were a long period of helplessness. Khai refused all the food she painstakingly prepared. Regularly at 2 a.m. every night, he would wake up, crying and demanding to go outside. She couldn't remember all the long nights she spent holding him on the balcony, enduring the cold wind for hours until he finally fell asleep.

Despite her meager salary, she tirelessly took her child everywhere, from boarding centers in Hanoi, trying every method from modern medicine like stem cell transplantation to psychological therapies. Looking back on the journey, her eyes welled up with tears: "I never thought I could be so patient. If I had the chance to do it again, I'm not sure I could go through it all. I truly admire these VIP young mothers; they not only love their children but also possess extraordinary strength."

2.

This year, Phu turns 20. Ms. Ho Thi Hien (Truong Vinh ward) has also been accompanying her son for 20 years with a perseverance and strength that not everyone possesses. Despite being a child with special needs, the number of subjects and programs Phu has participated in surprises everyone. Phu has studied basketball, martial arts, drawing, and music… Phu has officially graduated from the intermediate level in drawing and piano from the Nghe An College of Culture and Arts. And currently, Phu is an artist at a career guidance club, and his creations are well-received by customers.

Having experienced a full range of emotions throughout this journey, Ms. Hien emotionally recalled: “The initial stage of the journey was the most difficult and helpless. At that time, knowledge about autistic children was not as abundant as it is now, and there were no special needs centers in the area, so I had to search for information myself, travel to Hanoi to find experts and teachers for intervention. I switched from teaching elementary school to teaching preschool to have more time with my child. I even helped Phu's preschool teacher learn special education programs so she could support him. Back then, because I didn't have much understanding of autistic children, I experienced many heartbreaking moments because many parents and teachers discriminated against him, fearing he would spread the condition to other children. When he started elementary school, he was hyperactive and shy, and there were times I had to ask the security guard and hire someone to watch at the school gate to prevent him from running away…”

The moment Phu received his first wages earned through his own labor, Ms. Hien was overjoyed beyond words. For her, the support of family and an inclusive, open environment are the greatest miracles for children with special needs.

3.

During a chance encounter at a parent-teacher meeting at a career guidance club for children with ADHD, I was particularly impressed by a young parent who was neither father nor mother. She was the aunt of a child with ADHD.

When sharing the story and daily progress of her 15-year-old nephew, the aunt couldn't hold back her tears. She shared: “My nephew's situation is special; his parents separated when he was very young. He lives with his paternal grandparents and his biological father. Not only is he autistic, but he also has weak leg muscles and limited mobility. Just thinking about how he suffers both emotionally and from his disability makes me feel so sad.”

As her aunt, she loved and cared for her niece dearly. Even though she lived in Hanoi, she would bring her niece back to Vinh every summer. Because of this, the niece called her "Mom." Her husband's family even thought the niece was her aunt's child from a previous relationship. As the niece approached adulthood, she developed many problems and developed attitudes towards adults, causing headaches for everyone, and they couldn't find a suitable environment for her. Furthermore, both her parents had remarried and were busy raising their own children, so they entrusted her care to her aunt.

Although not their biological child, the couple loves the child like their own, and their biological children cherish the baby as if it were a sibling. “After adapting to the environment here, the child has become a different person, more understanding, happier, more willing to share, and more proactive in expressing feelings to those around them. They’ve even started helping me with chores. Having witnessed the progress of the children at the center, I am very grateful to the teachers and experts here. They have accomplished things that sometimes family love alone isn’t enough to achieve.”

4.

Driven by the love and empathy of a mother with a child with autism, Ms. Tran Thi Thu Phuong (Thanh Vinh ward) has brought a career guidance model for children with autism to Nghe An province. Thanks to her determination, many autistic teenagers have found a suitable environment to share experiences, participate in activities, develop their skills, and contribute according to their abilities and strengths.

"Having been by my child's side for so many years, I understand that I am the only key to changing everything. I want to help society change its perception of children with special needs, so that they are truly respected, understood, and loved," Ms. Phuong confided.

Wishing for her son to be more independent, she persistently supported Hung – her son – in his gradual integration into society. He started first grade at age 6 and by age 12, he was pursuing a vocational course in Fine Arts at the Provincial College of Culture and Arts. Mother and son are always together in all sports activities, community events, and other social gatherings... Hung himself is currently an active member of the Gia An Career Guidance Club.

Sharing more about this choice, Ms. Phuong confided: “There is no better integration than when children are allowed to work and create real value for their lives like other normal people. Our Gia An Club was established with the desire to give opportunities and confidence to help children express their abilities and, most importantly, to eliminate the prejudice that autistic people are a burden on their families and society.”