The joy of "rebirth" and meaningful life journeys.
For those fortunate enough to receive an organ transplant, life after the surgery is no longer just their own. The joy of being reborn from the brink of death becomes the motivation for them to embark on a new chapter in their lives: to live a more meaningful, grateful, and responsible life for the community.
For those fortunate enough to receive an organ transplant, life after the surgery is no longer just their own. The joy of being reborn from the brink of death becomes the motivation for them to embark on a new chapter in their lives: to live a more meaningful, grateful, and responsible life for the community.
Second chance
For most people, happiness is measured by smiles, success, or money. But for many others, happiness is simply breathing, the beat of a healthy heart, and a body no longer dependent on life support machines…
When Sam Thanh Tai (born in 1993) was admitted to Vinh Medical University, the entire Chau Cuong commune (formerly Quy Hop district) was very proud. Tai was the first person from this poor rural area to be admitted to medical school to become a doctor. After graduating in 2018, he volunteered to work at the Chau Loc High School Health Station to care for the health of ethnic minority people. This was also the first time Chau Loc had a doctor with a formal medical degree. Throughout his 16 months of service there, from the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic to providing daily healthcare for the villagers, Dr. Tai was always appreciated by his colleagues and the people for his dedication and solid expertise. Afterwards, he transferred to Nghia Xuan commune to continue his medical career.
In mid-2025, at the peak of his career, with his second daughter just one month old, a major tragedy struck Dr. Tài unexpectedly. After suffering from headaches and fatigue, he was shocked to receive a diagnosis of end-stage renal failure. The doctor who once wore a white coat to save lives now lay in a hospital bed, watching the red blood flow through the dialysis machine, tears streaming down his face as he thought about his small family with two young children and the over 1 billion VND cost of a kidney transplant, a sum far beyond the reach of a poor civil servant family.
Nguyen Van Tuan (born in 1986, Hai Chau commune) also experienced that pain. In 2022, while preparing for his wedding – the happiest milestone of his life – he discovered he had end-stage kidney failure. The shock completely shattered the young engineer's spirit. From a healthy person working in Ho Chi Minh City, he had to leave everything behind to return to his hometown for treatment, facing an uncertain future and the pain of having to postpone his important wedding day.
Meanwhile, businessman Hoang Nguyen Trong Dung (born in 1989) faced a health crisis in 2021 – at the height of his career. The glimmer of hope that had just emerged when a relative offered to donate a kidney quickly faded due to incompatibility. At that time, the line between life and death for him was as thin as a thread.
In moments of deepest despair, the kindness of the community and the compassion of organ donors have given kidney failure patients a second chance. For Dr. Tai, it was the heartfelt fundraising efforts from colleagues, friends, and strangers across the country who wanted to help him raise enough funds for surgery. By January 2026, thanks to an organ from a brain-dead donor at Viet-Duc Hospital and the support of the entire community, he successfully received a kidney transplant. "Being able to leave the dialysis machine, to return home, to start my life anew, I feel so free and happy. Perhaps no words can describe the happiness of being reborn," Dr. Tai confided.
An opportunity arose for engineer Tuan one day in October 2024, as he was preparing for a dialysis session. He might receive a kidney transplant from a brain-dead patient. Among the four people with compatible indicators, Tuan had the highest antigen cell count test result. Overwhelmed with joy mixed with anxiety, he couldn't believe he actually had a chance at a new lease on life.
As for Mr. Dung, a complete stranger agreed to donate a kidney to save his life. The successful surgery not only restored his health but also instilled in the businessman a burning desire to repay his debt to humanity.
Choose to live a meaningful life.
If the organ transplant surgery was a medical miracle, then what followed was a miracle of human compassion. Having emerged from the brink of death, all three men understood that life was no longer their own. They began a new journey – a journey of meaningful living through simple, sincere acts.
Recovering from surgery, businessman Hoang Nguyen Trong Dung did not enjoy life for himself alone. He participated in charitable activities with the mindset of someone racing against time to give back to society. He believes that his success cannot be separated from the community, and that each of us is a product of the support around us. The philosophy of "sowing good seeds - serving humanity" has become a guiding principle for him and his wife. One of the milestones in his philanthropic journey is sponsoring orphaned children. To date, his company has sponsored 264 disadvantaged children, committing to raising them until they turn 18. Even during difficult and volatile economic times, he still decides to dedicate 20-30% of his profits to building a sustainable charitable fund. Becoming a member of the Nghe An Provincial Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front for the 2025-2030 term is a well-deserved recognition of his persistent efforts.
Not one for the hustle and bustle of social activities, engineer Nguyen Van Tuan chooses to live with profound gratitude in every small thing he does. Having overcome post-operative complications such as viral infection and severe anemia, he cherishes even more the opportunity to live a healthy life a second time. What moves many people is his quiet connection with the family of the organ donor.
He is one of the rare cases who learned about organ donors through news articles. He considers the donor's family as his own, frequently visiting and bonding with them. For him, a kidney in his body is not just a biological organ, but a bridge. From someone who used to be careless and neglect his health, he now shares his story to remind friends and family to take care of themselves, not to wait until they lose something to feel regret. Every day he wakes up is a gift, and he is determined not to let a single moment go to waste.
Two months after his kidney transplant, as his health gradually stabilized, Dr. Sam Thanh Tai's most burning desire was to return to the people in the highlands. He was acutely aware that this second life was given to him by the community. Therefore, the best way to show his gratitude was to continue using his medical expertise to save lives. He shared: "Before, when I was healthy, I only thought about how to have a comfortable and prosperous life. After the transplant, I only hope to live with my family, go to work, and help as many people as possible. I don't want anyone to experience regret for neglecting their health." For Dr. Tai, wearing the white coat again and examining ethnic minority people is both a source of pride and a responsibility.
Three people, three different circumstances, but their rebirth changed their journeys – making them more meaningful and fulfilling.
