The unfulfilled dreams of a 15-year-old boy tragically end in an accident.
Ngoc Dung•January 3, 2026 09:27
It was a fateful afternoon for 15-year-old Tran Van Hao, residing in Van Vien hamlet, Lam Thanh commune. While Hao was fishing to supplement his family's meals, his fishing line became entangled in a high-voltage power line. The electric shock permanently deprived the 15-year-old boy of both his hands.
Tran Van Hao had to undergo surgery to have both his hands amputated at the National Burn Institute. (Photo provided by the family of the subject)
The house was devoid of laughter.
More than two months have passed since her eldest son's accident, yet the impoverished mother, Nguyen Thi Lan, continues to silently swallow her tears as she shoulders the burden of her family. Time has not lessened her pain, but only deepened the scars on the weathered face of this poor mother. While her husband stays by her bedside at the National Burn Institute, Lan and her youngest son can only rely on each other, praying for a miracle for Tran Van Hao.
The heavy hospital bills and the neighbors' inquiries sometimes felt like daggers piercing the heart of this exhausted mother. But she knew she couldn't give up.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan speaks with a reporter from the "Bridge of Compassion" program. Photo: Reporter
A hard life
Lan's family is classified as near-poor. Lan herself is slower than average. She and her husband chose garbage collection as their livelihood. However, since July of this year, when the new local government came into operation, their garbage collection contract was terminated. To earn a living, she started washing dishes for restaurants. That job also had to be temporarily suspended after the tragic incident involving her son, Tran Van Hao. Although she loves her son dearly, Lan cannot be by his side.
Despite his advanced age, frail health, and frequent illnesses, Lan's father-in-law still strives to support his children and grandchildren. The small house where Lan's family lives is their only asset, which they are leaving to their children; now, in the face of their grandson's tragedy, the only remaining asset they have is their breeding cow, which he plans to sell to pay for Hao's treatment.
Tears of Mr. Tran Van Nhuan, grandfather of Tran Van Hao. Photo: Ngoc Dung
Moved by the tragic plight of the impoverished family, local farmers in the Lam Thanh coastal area are supporting Lan's family by hiring her and her father to guard their fields and care for their buffaloes and cows. Each month, this work earns them a meager 2 million dong. The burden on this small family is growing heavier and heavier.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan works as a hired laborer in the fields of Lam Thanh commune. Photo: PV
The day of return was filled with worries.
In the early morning of January 1, 2026, after more than two months in the hospital, Tran Van Hao returned to his familiar home. He was greeted by his family, neighbors, and friends, all with sorrowful eyes.
Tran Van Hao returns home after more than two months in the hospital. Photo: Ngoc Dung
Hao has returned, but the journey ahead for him and his family is still a long and arduous one. The 15-year-old boy's hands are gone forever, and his unfulfilled dreams must now be adapted to a body that is not whole.
Yet, amidst the quiet solitude of the impoverished home, a glimmer of hope shines through acts of sharing. Amidst anxieties about the future and the costly rehabilitation treatments, the community's support is the strongest foundation, giving Hao the strength to continue his life with a renewed spirit. For even without his hands, he still has the love of his family and the compassionate embrace of society, always ready to guide him forward.
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Any support or assistance for the family of Tran Van Hao can be sent to the following address: Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan, Van Vien Hamlet, Lam Thanh Commune, Nghe An Province. Account Number: 108882211124, Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank).
The reporter in charge of the program is journalist Nguyen Ngoc Dung, phone number: 0913.064.060
Video about the circumstances of Tran Van Hao. Produced by: Ngoc Dung - The Toan - Quoc Bao
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