Born with a severe eye condition, Liên’s life was marked by resilience from its earliest days. Within months of her birth, she tragically lost one eye due to complications from uveitis, and her remaining eye, while possessing partial sight, is severely nearsighted. Adding to her family’s challenges, her father, a veteran of the Southern battlefields, was exposed to Agent Orange, making the government’s support under this policy one of the few forms of aid Liên received growing up.
Despite her disability, Liên bravely attended school alongside sighted students through high school. It was a period filled with immense difficulty. “I was constantly teased. I would cry often. I was so shy I didn’t dare go anywhere,” she recalls. Yet, a quiet dream simmered within her: to become a literature teacher. But this dream was ultimately deferred. Her family couldn’t afford university tuition, and with no support systems in place for students with disabilities, she had no choice but to let it go.
Years of searching for work followed. Urged by relatives in Sài Gòn, she attempted to join companies, only to face repeated rejections because of her disability. After two to three years of unemployment, she returned to her hometown and found a new beginning through the local blind association. Her first step there was a computer literacy course, opening a new window to the world.
It was during a traditional “tẩm quất” (massage) therapy training course at the Ninh Binh province’s Blind Association that Liên met her husband, who is also blind. Their connection blossomed into a quiet but strong partnership. Today, they are raising three young children, aged 9, 5, and 2, a testament to their enduring love and commitment.
Life has been a continuous test of their strength. Liên lost her father while in 11th grade, and her mother three years later. As the youngest of six children, born when her mother was over 40, Liên found herself shouldering immense responsibilities, navigating both parenting and earning a living without the support of her parents.
Each day, Liên embarks on an arduous 44 km journey to attend our Swedish massage training course co-hosted with the Ninh Binh province’s Blind Association, returning home just in time to pick up her 9-year-old daughter from school. Her daily commute often spans up to 80 km across two bus routes. This grueling schedule once led her husband to suggest she quit, or even consider separation, due to the strain. Eventually, they found a compromise: the family invested in a slow-speed motorbike, granting her more independence in her commute.
Despite the occasional disagreements that naturally arise in any marriage, Liên and her husband have maintained a harmonious relationship, never arguing loudly, even after ten years. Her husband, though blind, is remarkably attentive and caring, often taking on the cooking, cleaning, and childcare, especially during her pregnancies. Adding to their support, her parents-in-law generously offered them a small piece of land and a three-room house to start their life together.
In 2010, the couple bravely attempted to open their own massage therapy business. However, with too few clients and a lack of skilled staff, they had to make the difficult decision to close it down. They returned to working for others, yet the dream of independence and building their own venture continued to burn brightly.
Today, with three children growing and the youngest just starting preschool, Liên and her husband face the daunting task of saving approximately 10 million VND annually for school fees alone. This sum is a significant challenge given their limited income.
Yet, through all the hardships, Liên remains remarkably hopeful. “I really enjoy learning and practicing Swedish massage. I hope that Ninh Bình province can open a massage center where I can apply what I’ve learned and increase my income,” she shares. Her ultimate wish is profoundly simple yet powerful: to serve the blind community through her work with the local blind association, while building a stable, dignified life for her beloved family.
