One Dollar One Meal

A STORY OF THE TWIN BROTHERS 

The twin of Tung and Toan one of the five pairs of siblings of Vi Thuy Home for the Blind. They were taken into Vi Thuy Home For The Blind in August, 2014. Here is their story.

After more than four hours seeking a family in Kien Giang, eventually we found the house of a couple, Mr T.V.D and Mrs T.T. B. They have four children, the two first daughters are sighted, and the twin sons were born with blindness because of prematurity. These identical boys have a special mark which is they use one birth certificate name – QUY, usually called Tung and Toan at home. The Father goes fishing on local river and the mother is a hiring worker for a living.

The first sight, we saw those skinny boys on a hammock together. Their grandmother told us: because of aging, and not knowing how to look after a blind child, she did not know how to take care of them; therefore, they did not know how to use a toilet, how to eat like a normal boy though they were both 9 nine years old. They stayed with the grandmother during the day while their parents went out for work. Neither did Tung’s and Toan’s parents know how to raise them, they had no idea how could a blind child study, since there were many sighted children in their neighborhood not being able to study at all. Thus, they had never thought of sending them to a school, as well as they knew no school for the blind. In addition, they could not afford their schooling. So, they just were put in the hammock while the grandmother was waving the fishing net.

Having realized that we came with an intention to take them to our school, the whole family was very glad and amazed at us. They could not believe that someone could come and take them into their special care without conditions. It was hard for them to understand.

Tung and Toan’s health was worse than other peers in the Home. Initially, they just sat still, talked to no one and were totally dependent on the sisters for all basic needs. After one month of rehabilitation, they began communicating and playing with friends. After eight months of care, they made obvious progress. Both Tung and Toan began interacting with others, knowing how to respond to a call, how to scoop the food; even Tung starts learning to write and read in Braille, to ride a bicycle, and to put on the clothes.

Their families are happy with their development; sometimes their parents come to see them. Having seen them walking around, playing, and studying, they only break in tears.

Thanks be to God for giving us a heart full of Your Love, a desire of sharing endless. May this kind of love continue rise and rise forever to raise up all Vietnamese blind children to God so that this world will feel your love in this life.

My Life Story 

Today, I would like to tell my own life story as well as express my deep gratitude to those who contribute to raise me up.

My story will begin with the onset of visual impairment. Many people are frequently asking the question of since when I am visually impaired. I used to have this same question. Once, my parents told me that when I was born, they had a very hard time. Even at six months old, I was so light weight that my mother was holding me on her arm and felt like holding a piece of cloth. My parents had to stay at the hospital during four months, as the pneumonia affected me severely. Of course, it was very expensive to save my life. By that time, they had no house, rent a room, and managed all kinds of expenses with their limited wage. Then it became tougher for them to manage the hospital fee and other payments for me. Althought they tried all their best to save me, but I still was crying day and night. My mother did not know what to do with me except crying.

After those hard days, my parents felt better when seeing in me the life. I made a full recovery eventually. This kind of consolation did not last long. When I was two years of age, the influence of being born with prematurity affected my eyes which became gradually blurred until my vision totally lost. I no longer could see the surroundings and my parents’ faces.

With my parents, the disability let them down. My mother often cried silently when not knowing how to deal with my impairment. Until she knew there was a place in where I would learn to function with my disability. Now she is better. She still keeps in her mind the image of her two year old sighted girl happily riding the bicycle around the hammock in the small space of the rent room.

For me, I had no memories of my babyhood, especially the period of time I had sight. I only remembered all details of the experience of my first day of school. When my mother took me, a five year old girl, to Vi Thuy Home for the Blind, she was telling a sister my story with full tears. Then she left me with the sisters. I was so homesick that I was crying all day long. In the afternoon, after bathing me, the sister made my hair, then she had me touch something soft on my hair. She told me they were two beautiful roses. She took me to the garden and put me in a swing. The sister was standing next to the swing and told me: “You are as beautiful as a small princess!”

Time passes so fast! It is almost five years away. I am ten years old now, I am in the fourth grade. With the tireless efforts of the sisters and all supporters, I have a happy life. My life is full of laughing and surrounded by loved people. I have good friends who play with me and share with my daily activities. I am well taken care by the kind sisters and taught to serve myself as well as all kinds of skills to compensate my visual impairment.

I am also proud of myself for my efforts and academic achievements. From the first grade to this grade, I am categorized as an excellent student. In addition, my mother stops crying, and she is very happy because of my good health condition. I am no longer as light and small as a piece of clothe, instead I am the biggest and tallest one in the class. Whoever first time sees me often guesses I was sixteen years old.   

Here is my schedule. My weekdays are full with schooling at a mainstream elementary school. In the evening, after school, the sisters take us to the church for the daily mass. After the holy celebration, I have dinner and then we pray together. At weekend, I join the church’s choir. I am a solo in the choir. I like singing a lot, since I feel wonderful to make this world more musically with my voice. On Sunday, a sister teaches me to play organ. I am taught to appreciate everything I have. I learn to pray for our parents and families, for the sisters and teachers, and especially for donors and supporters who are generously and unconditionally helping us with daily expenses, accommodation, food, and tuition.

I am aware that I should behave and study well to pay benefactors’ love and care, particularly the care of Siters, teachers, Father President and BVCF board of directors, donors all over the world. I will never forget the generosity of those who have been supporting the sisters to raise me up. I will take advantage of your kindness to study and practice with all my best. This year the facility is rebuilt and enlarged. I have a clean and big place to study, sleep, and play. The sisters teach me that all things I receive are from good people. I believe that you are building my strenght and giving me bright eyes of love, and firm feet of belief so that I will be able to enter the world with joy and confidence. Thank you very much for your unconditional kindness. To whom I have not met personally, I would like to extend my grateful greetings to you and to promise that I will live a joyful and useful life to pay your love.

With my sincere gratitude,

Bao Tran