Thanh's dream comes true

Phung Van Thanh – 20 years old
Thai Hoa Community – Trieu Son District – Thanh Hoa City

Today, Phung Van Thanh is brought by his dad and uncle to the people’s committee of Trieu Son district to receive a wheelchair provided through a cooperation between association NTT and TMC Thanh Hoa, association for the support of Vietnamese Handicapped and Orphans (ASVHO), Free Wheelchair Mission (FWM), Giving it back to kids ( GIBTK) and Humanitarian Services for Children of Vietnam (HSCV).

Mr. Phung Van Thanh is 20 years old but looking at him, I feel that he’s a lot older than his real age. His health condition has probably affected his appearance and his life tremendously. Thanh was born disabled. For the past 20 years in his life, he’s had to rely on his family in every way. Everything regarding food, hygiene and daily needs are taken care of by his father. His mother is old and her eyesight is slowly weakening and she can’t therefore help him as much as she would like to. Whenever there are sudden changes in the weather, his nervous system disease reappears, his muscle gets strained and he constantly screams because of pain. Even though his family has brought him to several hospitals to find a cure for his health condition, there were no progresses to be seen. In his current situation, he has medical expenses that costs around 60 000 VND every month. In this amount, tonics and medicine H5 for the nervous system is included.

The family has long wanted to have a wheelchair so that Thanh can move around more easily. But because of the family’s poor financial situation and their farming job can barely feed 6 mouths, 3 of which is still in schooling, it was simply impossible to buy Thanh a wheelchair. Sometimes when they’re out of rice and out of money, the family had to borrow money to be able to put food on the table, so the wish of getting Thanh a wheelchair was very distant and long-reached until now with the help from these charitable organizations. Even though this wheelchair comes a bit late to Thanh but the family are extremely happy and blessed by the consideration that the charity organizations has for their son and other disabled people. The happiness is clearly shown on the face, the eyes and the smiles of Thanh’s father and uncle. His father is very happy when receiving the wheelchair for his son. He said: “Now my son can move around on his own and a lot easier than before. It will also be less difficult for me and my wife now. I don’t have to help him with every step that he takes anymore because this wheelchair will replace my job”.

Looking at the father and the son’s cheerfulness, I can’t help but feel happy too. Because of the sharing and contribution of the charitable organizations, it has brought them happiness and a sense of warmth.


For only $500 you can sponsor HSCV's distribution of a container of 550 wheelchairs. This is less than $1 per wheelchair. HSCV receives our wheelchairs from Free Wheelchair Mission. They cover all expenses until the container reaches Vietnam. At that point HSCV works with a local partner to distribute the chairs. $500 will allow us to oversee the distribution of one container.

Follow this link to donate: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=5191075

Blogged by Ngo Thuy Hanh