Extraordinary journey! The will to overcome the situation of the little girl “Penguin” and the dream of becoming a teacher for poor children

Ms. Cho added: “At that time, someone told me to take it away, not to pay for it. But I think, after all, my grandson is also a human being, even though he is not fully formed, it is very sad to leave. So I decided to bring him home to adopt.”

All year round, her feet are covered with mud, she has to work as hired laborers, but Ms. Cho and her husband, Mr. Tran Van Nho, persist in taking care of their unfortunate grandson.

When Thao was only 10 months old, misfortune fell on this poor family when her father returned to visit his family in Nha Trang when he suddenly died in an accident. So, all difficulties are concentrated on the thin shoulders of the mother, the hunched back of the grandparents.

Also due to the poor family situation, no land for production, soon after that, Nhan was forced to send Thao to her adoptive parents, while she went to Binh Duong to work as a worker for a production facility. with a meager salary, earn some money to send home to raise children.

At home with her grandparents, Thao is very obedient and quick. At 5 months old, Thao had 8 teeth, but it was not until 2 years old that she could speak. Ms. Cho said: “People can talk for more than a year, but Thao still can’t speak, so sometimes I think she can’t speak. When I turned 2 years old, I was surprised and happy to cry when I heard him babbling, calling his grandparents. Since then, I talk a lot, know how to say hello when there are guests at home, know how to say goodbye when guests leave.”

Ly Thi Cho continued: “Every time she got sick and took her to the hospital, someone suggested that I take her to a center for raising children with disabilities, but I live far away, never go anywhere, so I don’t know if there is a center for children with disabilities. Would you mind adopting people like you or not? Moreover, you have been with me since childhood, now I give it to another place, I’m afraid I can’t stand it. If someone suggests that their acquaintances get adopted, I don’t think it’s okay.”

Then Mrs. Cho shared, whenever listening to adults say that, waiting for them to leave, Thao would say: “Grandma, don’t give your children to other people. If I have hands tomorrow, I will go to work to earn money to support my grandmother. Don’t give it away to people.” Hearing you say that Mrs. Cho was in tears.

The energetic ‘penguin’ girl

Mr. Tran Van Nho said that when he was a child, all of Thao’s activities were helped by his grandparents. A little older, Thao likes to be independent, does not want to disturb others. Especially, new to kindergarten, but Thao loves to study and write.

Looking at Hieu Thao tilting her head to the side, the pen close to her neck, holding the pen with her “arm”, writing words, sweat dripping down her cheeks, I couldn’t hold back the tears.

Asked Thao who took her to school, she quickly answered: “When I was in kindergarten, my grandmother took me to school and then my grandmother sat behind me, when school ended, my grandmother took me home. Since entering 1st grade, I have been able to study alone.” It turned out that, at that time, when I brought him to class, he studied and Mrs. Cho also sat right behind him for fear that he might fall at any time because he did not have arms or legs to support him like other children.

In the 2016-2017 school year, Thao entered grade 1 and was volunteered by Ms. Ly Thi Thanh Thuy to teach her. Up to now, Thao has entered grade 3 of An Thanh 2B Primary School. Talking about her special student, Ms. Thanh Thuy said: “Thao has a disability but is very eager to learn and she absorbs the lesson quite quickly, writes pretty well, her academic performance is always good or higher.”

Because Thao has no hands to hold a pen, she puts the pen to her neck and uses the flesh protruding from her shoulder to write or draw. When doing math, you put the calculator on the table and then Thao follows her instructions to use “hand” to use the calculator to do the test like the other students. Just like that, only about half the time of the first semester of the 2016-2017 school year, Thao was able to write fluently.

Teacher Le Hoang Vinh (Principal of An Thanh 2B Primary School) commented: “When we accepted Thao into the school, we were very worried because we didn’t know how we could help her study well. However, we were very surprised when Thao was very interested in learning, eager to learn and learned very quickly. Thao is a person with extraordinary energy.”

On weekends, Thao took out her own books to read, then copied lessons from textbooks to notebooks without anyone’s help. After that, I got down and “go” out of the house quickly. Thirsty, she took the cup by herself, opened the faucet herself, put it in the cup and then picked it up and drank it deliciously, without spilling a drop.

Thao also “performed” for me to see her clamp a broom (a small broom made for her by her grandmother) with her shoulders and chin and sweep the house smoothly. At mealtime, Thao herself took the bowl and spoon and then scooped up the rice, with a few small movements, she was able to put the spoon of rice into her mouth and eat it deliciously. Thao can also take care of her own personal hygiene without the support of her grandparents as she did when she was a child.

Never before, the “penguin” girl lost her optimism and hope. And even in my dreams, I think of others. “I dream of becoming a doctor in the future to treat my grandmother’s illness and save people,” Thao confided when I asked about her dream.