Light from the will to live

From a healthy young man with a stable job—the envy of many—tragic fate robbed Le Xuan Thanh of his eyesight in Sao Vang commune. Refusing to surrender to adversity, Thanh, with his willpower and desire to live, overcame his circumstances, continuously learning and becoming a dedicated official and an inspiration to many in similar situations.

Mr. Le Xuan Thanh (on the left), Vice President of the Tho Xuan Association of the Blind, teaches massage and acupressure to its members.

Having had a simple childhood like any other child in the village, Le Xuan Thanh was always the pride of his family because of his diligence and studiousness. From a young age, Thanh always harbored the dream of studying hard to become a civil engineer. After graduating from high school, he passed the entrance exam to Hanoi College of Transportation, and not stopping there, he continued to study and was accepted into Vinh University, Faculty of Civil and Industrial Engineering. After graduating, he was quickly recruited to work at Nghi Son Thermal Power Plant - a dynamic environment with many development prospects. However, just as his future was looking bright, an unexpected event struck. After a health check-up, he discovered an abnormal cerebral artery and was advised by the doctor to seek immediate treatment.

“Previously, I often suffered from headaches, but I just thought it was normal due to academic pressure. However, the headaches became more frequent after I started working, and when the doctor told me about my condition, I was shocked. Having to give up my dream job was a difficult decision for me at that time,” Thành confided.

However, with the encouragement of his family and the devoted care of the woman he loved, he found the strength to fight his illness. After a period of treatment, his health gradually stabilized, and he returned to normal life, found a suitable job, and built a happy home for himself.

However, fate challenged him once again. He suffered from persistent headaches, and at times even fainted and had to be hospitalized. At the end of 2018, after examination and consultation, he decided to have a second surgery. But what he never imagined was that his eyes would be completely affected; one eye lost all vision, and the other could only see dimly. The surgery coincided with the birth of their first child. Before he could fully experience the joy of fatherhood, he had to face the pain of losing his sight. The shock was so great that he fell into a psychological crisis. However, with the encouragement of his family and the constant presence of his wife and child, he quickly recovered his spirits, determined to persevere, not to sink into despair, and not to disappoint his loved ones.

A year after losing his sight, Mr. Thanh registered to join the Association of the Blind in Tho Xuan District (formerly). There, he found empathy with others in similar circumstances and realized that although life was still difficult, everyone remained optimistic, cheerful, and strived to learn to read and learn a trade. This gave him strong energy, motivating him to work hard every day to return to a normal life. He began to familiarize himself with the raised dots on the Braille board, and later he learned massage and acupressure at the Provincial Association of the Blind.

“Previously, I also taught myself about traditional medicine, which helped me when learning the trade. However, in the beginning, I faced many difficulties. My hands were clumsy and awkward; I couldn't clearly feel the tendons, joints, and acupoints. But I always thought that if I didn't try hard, I wouldn't be able to support myself, let alone my wife and children. So, I persevered in learning. There were times when I clearly felt my hands numb and aching for months, but I was determined to learn the trade to earn more income,” Mr. Thanh shared.

Driven by that belief, he tirelessly strived to learn massage and acupressure, supported by his family, and aided by the dedication and assistance of his teachers and colleagues, which helped him progress daily. His dedication and responsibility to his work were recognized by everyone, and in 2023, he was elected Vice President of the Tho Xuan District Association of the Blind (formerly), now the Tho Xuan Association of the Blind. For his efforts and contributions, he was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Central Association of the Blind of Vietnam. This achievement not only acknowledges his abilities but also demonstrates his strong will to overcome adversity.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Mao, Vice President of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Association of the Blind, said: “Not only is Mr. Le Xuan Thanh a highly competent professional, but he is also always dedicated and responsible in his work, enthusiastically helping those in similar circumstances to overcome adversity and making many contributions to the community. He is a prime example for officials and members to learn from and emulate.”

Text and photos: Trung Hieu

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/anh-sang-tu-nghi-luc-song-289628.htm