Wings of Dreams Scholarship: Fighting Illness to Change Lives

Going to class peacefully each day, free from the torment of the terrible disease, is a joy for Ngo Thi Yen Nhi (right) - Photo: D. KHOI

Your family lives in Hamlet 7, Hoa Hiep Commune, Tam Binh District ( Vinh Long Province). Yen Nhi is in class 12B3 at Tran Dai Nghia High School.

My friend, born in 2006, was born with a kind and gentle face, leading everyone to believe she would have a bright and happy future. But perhaps life was a little cruel to her.

The terrible disease

When Nhi was 9 years old, she suddenly developed red rashes all over her body, and her hands and feet became swollen. Her family managed to take her to several major hospitals for examination.

The news that Yen Nhi had kidney complications due to lupus came as a shock to the whole family, causing her health to gradually deteriorate and worsen. Every month, Nhi is taken for check-ups to monitor and treat the complications caused by the disease.

Nhi's mother, unable to bear the hardships of life, left the family to seek a new life. Family life became even more difficult when Nhi's father had to shoulder all the household responsibilities and care for his daughter alone. Things became even harder when Nhi's illness worsened, forcing her to be hospitalized for monitoring.

Yen Nhi also has a younger sister who is in 9th grade. The three of them are staying in the house of their aunt.

The situation of a single father raising his children is already difficult, and Nhi's illness often leads to complications, so her father can't go out to work and has to rely solely on raising livestock at home to support his two daughters' education and pay for Nhi's medical treatment.

Despite her meager income and difficult circumstances, Nhi has to go to the hospital regularly every month, each time costing around 4.5 million VND.

Learn to overcome fate and fulfill your dreams.

Despite living with this terrible disease for nearly nine years, and despite the pain and exhaustion she endured, Yen Nhi possessed an unusually strong will.

Every morning, while her classmates happily go to school, Nhi also comes to class burdened with the pain and fatigue of her illness.

Nhi shared that her biggest fear was whether she would be healthy enough to study fully today, and whether any complications might arise that would force her to stop studying midway.

There were days when Nhi would be sitting in class, but her illness would suddenly worsen, and she wouldn't be able to concentrate on anything, so she had to ask to go home to rest. This happened quite frequently.

Having just finished her second semester exams in 12th grade, Yen Nhi had to be hospitalized at Cho Ray Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City) because her illness had worsened and become more complicated. Her health seems to be deteriorating day by day.

After being discharged from the hospital following a few days of treatment and stabilizing her condition, Nhi immediately returned to class to study for her graduation exams with her classmates. She was always diligent when her health permitted, highly conscientious, and strived to complete all assignments given by her teachers as thoroughly as possible.

In her final year of high school, Nhi achieved an average grade of 7.6 and was classified as a good student with good conduct.

"Even though circumstances prevent me from attending school regularly, I always try my best to concentrate on listening to the teachers' lectures and absorbing knowledge whenever I feel better. I want to continue my education and pursue my dreams," Nhi confided.

My greatest reason for wanting to share Ngo Thi Yen Nhi's story with the "Wings of Dreams" scholarship program is her diligence, unwavering determination in fighting illness, and her utmost efforts to overcome personal challenges.

We hope Nhi will receive support to inspire her to confidently move forward, fight, and overcome her fate, fulfilling her dream of going to school. We hope her story of resilience will touch the hearts of many, because she has tried so hard on her life's journey.

Look forward to the candidate introduction article.

The "Wings of Dreams" scholarship program, implemented by Tuoi Tre newspaper and Van Hien University, has a budget of 19 billion VND over three years. In the first year, the program awarded 100 scholarships (4 million VND per scholarship) to junior and senior high school students in 13 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region. In subsequent years, scholarships will be available for the Southeast, Central, and Central Highlands regions.

Students must have good conduct, good academic performance, come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and demonstrate a strong desire to overcome difficulties and excel in their studies. In particular, scholarship applicants must be recommended to the program by classmates, teachers at school, local residents, and readers of Tuoi Tre newspaper.

The essay about the circumstances of the student applying for the scholarship should not exceed 800 words (Word file). Images and video clips (if any) related to the case should be sent as separate files, not included in the essay.

Readers can submit articles to the email address: chapcanhuocmo@tuoitre.com.vn; Tel: 0283.997.38.38 (contact the Social Work Department of Tuoi Tre newspaper). The program is currently accepting articles until June 5th. The scholarship award ceremony is expected to be held in Dong Thap in June.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/hoc-bong-chap-canh-uoc-mo-chien-dau-voi-benh-de-thay-doi-cuoc-doi-20240522094814108.htm