Mother Thien, mother of children with special needs.

Volunteer trips during her student years instilled in Trinh Thi Thien a special love for orphaned and disabled children.

For Ms. Trinh Thi Thien (41 years old), Head of the Disability Department at the Tam Binh Children's Protection Center (Tam Binh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City), under the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Volunteer Force, the world of people with disabilities is not just full of imperfections, but also contains immense resilience and love.

Motivation to contribute

Currently, the Disability Department is caring for 53 children (26 boys and 27 girls), all of whom are confirmed to have severe or extremely severe disabilities.

Ms. Trinh Thi Thien has spent over 10 years caring for children with special needs.

PHOTO: HOANG VAN

"Most of the children suffer from conditions such as Down syndrome, hearing impairment, visual impairment, hyperactivity, autism, and intellectual disability. Some children have more severe conditions such as epilepsy, mental illness, and cerebral palsy," Ms. Thien shared.

Care in the ward requires meticulous attention and high expertise, as 80% of the children must be fed pureed porridge or directly through a feeding tube into their stomachs in cases of severe cerebral palsy or vegetative state. Seizures, phlegm production, and uncontrollable behaviors, especially the possibility of death at any moment, require the ward's staff to be on duty 24/7 to detect and handle any issues promptly.

Ms. Trinh Thi Thien's involvement with the Tam Binh Children's Protection Center came about by chance, yet it felt like destiny. Since her student days, her participation in volunteer activities had instilled in her a special love for orphaned and disabled children. Witnessing the boundless love of the teachers at that time motivated her to dedicate herself to caring for children with special needs.

After graduating with a degree in Sociology from Van Hien University and spending several years working in addiction treatment, she transferred to the center in 2013. In 2018, she was assigned to manage the Disability Department. "Initially, I was very scared, truly terrified," Ms. Thien shared. The fear stemmed from her sight, hearing, and even smell, as she first encountered these "very special" children: those with missing limbs, extra limbs, or severe cerebral palsy with large heads, bulging eyes, and contracted limbs. Added to this were the children's screams and uncontrolled behavior, which severely challenged her emotions.

But then, it was during the process of bonding, bathing, feeding, and caring for the babies that a very deep emotional connection was formed. After a health incident that caused her to faint and require emergency treatment, Ms. Thien understood the children's circumstances even more deeply.

"At that time, I was conscious but couldn't open my eyes or speak. I felt like the blood and oxygen weren't pumping fast enough, my limbs were stiff… then I thought about my two children. I thought about the cycle of birth, aging, illness, and death and realized how impermanent life is," she mused. That incident made her realize that anyone can become weak and need care, just like the children with cerebral palsy and vegetative states in the ward.

From then on, she was determined to make every effort to help the children live happier lives. To provide good care for these special needs children, Ms. Thien shared that three essential elements are needed: professional knowledge, love, and patience.

In particular, to address practical difficulties, she has come up with many effective initiatives. A prime example is the design of clothing for children with mental health issues. These children often undress, easily getting cold, which affects their therapy. Ms. Thien and her colleagues designed outfits made of cotton fabric, in soft colors, using zippers or drawstrings instead of buttons in specific areas, so the children cannot undress themselves.

Professionally, she continuously learns through books, training courses, from doctors, physical therapists, teachers, colleagues, and from the children themselves. "Each child has a different disability and a unique personality. We must understand the characteristics of their condition, their constitution, and their dietary preferences—such as whether they prefer thick or thin porridge, or whether they like shrimp or fish—in order to provide the best care," she explains.

Love works wonders.

As head of the department, Ms. Thien emphasizes internal unity and setting a good example. She works directly with the staff, ensuring consistency and a scientific approach to childcare, and assigning personnel according to their expertise and strengths. A head of department who excels in all aspects will inspire staff to follow suit, thereby spreading a spirit of love and responsibility.

Ms. Thien plays with disabled children at the Tam Binh Children's Protection Center.

PHOTO: HOANG VAN

For new employees, initial fear is the biggest barrier. She encourages and reassures them, applying a training method that combines traditional hands-on instruction with video clips showcasing detailed care procedures, especially tube feeding and sterile hygiene. This method helps employees quickly grasp the knowledge and become more confident.

After so many years of working with children with disabilities, Ms. Thien observes: "The world of people with disabilities is not just about imperfections; it's also full of resilience and love. Where there is love, there is happiness, and love can create many miracles."

She recounted the case of a child with autism spectrum disorder and hyperactivity, who was initially disruptive and uncommunicative. After a long period of close interaction, care, comforting, researching educational methods, attending training courses on autism, and through intervention, teaching, and care, the child made rapid progress. The child became more focused, less hyperactive, and one beautiful day, unexpectedly uttered the word "mom." That moment brought overwhelming happiness and motivated Ms. Thien to continue her work.

Having worked in the department for many years, Ms. Thien said that even children with severe cerebral palsy, those in a vegetative state, have an invisible bond with their caregivers who love them. Ms. Thien only needs to step through the door of the room, and the children can sense it, crying out or trying to "respond" with babbling sounds when comforted.

According to Ms. Thien, over the years, the children have received a great deal of attention from the community and society, and especially from the State, leaders at all levels, and the center's management board. Currently, the care provided to the children is very good. However, their ability to integrate into the community is very limited due to their severe disabilities, so she hopes that the care of children with special needs will continue to receive even more attention from the community.

For her, the greatest success is seeing the children healthy, happy, and making progress every day. Children with severe cerebral palsy often have a short lifespan, but thanks to the dedicated care at the center, many have lived for nearly 20 years.

"If society looks at these children with compassion, shares, supports, and especially with great love, then they will be able to do many wonderful things in life," she shared.

Ms. Trinh Thi Thien is one of 478 exemplary individuals in the patriotic emulation movement of Ho Chi Minh City for the period 2020-2025.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ma-thien-cua-nhung-dua-con-dac-biet-185251118195658485.htm