Wounded soldiers reconnect lives that were "broken".

For the past two decades, war veteran Le Thanh Do has quietly and diligently worked with dedication and a humane desire to transform his small workshop producing prosthetic limbs into a solid "support system" for thousands of disabled people, helping to "connect" broken lives.

From pain to the desire for healing

In a small workshop nestled in Goc De alley (Minh Khai ward, Hoang Mai district, Hanoi ), the sounds of forging and cutting machines resonate like a symphony of life. There, we met a thin man with bright eyes hidden behind white glasses, diligently bending thermoplastic rods. He is Le Thanh Do, who has dedicated 20 years to creating new arms and legs to "mend" the lives of those less fortunate.

The idea of ​​helping those in similar circumstances stemmed from Mr. Do's profound experiences during the war. As a wounded soldier, he understood the suffering and inconvenience of losing a part of his body. Later, given the opportunity to change professions, he decided to pursue medicine, hoping to treat his comrades and those less fortunate.

During his time working at the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Mr. Do witnessed many difficult situations faced by people who had to live without their hands and feet. "Having been hospitalized three times, I know what they need: not just legs, but also the belief to live," he reflected.

At the age of 80, Mr. Le Thanh Do is still working diligently.

A major turning point came when Mr. Do was sent for a six-month internship in the Netherlands. There, he learned modern orthopedic techniques, gained a better understanding of semi-finished materials, and the structure of each body part. This knowledge not only became invaluable but also motivated him to start his own business, with the idea of ​​establishing a workshop to produce prosthetic limbs for people with disabilities.

In 2004, a year before his retirement, he utilized his family's communal housing to begin building his workshop. The early days were incredibly difficult due to limited resources; accessing high-quality equipment, machinery, and specialized materials, especially imported goods, was not easy. He recounted: “At that time, I had to utilize every available resource, even relying on colleagues at state-owned workshops for help to obtain materials. But I always believed that no matter how difficult it was, I had to produce a product to prove my capabilities to the sponsors.”