Eye-disabled student with a life full of hardships
Born in 2016, Quy Duong is currently a 5th grade student at Phu An Elementary School, My Thuong ward, Hue city. Since he was very young, he has had to live with eye disease, causing many difficulties in studying and living.
When Duong was only 2 years old, the family discovered that his eyes had abnormal signs: his eyes were uneven, his left eye was protruding and larger than his right eye. Later, the family learned that his left eye could not see, and his right eye could only see dimly. Feeling sorry for their child, the family took Duong for treatment many times, surgery about 4-5 times but the condition did not improve.
According to Ms. Ho Thi Hoa (70 years old, Duong's grandmother), for many years, Duong has had to depend on medicine. Each tube costs about 700,000 VND, each month he needs at least 2 tubes. When the medicine runs out, Duong's eyes swell, tears flow, mucus appears and then has a high fever.
For his family, the cost of medicine and regular treatment each month is a burden. Duong's parents divorced more than 3 years ago. Mother left for many years without returning. Feeling sorry for his son, the father had to go to Hung Yen to work as a construction worker to earn money to treat his son's illness. About 1-2 months, he returned to his hometown, took Duong to the hospital and then continued to work far away.
In her hometown, Duong lives with her paternal grandparents and 6th grade older brother and 3rd grade younger sister. Her paternal grandfather is in poor health, suffering from spinal pain, so he can hardly do heavy work. The family burden is therefore placed on Mrs. Ho Thi Hoa's shoulders.
Every day, she goes to sell fish more than ten kilometers from home. Her income is only about 50,000 - 100,000 VND/day, but she has to worry about food, school and medicine for her grandchildren. "She is well-behaved, obedient, doesn't ask for anything. Eating vegetables, eating sweet potatoes is okay, doesn't ask for this or that. Sometimes when she sells a little fish, picking another basket of vegetables, grandparents and 3 grandchildren eat it" - Mrs. Hoa said with tears in her eyes.
The level 4 house where grandparents and grandchildren lived was also degraded. Several windows were rotten and distorted, and cracks appeared in many positions on the columns. There were almost no valuable assets in the house, except for the old TV and the grandchildren's books.
Not wanting to go to school far away because afraid of not seeing the way back to grandparents
In that situation, Duong still tried to maintain his studies. Every day, he pedaled his gifted bicycle from his house in Hamlet 4 Dong Mieu to Phu An Elementary School. His unclear eyes made his journey to school unlike his peers. Sometimes he had to go slowly, staggering because he did not clearly observe the road.
If I cover my right eye, my left eye won't see anything. But driving to school I'm not afraid, I'm used to it. My classmates don't tease me but also play with me, so I really like going to school," Duong said.
Ms. Nguyen Thi To Min, Duong's homeroom teacher in the 2025-2026 school year, said that she is a good, polite, quick-witted and quite active student. However, her eyes are not bright enough, causing Duong to have many limitations in studying, especially in reading and writing. However, she still persistently studied until 5th grade.
The new school year has begun. While many friends have new uniforms, Duong still wears the clothes he used 2 years ago. The shirt is old, with many stains, and the flip-flops are also worn. Her books and school supplies are mostly supported by the school, and some years her grandmother asks for them to use.
I don't want to go to school far away because I'm afraid of the long road, I can't see the way back to my grandparents," Duong lowered his head and said.
At Phu An Elementary School, the new school year is bustling. In the schoolyard, the boy with eyes with a faint light is still playing with friends, still excited about the lessons ahead. There are still many difficulties ahead, but he is still trying every day, with the simple wish to study and grow up like his peers.
