There, love is nurtured by sharing.

A peaceful moment in the playground at Social Protection Center No. 2.

Every look is a life story

Wrapped in a thin towel and left at the gate of Thanh Ha pagoda, she was named after the place where she was found - Nguyen Thanh Ha. With a slight disability in her legs and the ability to speak, Ha had to undergo constant medical intervention. She was 13 years old but only in 5th grade. None of her relatives came to claim her, nor did she have anyone to rely on. However, her jet-black eyes shone with an unusually strong determination. Every limping step in the central hallway was a journey of fighting fate. Ha smiled brightly when showing off her notebook with a 9, her eyes sparkling with the desire to learn, to live, to be loved like any other child.

Le Van Anh entered the center when he was just 2 years old. He was paralyzed, unable to sit or eat by himself, and could only communicate through his eyes. The child could not speak a word, but every time his mother Huong fed him porridge, his eyes lit up. That was his way of saying thank you, his way of connecting with the world . Many years have passed, Le Van Anh still lies on a small bed in the corner of the room, his body not much bigger, but his heart is wide open. Every day is a battle for him, but perhaps he has gotten used to the gentle embrace of his "mothers" and this place has become the last home in his small life.

Nguyen Van Anh is paralyzed all over his body, and his family situation is very difficult: his grandparents are old and weak, his father is seriously ill, and his mother has left without a trace. Since entering the center, he has received special care and has gradually learned to smile, although he still cannot walk on his own. Now 12 years old, he understands that this roof is the only place he can call “family”. Every time he is taken to the playground, he enjoys the sound of birds chirping, the laughter and jokes of his friends. These small emotions that are normal to many people, are as precious as miracles to him. He has a persistent and quiet vitality that makes everyone admire him.

Each child has their own story, but they all share the same desire to be loved and to grow up like any other child. And amidst the disadvantages that no one chooses, they still smile brightly, like green shoots growing in the loving morning sun.

Motherly love does not need blood

During her 35 years at the center, Ms. Ngo Thi Huong has become the reluctant “mother” of dozens of children. Some have grown up and started families; some have passed away from serious illnesses. However, she has remained quietly and persistently. “The children are very weak, some have to be carried all night, some have to take HIV medication on time or their lives will be in danger,” she shared, choking up.

The children are cared for at Social Protection Center No. 2.

Perhaps because she loves them so much, she sometimes worries about them more than her own children. Her day starts at 5am with small but loving tasks: changing clothes, feeding porridge, bathing... Her maternal love does not need blood, it just needs a heart that is tolerant enough.

Entering the center nearly 10 years ago, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngan was afraid when she had to take care of a child with a high fever and crying non-stop. But then love made her attached. "The children lack the warmth of their parents, only I can make up for it," she said.

She said that every time she went on leave, she called her colleagues to give them detailed instructions: remember to give the child medicine, remember to remind the child to go to the toilet on time... She never spoke harshly to her children, even if one of them was so naughty that he or she spilled the entire tray of food. Her patience came from love, because she believed that a gentle look and a warm hand could nurture a loving and brave soul.

As the Head of the Social Work Team, Ms. Do Thi Lien is like a solid support for the entire care team. More than anyone, she understands each child like the back of her hand. She can remember the exact date the children were brought to the center, their specific circumstances, health status, and even their eating habits. “They have suffered too much. If I don’t treat them like my own children, how can I be attached?” she confided.

For her, every look, every call of “mom” is a bond of flesh and blood. When a child has a fever at night, she is willing to stay up all night to watch over every breath. When a child cries at night because he misses his mother, she sits next to him and comforts him until morning. “Without love, it is difficult to persevere. Because this job requires not only strength, but also heart,” she said in a calm voice, as if speaking for the feelings of countless “moms” who are quietly building a home for those without a place to rely on.

At Thanh Hoa Social Protection Center No. 2, there are currently 6 "mothers" directly taking care of 16 children divided into two separate areas, the HIV-infected children area and the disabled and orphaned children area. At its peak, in 2019-2020, this place welcomed up to 30 children - a huge amount of work but also full of love. Each child coming here carries a painful life story, an unhealed wound in their heart. And it is the hugs, the comforting words, the spoonfuls of porridge, the sound sleep... that are the ways the mothers gather love to heal the gaps.

From that reality, it is necessary to have stronger and more regular attention from all levels and sectors. There needs to be policies and long-term solutions for material support and, more importantly, psychological counseling to help children overcome their inferiority complex and crisis, continue to study, strive, and live a more meaningful life in the best possible conditions. Because, for them, love is not only the most precious thing, but also a miracle to grow up, to hope and to believe that they are not left behind.

Article and photos: Tran Hang

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/o-noi-ay-tinh-than-duoc-vun-dap-bang-se-chia-257713.htm