Although she has been lying paralysed in a wheelchair for more than 20 years, Vo Truc Duyen’s life remains optimistic and meaningful, because for her “fate cannot be changed, but life can always be better”.
Vo Truc Duyen (23 years old), owner of TD Coffeetree cafe (An Lac Ward, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City), once represented people with disabilities in Can Tho in an exchange with Nick Vujicic when he visited Vietnam.
Truc Duyen and a friend at the TD cafe
When Duyen was one year old, a sudden accident completely changed her life. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Trang Thuy, Duyen’s mother, recalled: “That day, a neighbour came over and carried Duyen out to play, but unfortunately tripped and dropped Duyen to the ground, causing her a brain injury and paralysis of her motor nervous system… and she had to lie in a wheelchair for the rest of her life”.
The family’s efforts to take Duyen everywhere for treatment gave her a strong belief that one day she would stand up on her own feet. But the miracle did not happen, despite all the effort and money the family spent. Duyen’s body grew weaker and weaker. At first Duyen could still sit up, but then she had to lie flat in her wheelchair because her spine became increasingly curved, and her arms and legs gradually withered and contracted. Duyen could only move her arms and fingertips, but could not lift them by herself. Even sadder, Duyen could not go to school because she was completely unable to hold a pen. If someone loses their hands, they can use their feet instead… but Vo Truc Duyen had lost those abilities too.
Unable to go to school, Duyen’s mother quit her job to patiently teach her to read and write. Duyen’s life really changed when the family saved up to buy her a computer. With the computer, Duyen set up a blog, created a Facebook account… And with the computer, her still-mobile fingertips helped Duyen do miraculous things. Duyen made friends with many people, taught herself English on the internet, and was taught Photoshop by her father (a professional photographer) before going on to learn graphic design…
Not stopping there, Duyen also turned her business ideas into reality to earn money to help her family. At the end of 2009, Duyen teamed up with a friend to paint T-shirts. She then moved on to opening an online shop selling T-shirts, fashion accessories, and taking orders for printing and designing uniforms… Next, Duyen plans to take on more printing and advertising design, banners, logos, business cards… In 2013, Duyen opened a cafe selling pure coffee right at her home.
Duyen is also the core member of a charity group bringing together many young people in Can Tho, called Supper Keys (Ks), with many charity programmes sharing love with pupils, poor children, orphans…
According to thanhnien.com.vn