The Heart That Was Healed by Hope" - Thuong's Story

I’m Thuong, the youngest of four children and the only boy in my family. My parents have always worked hard as farmers, but their combined income was barely 13 USD a month, just enough to cover our daily needs. My mother, injured in an accident, often fell sick and couldn’t help earn money. My father, even while suffering from hepatitis, carried on with heavy labor to provide for us.

My mother and I when we found out I had a heart condition 17 years ago

I was diagnosed with a heart condition—Stenosis of the Pulmonary Artery—not long after birth. But because of our financial struggles, my parents couldn’t afford proper treatment for many years. The disease worsened over time.

I could only stand there, crying as I watched my mother cry

I was scheduled for surgery at the hospital in November 2007, but we couldn’t cover the costs, so I missed it.

 

?In 2008, another opportunity came at Da Nang Hospital. This time, through the help of Giving It Back to Kids (GIBTK) and the compassion of generous sponsors, I received the life-saving heart surgery I desperately needed.

But fortunately, I was saved thanks to GIBTK and generous sponsors

I’ll never forget waking up after that operation. It felt like a mountain had been lifted from my chest—the constant tightness, the breathlessness, all gone. That was the moment I knew I had been given another chance at life. Before that, I didn’t dare to dream. I thought I’d never make it into adulthood, let alone build a family.

I’m far from healthy enough to marry the love of my life

Now, 17 years later, I’m 28 years old, sitting next to my three-year-old daughter as she discovers the world with her tiny hands and sparkling eyes. Every time I look at her, I feel overwhelming gratitude. I have a stable job at an advertising design company, where I get to pursue my love for creativity. My wife, an English teacher, has stood beside me through every up and down, and together we’ve built a life filled with love, laughter, and hope.

I have a small family filled with joy

There were times I thought I wouldn’t survive. But thanks to GIBTK and the kind-hearted people who believed in me and supported my surgery, I’m here today. Holding my daughter, I understand the true meaning of a second chance. I will never forget the love that saved my life. Thank you, GIBTK and the sponsors who transformed my life.

"We highly appreciate you and thank you for transforming lives"