At 73 years old, Bác Trần Ngọc Ánh lives with his wife and son’s family in a small village in Quang Nam province. Eight years ago, he suffered a stroke, leaving him partially paralyzed. In March 2023, a tragic fall resulted in a fractured hip, requiring surgery to insert an intramedullary nail. From that moment, he lost all mobility, becoming completely dependent on his family for daily activities.
With his wife working at a food stall and his son’s family occupied with their jobs, Bác Ánh spent most of his days alone, confined to his bed or a wheelchair. Simple tasks like bathing or dressing were impossible without assistance. The pain in his left leg was constant, and he had little hope of ever walking again.
"I’ve been like this for so long," he confided. "Half of my body feels stiff and contracted, my leg hurts all the time… I just wish for a little less pain at night so I can sleep. But walking again? That seems impossible."
Then, Project Inclusion 1 arrived, bringing a ray of hope. A dedicated physical therapist, Ms. Sâm, a highly skilled and compassionate expert, began weekly rehabilitation sessions at his home. Despite the family’s limited availability, Bác Ánh put his trust in her and committed to every exercise with determination.
Their goals were simple but ambitious:
✅ Reduce pain in his joints
✅ Transition from full assistance to minimal support when standing
✅ Regain the ability to walk with a mobility aid
Every week, Ms. Sâm guided him through carefully designed exercises: standing, balancing, and moving with a walker. To support his progress, the project provided visual exercise guides, a mobility frame, and even a handmade wooden platform for strengthening his weaker leg. His son was trained to assist with stretching and massage techniques to ease his pain.
One of the most touching gestures came from Ms. Sâm herself—she custom-made a special pair of sandals, adjusting the left shoe with an extra 5 cm sole to compensate for his leg length difference. When Bác Ánh received them, his eyes welled up with emotion. "This is more than just a pair of shoes; it’s a chance to walk again."
After six months of rehabilitation, the results were beyond what anyone had imagined.
✨ Bác Ánh can now stand up independently with a walker.
✨ He maintains balance for 10 minutes at a time.
✨ He walks up to 5 meters under supervision.
✨ Most importantly, he has regained his independence—bathing and dressing himself with minimal assistance.
"I never thought I would get to this point," he shared with joy. "The pain is less, I can sleep through the night, and I’m standing on my own two feet again. Ms. Sâm and Project Inclusion 1 have given me more than I ever hoped for."
For our team, there is no greater reward than seeing someone reclaim their freedom, confidence, and dignity. This is why we do what we do—so that no one is left behind.
