With the support of VNHIP, I take my daughter to the Da Nang Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Hospital
My name is Zrum Lao, and I am the father of Zrum Thi Van Nhu, a first-grade student at Dakpring-Dakpre Primary School in Nam Giang district, Quang Nam province. We live in village 49F, a remote mountainous area where rough roads make travel difficult.
To provide for our family of five—including my wife, our two children, and my elderly mother—my wife works on the farm and raises chickens, while I take on various jobs to make ends meet. Because of this, we often have little time to care for our children, who spend most of the day with their grandmother.
Van Nhu, our eldest daughter, was born with clubfoot and clubhand on her left side, making even the simplest daily activities a challenge. She struggled to walk steadily and needed assistance with almost everything—from drinking water to dressing herself. As parents, we felt lost, unsure of how to help her. We sought advice from the local medical staff, but they lacked the expertise to guide us in rehabilitation.
Everything changed when VNHIP came into our lives. In 2020, when Van Nhu started school at Dakpring-Dakpre Primary, she received much-needed support through VNHIP’s project and the dedication of her teachers. That same year, I was given the opportunity to take her to Da Nang Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Hospital for a medical assessment.
To provide for our family of five—including my wife, our two children, and my elderly mother—my wife works on the farm and raises chickens, while I take on various jobs to make ends meet. Because of this, we often have little time to care for our children, who spend most of the day with their grandmother.
Van Nhu, our eldest daughter, was born with clubfoot and clubhand on her left side, making even the simplest daily activities a challenge. She struggled to walk steadily and needed assistance with almost everything—from drinking water to dressing herself. As parents, we felt lost, unsure of how to help her. We sought advice from the local medical staff, but they lacked the expertise to guide us in rehabilitation.
Everything changed when VNHIP came into our lives. In 2020, when Van Nhu started school at Dakpring-Dakpre Primary, she received much-needed support through VNHIP’s project and the dedication of her teachers. That same year, I was given the opportunity to take her to Da Nang Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Hospital for a medical assessment.
Until now, she can walk steadily on both of her feet, wear clothes, and drink water with two hands.
It was an overwhelming experience—our first time traveling over 100 km, unsure of where to stay or what to expect at the hospital. But VNHIP’s staff stood by us every step of the way, arranging accommodations, guiding us through the process, and helping us communicate with doctors. Thanks to their support, we finally received expert advice on how to care for our daughter.
To ensure we could continue her rehabilitation at home, VNHIP staff recorded instructional videos from the doctors and sent them to us. These videos became an invaluable resource, allowing us to help Van Nhu practice her exercises daily. Meanwhile, at school, her teacher, Ms. A Lăng Ty, provided constant encouragement. She monitored Van Nhu’s progress, motivated her to join activities like singing, dancing, and exercise, and reassured us not to pressure her too much with homework.
Thanks to these collective efforts, Van Nhu has made incredible progress. She can now walk steadily, dress herself, and drink water using both hands. While challenges remain, we feel hopeful and motivated knowing that we are not alone in this journey.
"Until now, she can walk steadily on both of her feet, wear clothes, and drink water with two hands. Although there are a lot of difficulties and challenges, we have more motivation when getting support from VNHIP’s project and teachers. I hope that my child will improve more in the future." – Zrum Lao
To ensure we could continue her rehabilitation at home, VNHIP staff recorded instructional videos from the doctors and sent them to us. These videos became an invaluable resource, allowing us to help Van Nhu practice her exercises daily. Meanwhile, at school, her teacher, Ms. A Lăng Ty, provided constant encouragement. She monitored Van Nhu’s progress, motivated her to join activities like singing, dancing, and exercise, and reassured us not to pressure her too much with homework.
Thanks to these collective efforts, Van Nhu has made incredible progress. She can now walk steadily, dress herself, and drink water using both hands. While challenges remain, we feel hopeful and motivated knowing that we are not alone in this journey.
"Until now, she can walk steadily on both of her feet, wear clothes, and drink water with two hands. Although there are a lot of difficulties and challenges, we have more motivation when getting support from VNHIP’s project and teachers. I hope that my child will improve more in the future." – Zrum Lao
