Born in 2013 in Phu village, Ninh Xa ward, Thuan Thanh town in Bac Ninh province, Nguyen Dong Khai, currently a 6th-grade student at Ninh Xa Secondary School) is not as fortunate as other children as he doesn’t have arms.

Despite his challenges, Khai with his optimism and extraordinary willpower, has overcome his difficulties going to school like his peers. He even receives certificates for his academic achievements every year.

VietNamNet’s reporters met Hai one afternoon when he got home after school hours. He entered home and politely greeted strangers, then asked his grandmother to help him change clothes before heading upstairs to do his homework.

Since he has no arm, Khai had to use his feet to skillfully turn the pages with no assistance. He then concentrated intensely on his feet and used his feet to write each letter carefully.

Khai's grandmother, Phan Thi Tuoi, recalled that he was born into a family with three siblings.

“Khai is the second son in the family. Only one day after he was born, we learned about his arm deformity. The whole family was shocked and heartbroken seeing his short arm stumps," she recalled.

On the first days after Khai’s birth, family members hesitated to share his condition with neighbors and relatives for fear of neighborhood gossip.

At the age of 3, Khai's grandfather began teaching him to write with his feet on the brick courtyard. Initially, Khai learned to grip a piece of chalk between his big toe and second toe, but the toes did not work as he wanted. Many boxes of chalk broke because Khai used too much strength.

"On his first days of practicing writing, Khai had to work hard, with sweat running down his cheeks, which hurt the family deeply. His toes bled from gripping the chalk and pen, yet he tirelessly practiced,” Tuoi said.

Khai's persistence was not in vain. Gradually, he mastered writing with his feet, producing tidy and straight letters," she said.

Once he was proficient at writing large letters on the brick courtyard, Khai transitioned to writing smaller letters on slates and notebooks, producing neat, aligned text.

In the 4th grade, he won second prize in the school's penmanship contest, and the family was thrilled by Khai's achievements. 

Khai received credits every year for his good learning achievements. In the 2022-2023 school year, as a 4th grader, he won second prize in the competition to introduce books for primary school students organized by the local education department.

Khai rarely gets sick and is known for his intelligence, obedience, good handwriting and discipline.  Neighbors and teachers all acknowledge these qualities.

Nguyen Thuy Tien, Khai’s teacher at Ninh Xa Secondary School, praised him as a polite and good student.

"Despite having no arms, Khai manages to take full notes, showcasing his intelligence and sociability in class," Tien said.

Nguyen Van Thinh, Khai's father, said that Khai has been able to speak fluently since he was two years old. and he could use his feet to play games, and eat by himself.

When Khai began going to kindergarten, Thịnh hoped for a convenient environment for Khai to play and integrate into the community. He could play comfortably with friends, and engage in activities like coloring, drawing and writing. His aspiration became a reality, with great support from enthusiastic teachers.

"Many times, Khai asked, 'Dad, why don't I have hands like others, and when will my hands grow back?' His innocent questions moved me to tears,” the father recalled.

The father decided to give a true answer. He said that the boy is disabled and his arms will never grow.

Asked about the boy’s future, Thinh said he still doesn’t think about this. In the immediate time, he just wants to see his son grow well and feel happy.

Meanwhile, Khai is sure about what he will be in the future, saying that he will become a doctor who can save thousands of lives.

Nguyen Xuan Cu, Chairman of Ninh Xa ward People’s Committee, said the 12-year-old boy is very clever and is beloved by local people.

Bao Khanh