VietNamNet Bridge - As the youngest child in a wealthy family in Da Lat city, Le Duong The Hanh was an excellent students. But her bright future collapsed when she was diagnosed to have a brain tumor.

As a graduate of the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, majoring in Japanese language, Hanh was secretary and interpreter for the boss of a Japanese company. In 2007, her future opened wide when she was sent to Japan for study. She also decided to get married in the same year, at the age of 26. But her bright future collapsed when she was diagnosed to have a brain tumor.

Sometimes Hanh’s desperation was extreme; her tears also ran out. In over a year, she experienced 27 treatments of radiation therapy and several surgeries.

After the brain tumor surgery, her face was disfigured, she lost hearing in one ear, she could not walk firmly and her speaking ability was seriously affected. Hanh's eyes could no longer see anything and her wedding was also canceled.

In 2008, after returning to Da Lat, Hanh spent four hours each day to do exercise by walking indoors and cycling on the spot while singing at the same time. Therefore, her pronunciation was partly recovered.

With her own efforts and the love of her family, Hanh has surpassed all difficulties to accept the unfortunate reality of herself and to make life more meaningful.

She spent a lot of time helping people in similar situations. "I'm luckier than a lot of people, that though I suffer from illnesses I do not have to worry about money," Hanh said. She also does not want others to see her with pitying eyes.

Hanh spends four hours a day to do exercise.

Through the Internet, she taught English and Japanese for the blind in Da Lat, Hanoi, Phu Tho and HCM City for free. She also taught Vietnamese for students in Australia and the United States.

She formed the Colour of Hope charity group to raise funds and organize programs for the hearing impaired and visually impaired people. The group has its own website in three languages: English, Japanese and Vietnamese.

Everyday Hanh keeps learning through her computer. In September, Hanh won the second prize of the writing contest "Computer for community change lives" by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

During her recent visit to Da Lat, Ms. Deborah Jacobs, an official of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, visited Hanh. She admired the works that Hanh have done for the community of visually-impaired and hearing-impaired people.

P. Lan