Overcoming his family's concerns and social prejudice, a young man from Thanh Hoa insisted on marrying the woman he loves - despite her being in a wheelchair.

“Now that I’m like this, maybe we shouldn’t…”

Ten days have passed, yet Bui Thi Hai Yen (from Ha Tinh) still holds on to the emotional moment when she wore her pristine white wedding gown.

For a woman unable to stand on her own legs like Yen, a lifelong commitment once felt like an impossible dream. But when she met Vi Van Duy (from Thanh Hoa) - a healthy, kind-hearted man - she came to believe that there’s a perfect match for everyone in this world.

Yen was born with weaker-than-normal legs. To stand upright, she must lean on something sturdy for support.

Although she became aware of her physical limitations early on, Yen always tried to maintain a positive mindset: “At least I was born this way - it made it easier to adapt.” Thanks to the love and support of her family and friends, her youth passed in relative peace.

“But I still had moments of self-doubt. Not being able to walk… it hurts,” she admitted.

In 2023, while working in Hanoi, Yen met Vi Van Duy - the man who would become her life partner.

They first encountered each other during a social livestream. Even through the screen, their connection was instant. Yen found Duy handsome and sweet; Duy thought Yen was quick-witted and full of life.

Through messages and video calls, their bond deepened. They even confessed their feelings before meeting in person. At that point, Duy still had no idea that Yen couldn’t walk.

“I only knew her face from my phone screen. Then, four months later, a friend told me that Yen couldn’t walk like most people. I acted normal, but when Yen found out I knew, she wanted to break up,” Duy recalled.

“I told him, ‘Now that I’m like this, maybe we shouldn’t be together.’ No one wants to love or marry someone in a wheelchair. I initiated the breakup so he wouldn’t feel awkward,” Yen shared.

But Duy wouldn’t agree. To him, it didn’t matter whether she walked on her own or used a wheelchair. What mattered was her personality and the connection they shared.

At the time, Duy was working in Hai Duong. He immediately caught a bus to Hanoi to meet Yen. She waited for him at the station early in the morning. Though it was their first meeting in person, it felt as though they had known each other forever.

Not long after, Duy asked Yen to move to Hai Duong and live with him. For love, she agreed - leaving Hanoi behind to work remotely and enjoy home-cooked meals and the warm care of the man who truly loved her.

A wedding filled with emotion

When Duy’s parents learned he was dating a girl in a wheelchair, they were worried. They didn’t harshly forbid the relationship but gently urged him to reconsider, believing that marrying someone with a disability would be “choosing a difficult path.”

Duy remained firm: “I’ll marry the one I love.” He paid no attention to outside gossip. For him, no one else could decide his happiness or pain - his life was his to determine.

Only when he was sure there were no more barriers did Duy introduce Yen to his family. She was welcomed warmly and with open arms.

But the challenge came when they visited Yen’s family. Her mother couldn’t believe anyone would love her daughter wholeheartedly. She told Duy, “I could accept you as a godson, but not as a son-in-law. Yen is like this - how could you two get married?”

During his stay in Ha Tinh, Duy simply treated Yen with the same kindness and care as always. That natural affection moved her parents, who eventually gave the couple their blessing.

On March 19, the couple officially tied the knot. Yen wore a beautiful white gown, seated in her wheelchair, waiting to be taken home by her groom.

Duy led a 20-person wedding procession from Thanh Hoa to Ha Tinh to fetch his bride. As they entered the wedding hall, with the bride in a wheelchair and the groom by her side, the entire room was moved. Many guests were brought to tears by their happiness.

“At last, I get to bring her home. I’m so happy,” Duy said.

Yen was deeply touched by her mother’s words: “Now that you’re together, take care of each other and nurture your happiness.”

To Duy, who is now her husband - and the father of their unborn child - Yen had this to say: “Thank you for coming into my life, staying by my side, and loving me.”