THE NEARLY 100 YEARS OLD FATHER’S TIRERNESS

No one does think that the 100 years old father is the mainstay of two nearly 40 years old children?  Mr. Le Quang, Bao has been a permanent resident at Bao La hamlet, Quang Phu commune, Quang Dien district, Thua Thien Hue. He was 99 years old but he had still raised two nearly 40 years handicapped children who are the victims of Agent Orange.

Through working community, I was known Mr Quang and his family’s plight by our program's collaborator. Then one morning, the collaborator had guided me directly to visit his family. Seeing his breakfast on the table was just a few bowls of porridge and a cup of fish sauce, I felt sorry to ask: “Sir, how many bowls can you eat?”  He tried to raise his voice to answer: “two bowls, and a bowl for my child”. Who cooked? My daughters did, but she did not cook well done yet, I couldn’t walk alone in the house so I couldn’t do any thing as well.

We had talked each other for a while, and then he had eaten two bowls of porridge. Although it was just rice soup, but he still felt very delicious, very happy even though his daughter didn’t cook well done. Above all, he gave his child a great love.

Through discussions with Mr Quang family, relatives, neighbors and Ms. Nguyen Thi Nguyen - Quang Phu commune leaders, we were informed that he had lost his wife two years ago, he had only 2 children, a son and a daughter. They have currently been nearly 40 years old and they couldn’t do anything. They even couldn’t cooking or doing normal daily activities, Both of them was Agent Orange’s victims, day by day their life has been relying on  the nearly 100 years old father that he should have been cosseted by his children. What a really unfortunate incarnation!

His family’s misfortune and tiredness hadn’t stopped there. His daughter who are currently 35 years old, she has suddenly been pregnant (didn’t know the father) and the baby was born without reed, and it has presently been adopted because his family couldn’t have enough ability to raise up. Next, she had been pregnant again, but Mr. Quang had discovered in time and had informed to the leaders of the commune. Understanding with his family’s plight, commune’s leaders and neighbors had decided to advise her to have an abortion. It is the fact that Mr. Quang was writhing on last days of his life but he has to live, to take the bit between his teeth in silent of giving the mainstay for two 40 years old handicapped children.

Ho Son.

Translated by Thuy Hang