Triumph Over Adversity: The Empowering Journey of a 3-Year-Old Rediscovering Her Beauty
Hoang Duong, born in 2015, is the cherished only child of Mr. Ton Thang Duong, born in 1984, and her sister Hoang Thi Thuy Linh, also born in 1984. They reside in Diem Tan, TDP, Duc Ninh Dong Ward, Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh.
In mid-September, we visited young Hoang Duong, a 3-year-old girl who, despite her facial deformity, has demonstrated incredible resilience and determination that touched our hearts.
Hoang Duong’s face has been severely deformed, with no bridge of the nose, a distorted forehead, and widely spaced, protruding eyes. Her appearance is markedly different from other children her age.
Despite her deformity, young Hoang Duong has astonished us with her agility and intelligence. Unable to attend school, she has been educated by her mother and has developed talents in dancing and singing. She eagerly aspires to go to school.
The innocent questions of a 3-year-old child, such as “When will I go to school?” and “Why don’t you play with me?” have brought tears to her young mother and family countless times.
“She’s very clever, and when other children come to play, they get scared and run away. The children in the village don’t understand and keep calling her ‘devil face,’ making us adults feel sorry for her,” a neighbor of Hoang Duong said with a heavy heart.
Due to her facial deformity, Hoang Duong cannot go to school, and she has no friends to play with, as children often fear her appearance.
Her parents, in their pursuit of providing her with a normal face and brighter eyes, have accumulated and borrowed money from various sources to seek treatment for their beloved child. However, so far, only the protruding part of her face has been surgically corrected.
Unfortunately, the prognosis for her eyes is complex, with the risk of permanent blindness due to corneal perforation if left untreated. Her eyes cannot close and open normally, potentially leading to dry eyes and further damage if not addressed promptly. Domestic hospitals are unable to perform the surgery due to the high risk of complications.
Hoang Duong’s parents have always wanted to provide the best possible treatment for their child, but the costs are prohibitively high. They are now considering seeking specialized treatment in Singapore to save their daughter’s eyes, with an estimated cost of up to 2 billion VND.
The family’s main income depends on Mr. Duong’s aluminum and glass business, making it uncertain when they can afford the surgery. Nevertheless, they persistently hope and wish for a miracle to come to their child.
It is the benevolence and love of the community that can potentially bring a miracle to Hoang Duong. She requires further facial reconstruction to go to school and live a life without guilt. The story of Hoang Duong is one of resilience, hope, and the power of community support, emphasizing the importance of compassion and the belief in miracles.
