A young woman in Hue chose love over fear, standing by her partner after a life-altering accident that changed everything.
For four years now, since building a life together, Kim Ngan, 24, has remained devoted to her husband Thien Tien, 26, who lost both arms and one leg in an accident.
She fell in love with him at 17, when he was still healthy. Even after the accident left him severely disabled, her feelings did not change.
The couple fell in love when Ngan was 17.
Ngan recalled meeting Tien during a trip to Da Nang with friends. It was a youthful love, intense yet innocent.
Nearly two years into their relationship, tragedy struck. While setting bird traps, Tien accidentally came into contact with a power line and was electrocuted. Though he was rushed to the hospital in time, doctors had to amputate both of his arms, one leg and part of his skull.
Hearing the news just after returning from work, Ngan rushed to the hospital. Seeing her boyfriend in critical condition, she broke down outside the emergency room, terrified of losing the most important person in her life.
“Tien stayed in the hospital for nearly a year. During that time, I worked during the day and cared for him at night, day after day,” she said.
Tien remained mentally strong despite the painful surgeries, but he struggled to face his girlfriend. At one point, he cut off contact, hoping she would find someone healthier to rely on.
But Ngan did not leave. She sought him out and told him: “Just get through this. I will be your hands and your feet.”
Growing up in a family lacking warmth, Ngan said she had always felt an emotional void. Meeting Tien changed that.
“To me, he is not only my boyfriend but also a habit I cannot give up,” she shared.
When the accident happened, fear overwhelmed her. The thought of losing him was unbearable.
Before the accident, Ngan remained steadfast in her love.
She remembered the days they rode together on an old motorbike, sometimes stopping at roadside eateries but only ordering one portion of rice. Tien would always give it to her, saying: “Eat, I’m not hungry. Watching you eat is enough for me.” It was a simple lie she never forgot.
From that point on, she made a decision: no matter what the future held, she would marry him.
At first, her parents opposed the relationship, fearing she would face a life of hardship. His family also hesitated, concerned about her youth. Only after Ngan firmly stood by her choice did both families agree.
In 2022, they held their wedding. The groom arrived in a wheelchair to take his bride, and the ceremony stirred the entire village.
Today, they have two children - one three years old and another just one. Ngan works at a factory in Hue, while Tien stays home to care for the children and manage the household.
In the early days of marriage, she carried the weight of both family responsibilities and supporting her husband in daily activities. But over time, his determination surprised her.
Wanting to ease her burden, Tien gradually taught himself to do things using his remaining leg. As he adapted to life in a wheelchair, he became a steady help in their home.
Ngan has taken on the responsibility of supporting the family.Ngan has never regretted her decision.
There are moments when Ngan feels exhausted and under pressure as the family’s main provider. But each day, when she returns home to see her husband and children waiting at the door, a sense of peace washes away the fatigue.
Tien may not be able to do heavy work or contribute much financially, but he remains her emotional anchor. Four years on, she has never doubted her choice.
“My life is hard, that’s true. But in return, I have a husband who loves and cares for me. He is not good with sweet words, but his strength and effort to walk alongside our family mean everything to me,” she said.
With him, she has found purpose and motivation - not in grand ambitions, but in the quiet hope of sharing peaceful days together, as long as everyone in the family stays healthy.
Having gone through such a life-altering event, peace and health are now the only things she truly wishes for.
Vietnamnet.vn
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