Every morning for nearly five years, a young woman in An Giang has begun her day the same way - helping her husband with personal hygiene, feeding him breakfast, taking him outside for sunlight, and lifting him onto a physical therapy machine.

A devastating turning point

In Long Dien commune, residents have grown familiar with the sight of Mai Tran Bao Tran, 25, carrying her husband onto a wheelchair and wheeling him into the yard each morning.

Since the day her husband suffered a workplace accident, this routine has defined her life. Nguyen Minh Hieu, 26, has been confined to bed, dependent on his wife for every aspect of daily living.

The accident occurred in June 2021. While Tran was at home caring for their child, she received news that her husband had been seriously injured at work. He suffered spinal cord damage, fractured three cervical vertebrae, and required emergency hospitalization.

Due to the severity of his condition, Hieu was transferred to Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for further treatment. Tran left their young child with her mother-in-law and traveled to the city to care for him.

Back home, their child cried constantly, missing both parents. Unable to bear it, Tran’s mother-in-law brought the child to Ho Chi Minh City, renting a small room so she could help care for both her grandson and her injured son.

After about two months of treatment, Hieu was discharged. His body was almost entirely immobile. Any attempt to move or sit up caused such intense pain that he would faint.

“Seeing my husband lying there, unable to move, broke my heart,” Tran recalled. “Every time he suffered, I cried. But I never felt hopeless or thought myself unlucky. I only knew I had to stay and care for him until he recovered.”

From that point on, her life revolved around him. Each morning, she helped him with hygiene and meals, then lifted him onto a wheelchair and took him outside for sunlight before assisting him with physical therapy exercises.

Afterward, she soaked his hands and feet in herbal water and massaged them with medicinal alcohol to ease numbness.

The reward of persistence

The early days were especially difficult. Hieu was overwhelmed by despair and often wanted to give up.

In moments of pain and helplessness, he would lash out - knocking over food, shouting, and asking to be left alone. At times, he even tried to push his wife away entirely.

“In the first year, he was consumed by hopelessness,” Tran said. “He couldn’t accept what had happened, couldn’t believe he would ever recover.

“He felt like a burden to his family and blamed himself. When the pain became too much, he would get angry. He scolded me, tried to drive me away, even said I should leave him to die.

“He would throw away the food I brought, sometimes refuse to eat altogether. But I knew it was his pain speaking, so I didn’t take it to heart.”

She sought help from her mother-in-law to comfort him, while she continued patiently encouraging him. Over time, he began to understand and slowly changed his mindset.

Looking back, Hieu admitted that in the early stages of treatment, he believed recovery was impossible. Not wanting his wife to suffer because of him, he had even contemplated drastic actions.

But her quiet endurance changed everything.

“No matter what, she never got angry or left me,” he said. “When I was in pain, she massaged my arms and legs. When I couldn’t sleep, she stayed awake beside me.

“Seeing her love me so selflessly moved me deeply. I told myself I couldn’t let her suffer anymore. I began cooperating with therapy, believing I would recover.”

After five years, that perseverance has begun to bear fruit.

From being completely immobile, Hieu can now sit upright steadily. His arms have regained slight movement. He is able to use the toilet on his own and can hold a spoon to eat simple meals.

More importantly, his spirit has transformed. He is now optimistic, full of life, and believes firmly in his continued recovery.

“His condition has shown encouraging progress,” Tran shared. “Now, besides caring for him and our child, I can also do nails and hair washing to earn extra income. I feel happy that my efforts are finally bringing results.”

Ha Nguyen