Not only staying by his seriously ill father’s side, a young man from Kien Giang named Lam Trung Nhan also found unique ways to lift his father’s spirits, which has moved the online community.

Unexpected calamity

Two months ago, Lam Van Thot (70 years old, Vinh Thuan District, Kien Giang) started feeling weak and experiencing numbness in his arms and legs. Soon after, he lost consciousness, and his children rushed him to the hospital.

There, his son Lam Trung Nhan (33 years old) learned that his father had suffered a stroke and needed immediate surgery. Following the procedure, Mr. Thot remained in a coma in the intensive care unit.

On the third day, Mr. Thot unexpectedly opened his eyes and was able to move his limbs. However, his mind had yet to fully recover, and he didn’t recognize his family members. Unable to speak and overcome by pain, he shed silent tears.

Ten days later, he was discharged from the hospital but faced a long road to recovery, including uncertain prospects of speaking again or regaining mobility.

Before falling ill, Mr. Thot was a reserved man. During family meals, Nhan would often lighten the mood by telling jokes, bringing laughter to his father.

From there, Mr. Thot grew more cheerful, frequently conversing and joking with his children and grandchildren. He also loved traditional Vietnamese folk music and singing. Falling ill left him unable to move, speak, or laugh, and he felt deep sorrow.

Understanding his father’s sadness, Nhan resolved to help him through his illness. His family hired a doctor to perform physical therapy and acupuncture.

Whenever the doctor arrived, Nhan would assist in lifting his father’s limbs and helping him stand. He would talk, joke, and even sing and dance to make his father smile, briefly distracting him from the pain, as Mr. Thot was beginning to regain sensation in his limbs.

After each session, Nhan would help his father bathe and continue chatting and joking to keep his spirits high.

Nhan shared, “I run a business, so my schedule is busy. But I make time to care for my father. In the hospital, he would look at me and cry silently.  

When he returned home, I focused on talking and joking with him to help him forget the pain and sadness of his illness. Because of this, his condition has improved remarkably.  

Now, he can lift his arms and legs and say some short words and sentences. At night, we lie down together, and he sometimes pulls the blanket over me. He even pats my back and says, ‘Good! Good!’ Seeing him react so positively to our playful atmosphere motivates me even more to do everything I can to help him recover.”

"We only have one set of parents"

In the past, Nhan rarely shared videos about his family life on social media. Recently, however, he decided to upload short clips showing his unique way of caring for his father to his personal page.

His purpose was to capture and share these joyful, optimistic moments of their journey through illness. He was surprised by the overwhelmingly positive response and emotional comments from the online community.

These days, Nhan starts his mornings by buying breakfast and feeding his father before heading to the market to run his stall. At noon, he comes home to bathe Mr. Thot and then takes him for a wheelchair stroll around the neighborhood.

After work, he joins the family for dinner. While Nhan is at work, his sisters take turns caring for their father.

Nhan reflected, “My father raised us by fishing. At 2 or 3 in the morning, he would wake up to cook rice and head to the river to cast nets, catching fish for my mother to sell at the morning market. He would come home soaked and shivering from the cold.

As we grew up and started families, my parents’ greatest joy became the family meals with all their children and grandchildren gathered.

I live with my parents, but in recent years, I often stayed at my business to eat with my staff, and so I was rarely home. Looking back, I regret those missed times of family reunion around the dinner table.

I’ve realized that while many things can be bought or replaced, we only have one set of parents. As they age, the time we have with them grows shorter. From now on, I’ll make sure to come home every day for dinner with my parents.”

Ha Nguyen