VietNamNet Bridge – A 34-year-old woman who has suffered from muscular dystrophy since she was a teenager has written a memoir entitled Khong Guc Nga (Never Collapse). Published by the Writers Association Publishing House in-conjunction with the Tri Viet-First Co, the book hits stores today, Jan 8.

Turning a new page: Nguyen Bich Lan signs a copy of the book she translated Life Without Limits. The disabled woman will release her own memoir Khong Guc Nga (Never Collapse) today. — Photo thanhnien.com.vn

The volume recounts the struggles of Nguyen Bich Lan to overcome her own difficulties to find a profession as a translator and writer and become a useful member of society.

Born in 1976 in the northern province of Thai Binh, Lan was forced to leave school at the age of 14 due to her muscular dystrophy, a disorder that weakens the body and hampers locomotion. She decided to teach herself English and became so proficient that she became a professional translator in 2002. She has since translated 24 books, mostly novels, into Vietnamese.

Her translation of Slumdog Millionaire was granted the Literature Award for Translation by the Vietnamese Writers Association in 2010. Her latest translation, Life Without Limits by limbless writer Nick Vujicic, was published last month.

In addition to her memoir, Lan has also written poetry and short stories.

Lan's illness has weakened her heart and left her weighing only 30kg. She said she never had any intention to write her own memoir until she was convinced that her book could give some insights to others who "still grope their way in the dark of their destiny".

"Many people want to know how I self-study English and how I could survive when life challenges seemed to knock me out," she said. "Those questions helped me to start my memoir."

She spent two years completing the book even while translating two others and said she had the greatest difficulty writing about her own achievements.

"Although it is not easy to talk about my own successes, I understand that it is necessary. I want to prove that enduring will and patience can lead you to success."

Author Da Ngan called Lan "an extraordinary woman who has an extraordinary energy to overcome her disadvantaged situation to bring significance and meaning to her life as well as many others".

Source: VNS