With her profound humanitarian love and great enthusiasm, a native of Quang Nam Province, 25-year-old Vo Thi Nhu Trang, who now lives in Da Nang, has actively been involved in appealing for public donations to help the disadvantaged, despite her tough battle with thyroid cancer.

Despite her serious disease, Trang is always optimistic in life

Born in a very poor farming family in Dien Ban District, Trang underwent unforgettable hardships during her childhood, and this, in turn, inspires her to make stronger efforts to overcome countless difficulties and challenges in life.

Trang has nurtured her strong passion for writing since she was a senior high school girl in her hometown, and dreamed of becoming a writer. The talented girl, at that time, took the trouble to ride her bike to a post office, 7km away from her home, to send her writings to a nationally renowned magazine for the teenagers.

In 2013, Trang dealt an expected blow as she put aside a dream of pursuing her higher education due to thyroid cancer, and this incident really shocked and had deeply upset the young woman.  

During her stay in hospital for treatment, Trang realised that a lot of people shared the same unfortunate fates as she did, and that she was somewhat luckier than them. At that time, the kind-hearted girl cherished a dream of making something meaningful for the community, especially for those who suffer miseries in their harsh lives.

During one year of cancer treatment, Trang did her utmost to resume her academic dream, and finally, her efforts were paid off as she was admitted to the Faculty of Literature at the city’s University Education.

During the 4-year tertiary course, Trang spent her much time undergoing tense treatment sessions in a local hospital that she called her second home, and was tormented by relentless pain bouts sparked by the life-threatening disease.

With her deep compassion for poor cancer patients, Trang took the initiative to post her touching stories about them on her Facebook page or sent these writings to press agencies for publications in an attempt to appeal for public donations to help them.

Trang presenting Tet gifts to a needy man during her charitable trip

Despite her serious disease, Trang has been actively engaged in doing voluntary work in remote, mountainous sites including Nam Tra My and Tay Giang in neighbouring Quang Nam Province, and countryside areas where many people are still in desperate need of spiritual and material aids.

For many others with cancer, it is common to see them fall into in extreme despair and melancholy; but, unlike them, Trang remarked her illness indeed inspires her to make something meaningful to the community, especially the disadvantaged.

Human life is a very precious gift. Every moment of human life gives us an opportunity to do great and wonderful things for all in life!

Through appeals made by Trang, many poor patients with burns being treated at the same hospital as her each received between 15 and 40 million VND raised from the generous philanthropists.

One of the most unforgettable beneficiaries is Vo Thi Ngoc Nu, a very poor woman with blood cancer.  The beautiful, dreamy girl wanted to live a life full of strong passion for dancing, but the fate drove her into a tough fight against the life-threatening disease, and then passed away at very young age.

Up to now, Trang has still showed great determination and tremendous efforts to continue her prolonged battle with thyroid cancer. She is on the path of pursuing her academic dreams by attending a Master’s course in linguistics at the University of Da Nang.

Regardless of hardships and challenges facing her in life, Trang has always kept in her mind that she would help even more needy people and make a difference in the lives of the disadvantaged in society.