There are "lights" that do not come from the eyes, but radiate from extraordinary will to live and boundless love. The story of Lam, a 19-year-old girl from Tien Phuoc District, Quang Nam Province is the clearest proof of that. She lost her sight at a very young age, but the light in her soul has never gone out. She has been continuing her journey with resilience and protection from kind hearts.

Pham Nguyen Thanh Lam (front row, first from right) and her grandmother live in a room in the dormitory of the University of Science and Education, the University of Da Nang. The room is rent-free. Photo: T.D

Light from love

Born with normal eyes, but around 2019, an unexpected incident happened that completely changed Pham Nguyen Thanh Lam's life. When she was in 8^th grade, Lam suddenly fell ill. In just 10 short days, her right eye completely lost its vision, while her left eye only had 2/10. By the middle of 9^th grade, her eyes were completely blind. The doctor diagnosed Lam with glaucoma, a common disease in the elderly, and her case was extremely rare at this age.

The sudden pain left Lam and her whole family in shock. From a lively girl, Lam gradually became self-conscious, withdrawing from the world around her. She had to face the darkness and learn to adapt to life with a visual impairment. But in that arduous journey, Lam was not alone. Her family, teachers and friends became a solid support to help her overcome adversity step by step.

During the most difficult days, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Tuong (48, Lam's mother) was not only a mother, but also a friend and a spiritual support for her daughter. During the summer of 9th grade, every weekend,

Ms. Tuong drove Lam from Quang Nam to Da Nang to learn Braille. For two whole years, she patiently accompanied her daughter to overcome the long and tiring journey. On those back and forth trips, she always whispered to encourage her child: “Losing the light does not mean losing everything". Those simple but loving words gave Lam the strength not to collapse.

The day she received the news that Lam had passed the entrance exam to the University of Science and Education under the University of Da Nang, the family was overwhelmed with happiness. But that joy also brought with it a lingering worry: "How can my child take care of herself in a strange city when she cannot see?".

Not wanting to leave her granddaughter to face difficulties alone, Mrs. Huynh Thi Bich Hong, 88, Lam's grandmother, from Tien Canh Commune, Tien Phuoc District, Quang Nam Province, who had never left her homeland, decided to pack up and move to Da Nang to stay with Lam.

Every day, she took Lam from the boarding house to the lecture hall and vice versa. The grandmother with her gray hair and thin figure became spiritual support for her granddaughter.

The image of the two grandmothers quietly go hand in hand to school touched the hearts of many people. Sympathizing with Lam's situation, the University of Science and Education made a special exception for the two grandmothers to stay for free in the dormitory. The spacious, fully-furnished room was not only a place to live but also a testament to the community's care and sharing for the two grandmothers.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vo Van Minh, the Rector of the Univeristy, shared: “Lam's story is a strong source of inspiration about the will and determination to rise up in life. We hope that through this story, young people will realize that it is not circumstances that determine success, but the effort and spirit of overcoming difficulties that will open the door to the future."

Light from the will to rise up

In the challenging journey, Lam never let the darkness defeat her. She understood that only studying can help her become independent and open up a better future. Therefore, the blind student still persistently pursued her dream. Ms. Tuong still remembers clearly what her daughter said during the most difficult days: "Mom, don't be sad, even though I'm blind, I still live with my parents". It was Lam's optimism and strength that became the motivation for the whole family to firmly move forward.

Lam chose to study Psychology because she wanted to be able to help people in similar situations in the future. She said that her own experience helped her understand the mental trauma that the blind are facing and she wanted to share that with them.

When she first entered the classroom, Lam was worried, but thanks to the care and support from her friends and teachers, she became more confident. Nguyen Thi Khanh Linh, a classmate and dormitorymate with Lam, shared: "Lam is very hard-working and intelligent. Every time she does group work and always contributes many good ideas. Lam is an example for us to cherish what we have and strive harder for the future."

Although there are still many challenges ahead, Lam has never stopped trying. Lam confided: "I feel lucky because even though my eyes have lost their light, I still have a healthy body. I can still go to school and most importantly, I always receive love from my family, teachers, friends and even strangers. Those things help me never give up”.

The light has forever closed in Lam's eyes, but there is another light that has never been extinguished. That is the light of extraordinary determination, of faith in the future. And more than that, it is the light of love, the warm light that illuminates the path she takes, helping Lam to steadily move towards a brighter tomorrow.

Reporting by THU DUYEN – Translating by ANH THU