Silent sacrifice

Ms. Chu Thi Bich, 73 years old in Cao Loc Town, Lang Son province, whose husband is a veteran and a victim of Agent Orange dioxin who has died in 2010, has two children who were infected with the toxic chemical from their father. Their names are Chu Van Huong, born in 1979 and Chu Thi Hang, born in 1986. Hang has intellectual disability, blind eyes, weak legs, and a number of chronic diseases. Because her children often suffers from pain caused by Agent Orange and unable to work and control themselves, every day, Ms. Bich has to do everything for them.

Bich said: I am old and alone but still have to take care of 2 children infected with Agent Orange. After my work in the fields, I still have to serve the children everything, from food, clothes to personal hygiene. This may sound miserable, but I\'m used to it. If I don’t take care of my children, who else will do it?

Admiring the women\'s silent sacrifices for Agent Orange victims, we also went to the family of Ms. La Thi Thang, Po Muc village, Loc Binh town, Loc Binh district. Talking with us, Thang said: Following the call of love, she got married with Mr. Chu Van Su, who was from the same hometown, born in 1953; enlisted in 1971 and fought in the battlefields of Quang Binh, Quang Tri, and Quang Nam provinces. During the time in war, Su was infected with Agent Orange. In 1974 he returned to the locality. The couple had three children, including Chu Van Hop, born in 1983 who has intellectual disability, deafness, and not being able to take care of himself. Despite her joint pain, she still has to go to work every day to feed them.

Leaving behind the dream of having a healthy husband, a strong shoulder to rely on in life like many other women, and also fulfilling the wish of her deceased father with his teammates when they were on the battlefield, Ms. Vy Thi Hanh got married with Mr. Ha Van Lam, born in 1972, who is one of the children infected with Agent Orange of Mrs. Nong Thi Ot, born in 1942 and Mr. Ha Van Thong, born 1943 in Ban Ri Hamlet, Huu Khanh Commune, Loc Binh District. Hanh said: Due to the influence of Agent Orange, her husband can do nothing like a normal person. Every day, she has to work to earn money to support her husband, and her children’s study and medical treatment.

Like Mrs. Bich, Mrs. Thang, Ms. Hanh, Mrs. Le Thi Thu in Mai Pha commune, Lang Son, is also nearly 70 years old. She has spent more than half of her life taking care of her husband and children infected with Agent Orange dioxin. She said: I got married with my husband who is also a victim of Agent Orange dioxin. Unfortunately, we had abnormal children, who have cerebral palsy, unable to recognize the world around. They even don\'t cooperate with their parents in taking care of themselves. Although they are over 20 years old now, I still have to serve them every thing from food, clothing...

The war has receded, but the pain of Agent Orange still remain, and the wives and mothers of Agent Orange victims are always ready to put aside their beautiful dreams to face reality. They always fulfill their duties, are happy with their family life and become faithful wives, who always stay beside their husbands, understand their husbands, ready to share the pain of illness with their husbands and children, and take care of their children and husband in each meal and sleep. Admiring the sacrifices of the wives and mothers who wholeheartedly care for the victims of Agent Orange/ dioxin, Mr. Hoang Van Binh, Cao Loc town, Lang Son province confided: I was poisoned with chemical poisons, my whole body aches, my legs atrophy, I can\'t walk. What’s more, my son was born without hands, but my wife has token great care of me. Every now and then she massages my feet and hands. I think as a wife, she must love her husband and her family very much to act like that. I fell indebted to my wife all my life.

Reality proves that in difficulties and tribulations, no one can care, dedicate and devote to the husband and son who are victims of Agent Orange/dioxin like their wives and mothers, because they understand that the victims of Agent Orange are the most miserable among the miserable. In order to promptly encourage the wives and mothers who have sacrificed their youth and their lives to take care of the Agent Orange victims, since 2014 to date, the Association for victims of Agent Orange/dioxin of Lang Son Province has screened and proposed to the VAVA, the Provincial People\'s Committee, Provincial Women\'s Union to award certificates of merit and honor to 66 collectives and individuals who have always accompanied the Association to \"alleviate the pain of Agent Orange\", and 93 honorable awards for women who have raised from 02, 03, 04 victims of Agent Orange. The silent sacrifices of these women for the victims of Agent Orange/dioxin are precious, imbued with the humanity and kindness of Vietnamese women.

Mr. Ha Van Thanh, Chairman of the Association for Victims of Agent Orange Dioxin of Lang Son province said: In the coming time, we will continue to honor the benevolent hearts, encourage the wives, mothers and grandmothers who directly take care of 2 or more Agent Orange victims. And we also continue to ask VAVA and the Provincial People\'s Committee to reward the benevolent people who have made great contribution and joined hands to alleviate the pain of Agent Orange.