Not born but ready to open her arms to welcome, not blood related but still loving and caring like her own children, she adopted and raised two orphans after the Covid-19 pandemic with all the heart of a mother, with the spirit and responsibility of a soldier in peacetime.
Decisions start with love
One morning in early June, we visited the house of Major Nguyen Thi Tuyet Phuong. The house is located deep in a quiet alley in Binh Thuy district, Can Tho city. Stepping into the gate, we felt the presence of a warm home full of love. The house had no sign, no large gate, just a few small flower pots placed on the doorstep, children's slippers neatly arranged on the porch, inside, two children were chattering and playing with a pile of toys in the middle of the house. Welcoming us was Ms. Phuong - the "special" mother of Thai Nguyen Gia Huy (born in 2017) and Thai Nguyen Khac Huy Hoang (born in 2019) - two children who lost their mother due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Looking at the two children playing with affectionate eyes, in a gentle voice, full of motherly love, Ms. Phuong told us about the journey of raising Huy and Hoang.
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Ms. Nguyen Thi Tuyet Phuong with her two children Gia Huy and Huy Hoang. |
The story begins on a day at the end of 2021, when the Covid-19 pandemic was raging everywhere, causing grief for many families. In the midst of the pandemic, Ms. Phuong's best friend - a single mother living in Tan Loi commune, Tinh Bien district, An Giang province unfortunately passed away, leaving behind 5 young children. The oldest was only 15 years old, had not yet grown up and had to drop out of school, shouldering the responsibility of taking care of her younger siblings and her elderly grandparents.
Hearing the bad news, Ms. Phuong was stunned. She felt sorry for her friend who had worked hard all her life and now passed away so suddenly, but what made her heart ache was the sight of the children who had not yet grown up but had to face such a great loss. Among them, the two youngest children, Gia Huy and Huy Hoang, still could not fully understand the pain they were suffering. “At that time, I was taking care of my son who had a traffic accident and worrying about my elderly parents during the pandemic. But when I thought about the children, my heart felt like it was being squeezed,” Ms. Phuong said.
Overcoming her initial hesitation, she asked her unit for permission to return to her friend’s hometown, carrying a difficult decision in her heart. She understood that adopting two unrelated children would entail many difficulties from legal procedures, economic conditions to mental pressure. However, looking at the children, she asked herself, as if affirming: If not me, then who?
Back home, she discussed with her husband - a retired Army officer - about adopting the two children. At first, he was hesitant, but then he supported her determination and heart. Together, the couple completed the necessary procedures and adopted the two youngest children of the deceased friend's five children, Gia Huy and Huy Hoang. "We are not rich, only our hearts are full," she said. Thus began the journey of a soldier's second motherhood - a journey without blood ties, without birth certificates, only sincere love as a strong bond.
Joy in the small house
Since the two children came to live with them, Ms. Phuong's small home has become more bustling and fresh. All daily routines have been disrupted, but instead there is the laughter of children. At first, both she and her children had a hard time getting used to their new life. At that time, the two children were not yet used to calling her "mom", and often cried at night because they missed their biological mother. But with patience and unconditional love, Ms. Phuong gradually helped her children stabilize their psychology and integrate into the family.
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Women's Union of the Logistics and Engineering Department of Military Region 9 visited and presented gifts to Major Nguyen Thi Tuyet Phuong (standing in the middle) and her two children Gia Huy and Huy Hoang. |
Every morning, she wakes up early to cook, prepare clothes, and take her children to school; in the afternoon, she works hard to teach them their lessons, and take care of their meals and sleep. There are nights when both children have a fever, and she stays up all night to take care of them. There are also times when she is so exhausted from work at the unit and the pressure of raising children that she can only silently wipe away her tears in the kitchen. But then the innocent "Mom" of her children makes her steadfastly continue. "I have never considered this a sacrifice. For me, being called mom by my children is a sacred thing," she smiles, her eyes shining with happiness.
Ms. Phuong's family now has 3 sons. The eldest son graduated from university and is currently working at a pharmacy in Can Tho. The family's main income comes from her military salary and her husband's pension. Although the income is not high, she has never let her children lack anything. Gia Huy, the second son, is now a 3rd grader. He is active, polite and has made a lot of progress in his studies. Last summer, seeing that his son loved English, she registered him for extra classes, even though the cost was quite high compared to the family's income. The youngest son Huy Hoang is currently attending kindergarten, with tuition fees of more than 1 million VND per month. Although the family's expenses are always considered, Ms. Phuong has never complained. She shared: "I hope my children can live happily and study properly."
Not only is she an exemplary mother in her family, Ms. Phuong is also loved by her colleagues at Warehouse 303, Logistics and Engineering Department of Military Region 9 for her dedication and responsibility at work. Regardless of her position, she always completes all tasks excellently, becoming an example of responsibility and dedication. Thanks to her continuous efforts, for many years, Ms. Phuong has been recognized as an "Advanced Soldier" and "Excellent Women's Union Member". Notably, in 2024, she was honored to receive the title "Emulation Soldier of the Base" from the Head of the Logistics and Engineering Department.
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Major Nguyen Thi Tuyet Phuong performs the task of preserving, maintaining and repairing weapons at Warehouse 303, Logistics and Technical Department of Military Region 9. |
Not only outstanding in her work, her act of adopting two children has made many colleagues admire her and become a source of inspiration spreading throughout the unit. In early 2021, when the "Godmother" Program of the Vietnam Women's Union had not yet officially launched, Ms. Phuong quietly pioneered with the love of a mother. Not everyone can love other people's children like their own, and not everyone is willing to take care of young children when they have many worries themselves. But for Ms. Phuong, a woman with a compassionate heart, that is simply the right thing to do. Without waiting for policies, without waiting for support, she quietly took care of, cared for and raised her children with all her sincere love. That humane act has touched the hearts of many members of the agency's Women's Union, becoming a strong source of motivation for the "Godmother" Program to spread and truly promote its effectiveness.
The touching story of Ms. Phuong's journey to become a mother for the second time, not out of duty but out of love, is a beautiful testament to the noble qualities of women wearing the uniform of Uncle Ho's soldiers. In a small house at the end of a peaceful alley, she is silently writing a love song about humanity, about a heart that knows how to share and love unconditionally. It is not only a story about a warm home but also a vivid symbol of love spreading in the heart that guides, where soldiers write feats without gunshots in peacetime.
Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/cuoc-thi-nhung-tam-guong-binh-di-ma-cao-quy-lan-thu-16/trai-tim-me-phuong-834854
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