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Le Quy Anh, 27 years old, is a resident of a rural village in Phu Loc district, Thua Thien Hue province. Once a bright and eager student, his world was turned upside down thirteen years ago, when a brain tumor left him paralyzed on one side.

His condition worsened significantly in late 2023. He lost complete use of his legs and arms, unable to perform simple tasks like bending, grasping, or holding objects. The constant, body-wide pain made even rolling over in bed a challenge. Beyond physical limitations, his cognitive abilities and communication skills also suffered. Simple conversations became arduous, as his speech was slow and unclear.

Completely reliant on his 54-year-old mother, the family’s sole provider, Quy Anh faced immense challenges. Their rural home, far from medical facilities, made accessing healthcare and rehabilitation services impossible. The constant pain, dependence, and isolation took a toll on his mental health.

Physical therapist is assisting Quy Anh with arm strengthening exercises.

Quy Anh’s life changed for the better in early 2024 when he received access to home-based multidisciplinary rehabilitation services through the “Improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities in provinces heavily sprayed with Agent Orange/Dioxin” project (Inclusion Project)  funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Inclusion 1 Project is owned by the National Action Center for Toxic Chemicals and Environmental Treatment (NACCET), managed by
the Center for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP). MCNV is one of the project’s implementing partners, contributing to providing quality rehabilitation services to beneficiaries in Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue and Quang Nam.

Quy Anh is now able to walk on his own.

The support provided a variety of rehabilitation services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech-language therapy, delivered by therapists during bi-weekly home visits. Physical therapy helped Quy Anh regain muscle strength through exercises and proper techniques of rolling over, sitting up from a side-lying position, transitioning from sitting to standing, and practicing balance for safe walking. Concurrently, occupational therapy helped him improve hand functions like grasping and holding objects. He also practiced daily activities like scooping food, holding a cup, and putting on a shirt.

To address his communication and language difficulties, he received guidance on breathing techniques, tongue placement, and correcting pronunciation errors. Capitalizing on his love of learning, Quy Anh was particularly receptive to language exercises like poetry reading, storytelling, and singing. These activities not only aligned with his interests but also brought him tremendous joy. To further enhance his communication and cognitive abilities, the therapist advised Quy Anh’s mother to engage him in more frequent conversations about daily life.

After over two months, thanks to the dedication of the multidisciplinary team and his own unwavering perseverance, Quy Anh underwent a remarkable transformation. His pain and muscle spasms significantly decreased. He regained the ability to bend and straighten his fingers, toes, knees, and elbows. From taking hesitant steps while holding onto a wall, Quy Anh progressed to walking independently around his home.

Quy Anh becomes more confident and cheerful.

 He has transitioned from complete dependence on his mother to performing many daily activities like brushing his teeth, eating independently, and dressing himself. Once shy and hesitant, Quy Anh becomes more confident and cheerful. He can now speak fluently and clearly to express his needs or describe his day. He can even read long and difficult poems aloud.

If Quy Anh never dared to dream of leaving his bed before, now he dares to dream bigger.

 ‘I hope to have enough strength to help my mother with household chores, learn a vocation and earn an income to support her as she ages,’ Quy Anh expressed.