Hoang Thi Minh was born into a poor family in Quynh Luu district, Nghe An province. Out of six siblings, three suffer from osteogenesis imperfecta (brittlebone disease). Despite the constant threat of fractures, Minh refused to give in to fate. She moved to Hanoi on her own, found a job, and became self-sufficient. This story of resilience and courage will be shared in Love Station under the theme "Stepping Towards the Sun".
Bringing to the Love Station studio homemade fried spring rolls , Minh confidently shared her passion for cooking. Although the disease limits her physical activities, the girl, born in 2000, finds joy in cooking for her loved ones. For Minh, osteogenesis imperfecta is merely an inconvenience, not a lifelimiting condition. She embraces life with optimism, finding happiness in small acts of caring for those around her.
Thinking back to her childhood, Minh becomes emotional. As the fifth child in a family of six, with three siblings suffering from glass bone disease, life was tough. Despite the hardships, the family was always filled with love. Growing up, Minh felt different due to her small stature and hunchback. Teased by her peers, she considered dropping out of school before finishing secondary education.
At a time when she felt feeling lost and insignificant, a neighbor’s words, "Prove to everyone that you are disabled but not useless", motivated Minh. Determined to excel academically, she set out to prove she could achieve anything.
Though she excelled at school, poverty dashed her hopes of attending university. Despite passing the entrance exam for a medical university, financial constraints forced her to abandon her dream. Recalling this decision still brings tears to her eyes: "At first, I couldn't accept it, but I had to believe that when one door closes, another one opens".
At 18, defying her family’s objections, Minh moved to Hanoi on her own—a significant milestone. "I realized that staying under my family’s protection wouldn’t help me grow. I wanted a job to take the burden off my family," she said, explaining her fearless journey into the unknown.
Minh's determination and relentless effort opened new opportunities. At first, she often cried from homesickness and wanted to quit. But with support from colleagues and friends, she grew more confident. Minh's mantra, "You have to try to know, and efforts will pay off", guided her. She now holds a stable job in customer service—a once-distant dream. After six years in Hanoi, she has proven she can take care of herself.
The driving force behind her strength is her family. Minh wants to make them proud, which motivates her to work hard for herself and her loved ones. Though she only visits home only once a year, she maintains regular contact by phone. Conversations with her mother reveal that Minh remains the family's beloved daughter. Before saying goodbye, her mother wished Minh good health, happiness, and a vehicle for easier mobility. The "Love Station" gift is intended to help Minh stride confidently into the future.
Hoang Thi Minh’s journey of challenging herself and pursuing her dreams showcases her resilience in the face of adversity. Her inspiring story will be featured in "Love Station" with the theme "Stepping Towards the Sun", airing at 10:00 AM on July 13, 2024, on VTV1.
