Airing on the morning of January 24, Station of Love offered viewers an emotional insight into Do Ha Cu’s life, learning, and contribution to society. He was born with congenital motor disabilities caused by the effects of Agent Orange that his father’acquired while serving on the Quang Tri battlefield from 1972 to 1973.
From the very first moments of the program, Cu’s self-introduction left a profound impact. From birth until adulthood, he has been confined to a single lying positionand requires assistance with daily activities. Paralyzed throughout his body and with impaired speech, verbal communication is challenging for him. On the show, he did not speak clearly but slowly typed on a virtual keyboard, using his rigid, curled hand. He does so with patience and determination.
His path to literacy was far from smooth. Unable to hold a pen, he “learned through memory”, piecing together sounds and sentences from poems he learned by heart. It took him many years to learn to read independently, but once he did, he never stopped.
Learning computer skills was even more challenging. Lying in one position with a body he could not control freely, ordinary tools such as a mouse and keyboard were nearly impossible to use. Through careful observation and exploration, Cu worked with others to design adaptive solutions, including a head-controlled mouse, a virtual keyboard, and a large-screen interface. With these tools, he was able to write poetry and prose, and connect with the outside world, although producing every line of text demanded extraordinary perseverance.
Drawing from his own experience, Cu realized that he wanted to help people with disabilities improve their quality of life. In 2018, he founded the Hope Reading Space Club based on this conviction. The club’s mission is to establish free reading spaces for the community, with one remarkable distinction: the librarians managing these spaces are people with disabilities themselves.
In its early days, the club faced many difficulties due to inexperience, disorganized books, and cramped spaces. Over time, with contributions and feedback from many people, Cu established clear regulations. With the support of a dedicated team of volunteers, the Hope Reading Space Club gradually became more structured and effective.
Although Station of Love may come to a close, but Do Ha Cu’s story leaves behind a powerful reminder: as long as there is faith and knowledge, people can always open pathways of hope, not only for themselves, but for others as well.
