Station of Love: The resilient journey of an 18-year-old girl battling lymphoma

Born into a farming family, Anh Tuyet grew up healthy and energetic  while her mother  ran a small grocery store and her father worked   as a driver. In 2021, aged just 15, she was diagnosed with lymphoma and began treatment at the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion. The illness struck at the a time when she was just beginning to experience the joys of  youth, shattering her dreams of school and a normal teenage life.

Yet, even in her most fragile moments, she forced herself to sit up, learned how to breathe steadily,  how to endure, and  how carry on living. Above all, she learned how to hide her pain.

In 2023, after completing two treatment protocols, her health stabilized, and she  transitioned to periodic check-ups. Hope returned, and her family believed that the worst was over. During her hospital stay, Tuyet joined an art contest  for children with serious illnesses titled “For a Victorious Vietnam”. Painting became her emotional refuge. Bright colors helped her forget the needles, IV lines, and physical pain. The paintings she gave to teachers and doctors were her  way of  quietly  expressing gratitude.

But in 2024, just as Tuyet turned 18 and was preparing for her university entrance exams, her cancer relapsed. Tests confirmed that she would have to  undergo chemotherapy and radiation therapy again. Once again, her dreams were   interrupted on the threshold of adulthood.

Yet even in  her darkest moments, her family could see  how strong she truly was. Though her body grew thinner and her hair fell out, Tuyet asked her mother to bring a small desk to the hospital so that  she could study whenever she felt up to it. “Studying helps me forget how tired I am from the drugs”, she said.

The story became even more emotional  when  Master Doctor Le Khanh Quynh from the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, who directly treated Tuyet, made a surprise appearance. She said  that the pediatric hematology ward is like a “second home” and  that each child   teaches the doctors  what real resilience looks like. Tuyet, she said, is one of those inspirational patients who never gives up on learning despite enduring harsh treatment.

Master Doctor Le Khanh Quynh from the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, who directly treated Tuyet

Though she missed the university exam in 2024, she still holds onto her dream of higher education. She is currently studying at the University of Finance and Business Administration to  forge a new future  for herself.

This episode of Station of Love, “Warrior Heart”,  a tribute not only to battling cancer, but also   to the strength of a young heart that refuses to surrender. It is a story of family,  devoted doctors, and  love that helps people rise above suffering.

The program airs at 10:00 AM on Saturday, November 29, on VTV1.