When her mother passed away, Bao Ngoc was still too young to understand the difficulties and hardships she would have to face in life. Feeling sorry for her orphaned grandchild, her grandparents could only hold Ngoc in their arms and whisper encouragement: "Our family has rice to eat, vegetables to eat, but you have to try to study hard, your grandparents will take care of your studies like your friends." That's what they said to Ngoc, but Ngoc's grandparents were also worried. They were old and weak, life was not easy, and her grandfather was a seriously wounded soldier, losing both hands. Ngoc's immediate education, her grandparents still tried to endure, but the more she studied, the more they dared not think about it...

Until now, 5 years have passed, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hung (Bao Ngoc's maternal grandfather) can never forget the moment when Senior Lieutenant Hoang Thi Lien Phuong and her husband in full military uniform came to the house to discuss taking care of, instructing, and raising Ngoc on their behalf. Mr. Hung said, at that time, my husband and I were both happy and joyful. We were happy that our granddaughter would have a bright future, but we also wondered if the couple would truly love and care for their granddaughter? Would the little girl be able to integrate into the new family life? All of Mr. Hung's worries were dispelled when he learned that the biological parents of Senior Lieutenant Hoang Thi Lien Phuong and her husband also supported their decision to take Ngoc home to raise.

Talking about the decision to adopt baby Nguyen Bao Ngoc, Senior Lieutenant Hoang Thi Lien Phuong said: "When I heard people talking about Bao Ngoc's situation, I felt so sorry for her. When my husband (Major Nguyen Van Chinh, Political Commissar of Production Team and Construction of Political Base No. 2, Economic-Defense Group 313, Military Region 2) took advantage of his leave, I told her about the girl's story. At that time, I just said that her situation was so pitiful, so we adopted her so that she could have the conditions to study. Hearing that, my husband pondered for a while and then said, we should take Ngoc home to raise so that Chi would have a sister and a sibling (little Nguyen Thi Linh Chi was the daughter of the couple who was in first grade at that time)".

Nguyen Bao Ngoc and her godmother - Senior Lieutenant Hoang Thi Lien Phuong on the occasion of participating in the Sunflower Summer Camp.

Not only did Ms. Phuong and Mr. Chinh agree, but both parents also agreed and supported the couple when they found out. Thus, Nguyen Bao Ngoc's dream of having a complete family came true.

The first thing they did was to run around to transfer schools so that Nguyen Bao Ngoc would not be late for the new school year. Next, they spent time talking, encouraging, and sharing with their child about family life habits, helping Ngoc gradually get rid of her self-consciousness and inferiority complex; open up to everyone, accept the love and affection they had for her. The sincere care of her adoptive parents and the help and encouragement of her neighbors helped Ngoc gradually feel happy, confident, and get used to her new life, becoming more determined and making efforts in her studies.

Emerging from her inferiority complex thanks to the sincere love of her second mother, Nguyen Bao Ngoc has a complete home and a bright future. Meeting Ngoc when she participated in the Sunflower Summer Camp organized by the Central Committee of the Vietnam Women's Union in coordination with the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army recently for orphans, we clearly felt the joy and happiness shining from her eyes and smile. Talking to us, she said: "Since I came to live with my adoptive parents, I feel that my life is really happy. I thank my adoptive parents for their love. I will try to study hard to not disappoint the love that my parents, grandparents and uncles and aunts have given me."

Accompanying and sharing with Senior Lieutenant Hoang Thi Lien Phuong in taking care of her family and children, the Women's Union of Regiment 148 regularly visits and helps Ms. Phuong's family both materially and spiritually. Senior Lieutenant Trinh Ngoc Hieu, President of the Women's Union of Regiment 148, said: "The work of Ms. Phuong's family has a noble humanitarian meaning, clearly demonstrating the fine traditions of the Vietnamese people. We hope that in daily life, there will be many situations like Ngoc who will be welcomed with the same heart and affection as the couple of Senior Lieutenant Hoang Thi Lien Phuong".

For Nguyen Bao Ngoc, the dark memories of childhood have gradually faded away, replaced by love, sharing, and healing all the wounds in her heart. Ngoc has family affection, and the care and protection of her relatives. Her adoptive parents have given Ngoc a warm heart, a complete family, and helped her nurture her life's dreams.

Article and photos: VAN ANH