It seems that every day we’re inundated with tragedy via news sites and social media.
Bad news sells, we all know this, and yet I can’t help but get a bad taste in my mouth when I reflect upon the fact that we don’t do more to change that.
It’s with this in mind that we, here at Newsner, are committed to giving you the good with the bad; the inspirational with the sad. In this story, you’ll get a bit of both.
It concerns a burn survivor, 29-year-old Ngo Quy Hai, who today owns a prize bakery in the city of Kon Tum, Vietnam, where he was born. Yet his life wasn’t always so positive. Far from it, in fact …
Hai was only a toddler when a terrible accident would change the course of his life forever. As per reports, he was pushing a baby walker in the kitchen when he accidentally fell into an open wood stove, resulting in serious burns to a large portion of his body.
“Baby walkers were common back then and there wasn’t knowledge about how dangerous they can be,” Hai explained.
After the accident, Hai was rushed to Children’s Hospital 1 in Saigon. He stayed there for a total of their two years, undergoing treatments and intensive care to save his life.
This poor little boy was forced to endure numerous reconstructive surgeries, but even so, he was left with scarring that served as a permanent reminder of the most painful day of his life.
What’s more, Hai had suffered significant mental trauma as a result of the accident. When he left the hospital, he was bullied for his looks.
“I felt alone growing up and didn’t have many friends,” he explained. “I felt ostracized from society. When I tried to find work, I was mocked and ridiculed. I didn’t leave my house at one point for almost two years.”
We can scarcely imagine how tough Hai’s journey has been. Two whole years without even leaving the house – it’s just simply heartbreaking.
As a result of his two-year absence, Hai fell behind in his studies. However, he did manage to find a friend he was able to bond with, one who also had disabilities.
