Resilient mom: Raising her intellectually disabled son with love and determination

Having to face many challenges in life, the dormitory cleaner tirelessly cares for her 22-year-old son with intellectual disabilities day after day.

The Child with Intellectual Disabilities

When Mrs. Hoa Anh’s son was a toddler, around 1 year old, she began noticing unusual signs. Her son didn’t respond as quickly as other children. Initially, she took him to the hospital, but the doctors said everything was fine, and she thought he would eventually develop like other children. Nevertheless, over time, she noticed that he still wasn’t making the usual progress.

Mrs. Hoa Anh helped Tu introduce himself. (Photo: WayToday)

Thus, she took him to a private clinic, where the doctors diagnosed her son with autism and intellectual disability. Afterward, she enrolled him in a center for special children. He was cared for and educated there for 5 years.

Busy Mornings and a Hectic Life

Every morning, Mrs. Hoa Anh has to prepare to work early to have enough time to clean the dormitory. Her work is extremely demanding, leaving her no time to care for her son in the morning. Her son is over 22 years old but still needs assistance due to intellectual disabilities. As a result, her relative has to take care of him every day while she works outside.

Mrs Hoa Anh has to work at the dormitory from 7 a.m. (Photo: WayToday)

Mrs. Hoa Anh has been working at this dormitory for the past 7 years. Although her job is very demanding, she always tries to complete her work with all her dedication.

The Struggle to Find a School for Her Son

One of the greatest difficulties Mrs. Hoa Anh faced after discovering her son's congenital condition was finding a school for him. Due to social stigma, her son was rejected from many schools.

She sadly recalled the times when her son was rejected from various schools. (Photo: WayToday)

Public schools didn’t accept her son because he was too old, and private schools were reluctant to accept him out of concern that other parents might not agree. The repeated rejections left her feeling hopeless. Eventually, a private kindergarten accepted her son, but after 3-4 years, they told her he couldn’t continue anymore.

"Fate is something we can never predict."

Her husband, a former soldier, has had a stroke for over a decade, and her 22-year-old son has suffered from intellectual disabilities since birth. Accepting the hand life has dealt her, Hoa Anh understands that she must be the family's main pillar of support. For many years now, this resilient mother has worked tirelessly as a cleaner at the foreign language dormitory to make a living.

Life is undeniably tough, but she knows that her only son has no one else to lean on but her. Therefore, she continually finds ways to lift her spirits, accept her fate, and do whatever it takes to overcome life's challenges.

“I feel guilty for not being able to spend time with my son during the day.”

Her life is incredibly tough, starting with cleaning the dormitory from early morning until dusk, leaving her only the evenings to be with her son.

Tu and his mother take evening walks together. (Photo: WayToday)

Since Tu has an intellectual disability, she has to repeat instructions multiple times before he can complete a task. Even so, she never complains or shouts at him and always keeps a close eye on every action her son takes.

Mrs. Hoa Anh carefully followed every single action of Tu. (Photo: WayToday)

Moments of Happiness

She shared, “Once, when I was sick, Tu brought me water and medicine, even though he had never done that before. It was just a small act, but it made me very happy because Tu showed concern for my health.”

She emotionally recalled a time when Tu showed care for her. (Photo: WayToday)

Sometimes, Tu goes out to play with the neighbors and happily sings for them.

Tu happily sang with neighbors. (Photo: WayToday)

"Life is challenging, but I always want to do my best for my son, to be more patient, care for him more, and teach him more. Although it may not turn out as I hope, I am content with the efforts I’ve made.", she expressed her thoughts.

Mrs. Hoa Anh, a dormitory cleaner, has been caring for her son, Tu, who was diagnosed with autism and intellectual disability when he was a child.

What do you think is the best way to support Tu and his mother?

• A. Better education options
• B. Financial aid
• C. Community involvement
• D. Life skills training