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Finally, in 2006, Hien was admitted to the brand new spinal cord center attached to the Da Nang Rehabilitation-Sanatorium Hospital. After many months of arduous physical therapy and the gift of a used wheelchair, Hien achieved a level of relative functional independence. He was still without a home or meaningful work, however. So Hien began to develop his skills as an artist, beginning initially with pencil sketches and then progressing to water colors and, finally, to acrylic painting. Eventually, his work caught the attention of both visiting foreigners and the Vietnamese media. As Hien's paintings began to sell, Hien gained in confidence and voluntarily took on the task of counseling other, more recently disabled people.
In January of 2010, that growing confidence allowed Hien to marry his sweetheart, Ly. Hien now says, "Physical therapy and art restored hope and purpose to my life. My goal is to give encouragement to other disabled people."
">Nguyen Tan HIEN
Trang now lives in Da Nang, where she works with the Steady Footsteps organization in order to help other disabled people like herself. In her spare time, she continues to create lovely embroidered pieces such as you see here. Trang is delighted to finally be financially independent and able to help her family as well as assisting others in need.
">Nguyen Thi Thuy TRANG
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