A Ho Chi Minh City couple just celebrated their dream wedding in May after a year spent turning hardship to hope.

Nguyen Quoc Hoang, 29, was all smiles as he watched the love of his life, Pham Nhu Kieu Duyen, dance on their wedding day – an unimaginably happy moment in the aftermath of a brutal fight with blood cancer.

Hoang first met Duyen about a year ago at her coffee shop and immediately became sympathetic for her fight against heart disease and blood cancer. 

The more they talked and the more time passed, that sympathy turned to love. 

Duyen, however, wasn’t so enthusiastic.  Though she sensed her own feeling for Hoang, she was worried that the two children she had from a previous marriage and her ailing health would drive him away.

But Hoang was persistent and Duyen eventually let his love into her life.

When Duyen’s condition was at its worst, Hoang insisted caring for her in the hospital, despite disapproval from his own family. 

“Duyen deserves happiness and I’ll stay by her side no matter what happens,” he said with determination, explaining the reason behind his decision to propose to Duyen after spending four months by her side as she battled cancer.

Kieu Duyen takes a selfie with Quoc Hoang and Cu Mi in their wedding. Photo: My Lang / Tuoi Tre

Sacrifice is a common thread in the story of these two lovers. 

Just after her first marriage five years ago, 25-year-old Duyen herself made a sacrifice to adopt her son, Phi Anh, who was diagnosed himself with an intestinal infection and blood cancer.

Duyen sold much of her personal property to pay for treatment for Anh, whose nickname is Cu Mi, causing several disputes with her former husband and eventually leading to their divorce.

After the break-up, Duyen then launched the homestay and coffee shop where she met Hoang, the love of her life, who has always been there for her and helped her take care of Cu Mi.

The young mother’s constant effort paid off when Cu Mi started to recover from the severe illnesses and grow up normally like other children.

“It was like a dream come true seeing his condition improve day by day,” Duyen said in tears.

 “I admire both of them for their positive attitude towards life and passionate love towards each other,” said Thanh Hang, a friend of Duyen.

“Life is fair to everyone, especially the one as kind as Duyen,” said Dang Phuoc Thien, another friend in the charity group that Duyen has been joining.

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