“Miracles are not far away; they are created through perseverance.”
Some encounters begin with pain but end with joyful smiles. Khuong’s story – a young student at Thien Chi Center – is one such remarkable journey.
📍 The First Meeting: Unforgettable Memories
I still vividly remember the first day I met Khuong after he was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder by Children’s Hospital No. 1 in May 2025. Instead of a hug or greeting, Khuong rushed toward me in a state of panic. He was upset, biting and scratching as he struggled to express himself.
I was so surprised that I could barely react. I simply sat down, gently held him, and whispered, “Calm down, Khuong. It’s okay. I’m here with you.” After that first meeting, I had scratches on my neck, but what stayed with me most was the deep sadness of seeing how much he was struggling.
At that time, Khuong faced many challenges:
• Social skills: He could not distinguish between familiar people and strangers, constantly ran around, had difficulty concentrating, avoided eye contact, and rarely responded when his name was called.
• Communication and behavior: He did not know how to play appropriately, rarely shared with others, frequently echoed words, and often did not understand questions. He would throw objects, cry, scream, or have tantrums when his needs were not met.
• A special trait: Although he did not begin speaking until nearly four years old, he could quietly pick up his brother’s books and read letters and numbers in an extraordinary way.
🌱 One Year of Perseverance – A Life Transformed
After a year of dedicated intervention and support, Khuong is now six years old and ready to enter first grade. Due to family circumstances, he has had to stop attending the center, but the progress he has made is truly a miracle created by the combined efforts of both teacher and student.
✅ Learning: He can now recognize and write letters and numbers fluently, and perform basic addition and subtraction.
✅ Communication: He makes eye contact, responds politely when called, knows his teacher’s name, and can answer questions about himself, his family, and the occupations of family members.
✅ Behavior: Negative behaviors have significantly decreased. He is better able to regulate his emotions, uses less echolalia, and communicates more appropriately in different situations.
✅ A Warm Heart: Khuong has become a caring and affectionate child who shows concern when others are hurt. He is very different from the frightened little boy we first met a year ago.
❤️ Words of Gratitude
The family’s heartfelt message is the greatest encouragement for us to continue our mission:
“Thank you to the teachers for your dedication, care, and support for Khuong. He used to be unable to communicate, speak, or understand the difference between questions and answers. Now he can respond to questions confidently. We are deeply grateful to all of you.”
Goodbye, Khuong, our brave and resilient boy. We wish you confidence and success as you begin first grade. May you always keep your warm and caring heart. Thien Chi Center will always remember you and be proud of you.
