As soon as Phuoc gets home from school, he can hardly wait to sit down at his drawing table. Before his grandfather, Son, can even remind him to change his clothes and wash up, Phuoc is already absorbed in his drawings, pencil in hand. On days off, he can draw from morning until evening, so engrossed that he loses track of time.
Phuoc in his own colorful world of creativity and imagination.
His grandfather recalls, “Phuoc draws so much that his back has become hunched. When we went to the hospital, the doctor even asked why he was sitting with his back bent like that.” Phuoc’s drawings can be found throughout the house, and Son carefully keeps the pieces he likes most in little paper boxes.
Phuoc has loved drawing since first grade. Now in seventh grade, his passion remains as strong as ever. As an autistic boy who finds communication challenging, he has his own way of expressing himself through his art. Son often encourages him, praising his talent, but one concern weighs on his mind: he cannot afford to send Phuoc to formal art classes. He hopes his grandson will have the opportunity to develop his abilities and nurture the passion that means so much to him.
Drawing is not Phuoc’s only passion; he also loves school and often urges his grandfather to take him there on time. Sometimes, Son playfully pretends to tell him, “You don’t have school today!” Phuoc immediately protests, “Grandpa, you’re wrong!”
Every day, Phuoc’s grandfather takes him to school on his old motorbike.
Since Phuoc was just three years old, his grandfather has been his primary caregiver, looking after nearly every aspect of his daily life. After Phuoc’s mother left and his father began spending much of his time working away from home, Sơn took responsibility for everything from meals and bedtime to schoolwork. Through the years, he has not only cared for his grandson but also patiently encouraged him at every step of his growth.
Over the past two years, Son and Phuoc have received support from Children of Vietnam through its Hope System of Care (HSC) program. Despite his busy schedule, Son has never missed a program activity. With age-appropriate activities and guidance for caregivers, Phuoc has gradually improved his communication, learning to greet others and say thank you. “Every little step means so much to me,” Son reflects.
The bond between the two is perhaps best captured in a simple but moving memory. When Son was hospitalized for nearly two months, Phuoc came to visit and exclaimed with relief, “He’s alive! He’s alive!” Son understood that his grandson had been afraid he might be gone, having spent so much time apart from the person who had always been by his side. In their everyday moments together, Sơn often asks, “Phuoc, what am I to you?” His grandson replies, “You’re Phước’s precious treasure, Grandpa.”
A quiet moment of Phuoc drawing with his grandfather beside him.
To Phuoc, his grandfather is the person most familiar to him, a steadfast source of comfort who has been there since his earliest years. And to Son, Phuoc is his own precious treasure, a priceless gem he cherishes with all his heart.
“Phuoc draws beautifully, and he truly has a gift for it. I hope he can make a living doing what he loves in art!” This is the wish of a grandfather who has devoted so much of his life to raising his grandson: that when he no longer has the strength to care for him, Phuoc will still be able to move forward with confidence, relying on his own abilities and passion.
For Son, the greatest gift would be to see Phước confidently find his own path in life. Your contribution today can help children like Phước discover their potential and move closer to the future they deserve.
