Nguyen Thi Ly, a Vietnamese Agent Orange (AO) victim in the central city of Da Nang, is struggling with the toxic chemical in her body but dreams of a normal life.
This photo of Nguyen Thi Ly was among the photos awarded “Photo 2010” Prize by UNICEF
U.S. photographer Ed Kashi was moved and documented the nine-year-old girl’s burning passion to live as a normal person while she is bearing a deformed face and is tormented by the chemical since she was born.
Ed Kashi and his wife lived with Ly and her family in their charity house on Khai Tay 2, Hoa Quy ward in Ngu Hanh Son district for nearly a week to take photos and film her life. With these special photos, he was awarded the “Photo 2010” Prize by the United Nations Children\'s Fund (UNICEF).
The mother, Le Thi Thu, also an AO victim, said she gave birth to Ly while she was only six months pregnant. When Ly was born, she was very small and her faced was deformed like her mother. The newborn baby was kept in a glass cage for a year and she battled to survive.
Thu was infected with AO from her father who was a soldier in the American War and she is living in illness. Her pain seemed to be worse when she knew that she had transmitted the chemical to her first child, Ly.
“I know I was so unhappy and dared not love anyone as I thought no one would love such a person like me and I worried if my children would look like me. I was convinced by my husband’s sincerity and agreed to get married with him. When Ly was born, I was so pained to see my beloved daughter. My worry came true.”
Ly’s parents were struggling with life as they earn their living working as labourers and farming. Life seemed to be a burden when they took care of Ly who was often hospitalized about ten days per month. Ly regularly faces dyspnoea when weather changes as her chest structure is abnormal. Local authorities granted Ly’s family a charity house in 2004.
Quang said, “Despite being poor and difficult circumstances, we feel lucky as my children are joyful and vivacious and they still feel their life and can go to school.”
Ly’s parents named her younger brother Mung (literally translated as “gladness”) as he was spared from AO. Ly and Mung are studying at the same grade 3.
Ly said nothing is happier than going to school. “When I grow up, I want to become a teacher of music. I want to go to school everyday as I love singing.”
Ly is playing with her younger brother
Pain-carrying family still optimistic and happy
Quang carefully keeps photos by Photographer Ed Kashi
