The New Beginning

Chapter 1: A Fight for Survival

Let’s go back to 1965. My mother was born in a small rural village, far from the capital city. Life there was simple but filled with hardship. Her parents separated when she was very young, leaving her and her younger sister to be raised by their grandmother in a traditional household.

Like many girls in her village, my mother didn’t have the opportunity to go to school. Instead, she was expected to marry young. By the time she was 15, she was married off to a man and taken far from her family. She left behind the only home she knew and entered a new world filled with uncertainty.

Not long after her marriage, tragedy struck. My mother noticed a small lump on the left side of her neck. At first, she ignored it, hoping it would go away. But the lump grew bigger each day, stretching her skin until it finally burst, oozing pus and blood.

The nearest hospital was too far away, and there was no transportation available. With no medical help, her condition worsened. She became too weak to move, and her family, feeling helpless, prepared themselves for the worst. They believed she was going to die.

But fate had other plans.

One day, my mother’s uncle’s wife—a kind, blind woman—came to visit the village. When she saw my mother’s condition, she was heartbroken. Despite her own struggles, she made a bold decision. She would take my mother to the capital city to seek help.

The journey was long and grueling. My mother was too weak to stand, so they carried her to the nearest bus station. Holding onto hope and sheer determination, the blind woman guided my mother through the journey to the city.

When they arrived, my mother’s condition had worsened. She could barely speak and spent her days lying in bed. The blind woman wasted no time and took her to a hospital, but the news they received was devastating—the lump had already turned into cancer. The doctors explained that treatment would be difficult, and they didn’t have the money to cover the costs.

With no other options, the blind woman sought advice from neighbors. One suggested a traditional medicine center run by an old man known for treating serious illnesses. Though skeptical, she decided to take my mother there.

The old man listened carefully as the blind woman described my mother’s symptoms. He examined her and shook his head sadly. “The chances of curing her are very small—maybe only 10%. But I will do my best, and you will not need to pay,” he said. His words brought both hope and fear.

The treatment began immediately. Every morning, the old man prepared special herbal medicines, which my mother drank faithfully. Slowly, her condition began to improve. For two years, she continued taking the herbal treatments, cared for by the blind woman and supported by her family, who struggled daily to provide for everyone.

By the end of the second year, something miraculous happened. My mother fully recovered. The lump disappeared, her strength returned, and she could walk again. Her survival was nothing short of a miracle, and everyone who knew her story was amazed.

But just as my mother thought her battle was over, a new challenge emerged. Despite the victory over illness, her heart longed for something more. She faced a difficult decision that would change the course of her life forever. Should she return to the village she had once known, or was there a new path waiting for her in the city?