“I want to stretch out my arms to hug my parents, to hold a microphone and sing the folk songs I love…” This simple yet heartfelt wish comes from Duy Quang, a fifth-grade student from Ha Tinh. He once captured the hearts of social media users with his sweet voice and deep passion for Vietnamese folk music. However, a congenital condition affecting both hands has made it difficult for him to pursue the dream he cherishes most.

A Boy with Curved Arms and a Dream of Holding a Microphone

Duy Quang was born with a congenital heart defect and a rare condition called radial aplasia, which led to severe deformities in both forearms and the absence of thumbs on both hands. As a result, he struggles to perform everyday tasks on his own.

A previous surgery at another hospital once offered hope for improvement – but that hope was short-lived. The procedure inadvertently damaged the growth plate in one of his forearm bones, hindering it from proper development. As a result, his arms gradually became more curved and weaker over time.

“I can’t button my own shirt. I can’t pour myself a glass of water, things that are simple for others are out of reach for me,” his father shared, his voice heavy with emotion.

Living with both limb deformities and a congenital heart condition, Duy Quang has spent much of his young life in and out of hospitals. At just ten years old, he weighs only 20 kilograms. Despite these challenges, he remains a polite, intelligent student at Xuan Thanh Primary School in Nghi Xuan District, Ha Tinh Province. Always cheerful, he is a favourite performer in his class’s cultural activities. His homeroom teacher recorded a few clips of him singing and shared them on social media, where they quickly went viral, drawing hundreds of thousands of views, comments, and shares. The online community was moved by his pure, soulful voice and inspired by his resilience and love for life.

Duy Quang often shares his dream of one day being cured, becoming a singer, and earning money to help support his parents and three younger siblings. But at times, he turns to his parents with heartbreaking questions: “With hands like mine that can’t hold a microphone… can I really become a singer?”

Faced with his son’s heartfelt dream, Mr Le Thanh Quy, Quang’s father, could not help but feel a deep ache in his heart. Still, he gently encouraged his son to keep studying hard, holding onto the hope that one day, the opportunity to make that dream come true would come.

A Chance to Reach His Dream, Thanks to Compassionate Hearts

Although Mr Quy works as a motorcycle mechanic in a poor rural area, he has never stopped searching for treatment opportunities for his son. Having suffered from polio as a child, which left his right leg with muscle atrophy, he deeply understands the daily challenges Quang faces.

During this journey, he discovered The Children of Vietnam Charitable Fund at FV Hospital, which supports underprivileged paediatric patients. With hope in his heart, he wrote a letter to the foundation, sharing his family’s story and his son’s dream. His prayers were answered: The foundation accepted Quang’s case and arranged for him to receive treatment at FV Hospital.

At FV, Quang not only received full financial support for his treatment but was also placed under the care of Dr Stéphane Guero, one of the world’s leading hand surgeons. Over the years, Dr Guero has performed hundreds of surgeries on children with hand deformities in Vietnam through his partnership with FV Hospital. He has successfully treated numerous rare and complex congenital cases, some regarded as exceptional even by international standards.

“With children who have a history of congenital heart disease, prolonged anaesthesia is not an option. Everything must be prepared with absolute precision, and every second in the operating room is carefully calculated. Even a small mistake could cost a life,” said Dr Stéphane Guero after examining Quang on 14 May. To ensure the best outcome, Dr Guero convened a detailed medical consultation with anaesthesiologists, cardiologists, and paediatricians to develop the most appropriate treatment strategy.

With the expert support of FV Hospital’s experienced paediatric anaesthesiology team, Dr Stéphane Guero successfully performed surgery on Quang’s right hand on May 20.

“We installed a special external fixator to gradually lengthen the bone,” Dr Guero explained. “Each day, the family will need to turn the device slightly, just a quarter turn, to slowly stretch the bone. We’re aiming for about six centimetres in growth. It may sound small, but for this child, those six centimetres mean the world.”

If all goes well, Quang’s arm will be significantly longer in six months. At that point, doctors will reassess his condition and develop a tailored plan to further enhance the function of his hand.

Dr Stéphane Guero noted that the six-month period of wearing the fixator is not only a medical process but also a test of the family’s patience and perseverance.

“The family must be meticulous, turning the frame on time and using the correct technique, taking care of the wound to avoid infection. Medicine can open the path, but recovery depends heavily on the family’s dedication and care,” he emphasised.

But just as important as lengthening an arm is restoring a child’s hope. Quang is now beginning a new chapter, one where he is no longer defined by his disability, but recognised for what he can do with his gradually healing hands. And his dream of holding a microphone and singing may soon become a reality.

When Modern Medicine Meets Compassion

Quang’s treatment journey is far from over, and both FV Hospital and The Children of Vietnam Charitable Fund will continue to support him every step of the way.

“No one can guarantee the final outcome, but I am confident it will be far better than when he first came to see me,” said Dr Stéphane Guero. “For me, being able to treat him is a tremendous reward in itself.”

“I’ve travelled to many places to help children with similar conditions, but at FV, I’ve found two priceless things: a hospital equipped with cutting-edge technology and a compassionate charitable foundation dedicated to supporting underprivileged paediatric patients. The facilities here are on par with those in the U.S. or France,” shared Dr Stéphane Guero.

During a follow-up visit in early June 2025, Quang was seen happily running through the hospital hallways alongside his parents, younger sister, and FV’s doctors and nurses. Hugging his mother tightly, he whispered: “I love you the most, Mom. Thank you for raising me through all the hardship.”  His once-contracted right hand has now begun to straighten, allowing him to confidently raise his arm to wave or wrap it around his mother.

If all goes as planned and Quang’s arm lengthens by the expected six centimetres, Dr Guero will perform two additional surgeries: one to graft bone into the extended arm, and another to reposition his second finger to function as a thumb, allowing Quang to grasp objects.

With ongoing support from FV Hospital and The Children of Vietnam Charitable Fund, Quang’s dream of holding a microphone and singing his beloved folk songs may soon become a reality, a heartfelt gift to the doctors, nurses, and kind-hearted donors who helped make it possible.