Vu Thi Gai is a Peer Educator with AHF Vietnam. Her story is next in our “I Am AHF” series featuring remarkable staff, clients, and partners who are doing what’s right to save lives every day.
The Light of My Life
My name is Vu Thi Gai. I was born in 1972, and I am 53 years old. I am an ordinary woman, born and raised in a small fishing village in Thủy Nguyên District, Hải Phòng City. I once had a simple, loving home: my husband was a seafarer, I ran a small tailoring and grocery shop, and we had two well-behaved children. Life back then wasn’t wealthy, but it was peaceful and full of love.
When tragedy struck without warning
In 2004, a great storm swept away all that peace. After a long voyage, my husband came back home and tested positive for HIV. Shortly after, I received the same result. My whole world collapsed. We lived in fear, panic, and despair.
I had never imagined I would become a target of stigma. But then came the wary looks from neighbors and the distance from people who once cared for us. My shop was deserted. We were pushed into isolation in the very community we called home. Only a month later, my husband passed away, leaving me alone with two young children and a grief that hadn’t even begun to heal.
There were moments when I wanted to give up…
After my husband’s death, I fell into a deep depression. There were nights when I wanted to end everything — to escape the pain and relentless pressure. But then I thought of my two children, growing up day by day, and of my elderly parents whom I had not yet been able to repay. I told myself, “I am not allowed to fall.”
And just when I felt completely alone, a small ray of light reached me.
The helping hand that saved me
One day, a Women’s Union representative came to visit me. She brought a small box of milk and sugar, and heartfelt words of comfort. The gift was modest, but the humanity in it was immense. For the first time since everything had happened, I felt I wasn’t completely abandoned.
From that conversation, I learned that HIV is not the end — if treated correctly and in time. The very next day, I went to the commune health station to seek information. And there, my life began to turn a new page. I started my journey on treatment.
A new journey with AHF
Some time later, I was referred to the ART Clinic at Thuy Nguyen General Hospital, which has been supported by AHF since 2007 and helps people like me access treatment more easily. For someone struggling to find hope, the convenience of care and support meant everything. I was among the very first patients to begin my treatment journey with AHF, and from that moment on, I no longer felt alone in my fight.
AHF not only provided me with medication, but they also gave me something far more precious: hope and faith in life again.
With the dedicated care of doctors and healthcare workers, my health gradually improved. My viral load has consistently remained suppressed. I realized that with strict adherence to treatment, I could live healthily, raise my children, and continue to do meaningful work.
From pain to purpose
Beyond taking care of myself, I became a Peer Educator with AHF. I counseled newly diagnosed cases, reached out to key populations, supported pregnant women living with HIV to prevent transmission to their babies, and provided home-based care for people with HIV/AIDS.
I was once lifted — and now I want to extend that same kindness to those who need a helping hand. I believe that with hope and companionship, anyone can walk through the storm.
Today, I work directly at the ART Clinic of Thuy Nguyen Hospital. My tasks include welcoming patients, counseling, sending appointment reminders, monitoring patients’ viral load test results, and transporting laboratory samples. I have become a trusted bridge between patients and healthcare providers — a steady companion for those just beginning this difficult journey.
Gratitude words can hardly express
Without AHF and the dedication of healthcare workers, I might never have had what I have today — a healthy, useful, and happy life.
AHF has not only given me health but also hope and a second chance at life. To me, AHF is more than just an organization – they are a friend, a lifeline, and the light that reignited my life when I was at my darkest moment.
I am no longer the woman who collapsed
More than twenty years have passed since the first upheaval. I am no longer the woman who crumbled under pain. Today, I am living proof of renewal — of the power of resilience, of faith, and of humanity.
I will keep walking on a journey to bring light, hope, and life to people living with HIV.
Because I know: life is still worth living.
