Thu, from Bac Giang, lost her leg at 10 in a horrific accident. While playing with her younger sister in front of their house, an excavator fell on her. The woman is still haunted by the terrible accident that forever changed her life.

The loss was a devastating shock. “Back then, I thought my leg would grow back,” she recalled. 

But the harsh reality hit when adults told her “Once it’s gone, it won’t grow back.” Le Thu sank into sadness and negativity, feeling like a burden on her family.

“My parents gave birth to me in whole, but after losing a leg, I felt I couldn’t do anything and became a burden,” she said.

Yet, in her darkest moments, her family’s love became her beacon of hope and motivation. Seeing her aging mother working hard in the fields, her six-year-old sister helping with farming, and her father laboring under the scorching sun on construction sites to support their education ignited a fire in her.

“Those images were the driving force urging me to change, to live more positively, and not dwell on my disability,” she recalled. 

From then on, Le Thu grew stronger and more optimistic. She taught herself to move, care for herself, and perform tasks with one leg, refusing to depend on others. Her physical scars became a source of extraordinary resilience.

People thought that Thu’s life journey would forever be tied to a hospital bed and four walls. But from those losses, an extraordinary journey began. With only one leg, she never stopped walking, and never stopped making efforts to lead a normal life.

“If I had not changed and kept wallowing in sadness, I would have been the first to lose out,” Le Thu said.

Symbol of strength on TikTok 

In the digital age, Le Thu found a way to turn her life story into a meaningful message, spreading positivity to the community. Her simple videos capturing everyday moments like caring for her child, cleaning, or cooking have unexpectedly garnered millions of views on TikTok.

“My content always aims to promote positive energy, optimism, and resilience,” Thu said. 

She is determined to change societal perceptions of people with disabilities. “People often think it’s hard for us to move or do certain tasks. I want to show that with effort, optimism, and determination, people with disabilities can work, have families, raise children, and live like anyone else.”

“I joined social media to share content and capture joyful, happy family moments,” she explained. 

To her surprise, her authentic, unpolished clips were warmly welcomed, making her a source of inspiration, with millions of views.

Each of her videos offers a genuine glimpse into daily life: caring for her child, doing chores, or sharing simple moments of joy. Thu cleverly incorporates positive messages into each video, keeping the authenticity intact while still conveying value.

Remarkably, she handles all content creation, filming, and editing herself, despite challenges. “Sometimes, capturing a single moment requires setting up the camera multiple times,” she said.

Her persistence has been rewarded with heartfelt comments and messages from viewers. “People see me as incredibly optimistic and positive, which motivates me to strive harder,” she said. 

Other people in similar circumstances have found comfort and shifted to a more positive outlook after watching her videos. “That’s the inspiration that drives me to keep going,” she said.

Le Thu also earns money through affiliate sales on social media platforms.

"I want to spread the message that as long as you know how to accept and look at things positively, everyone can live a meaningful life."

In the future, she will continue to maintain her content channel, share her life and integrate sales products.

And she is proving every day that with extraordinary determination, a love of life and creative use of technology, every individual can become a source of inspiration and spread positive energy.

Thu Uyen