Quang is 35 years old ; a husband, a father, and a devoted son. He lives with his young son, his wife, and his elderly mother, whom he cared for every day.
One afternoon in 2024, Quang stepped outside to mow the lawn behind their home. He wore his backpack-style weed whacker, a model with a gasoline tank attached along its side. As he worked beneath the heat of the day, the gas container loosened and fell. In the same terrible moment, it exploded when it hit the pilot flame of the mower.
Fire swallowed him instantly.
Instinctively, Quang tried to rip the burning pack from his shoulders. He rolled, screamed, fought, and tried desperately to smother the flames, but it was too late. By the time his brother-in-law rushed out and saw the fire, Quang had already suffered burns over 90% of his body.
He lost all of his fingers and most of his hands. His face, ears, eyes, neck, chest, back, ars, and legs were covered in devastating burns.
He was rushed to the hospital, given strong injections of oxycodone for the pain, and placed in a drug-induced coma for several days. He remained hospitalized for three months and ten days, fighting through surgeries, infections, and unbearable pain.
When Quang finally returned home, everything had changed. His wife, overwhelmed by the trauma, left him. His young son became afraid to approach him, unable to recognize his father through the scars.
Still, Quang never cried out in anger. He never asked, “Why me?”
After leaving the hospital, he learned about Surgicorps International and traveled to Ho Chi Minh City to meet Dr. Jack and the medical team. By then, his voice was barely more than a whisper. His lips were burned open; he could only eat through a straw. His nostrils were closed, making every breath a struggle. His eyes were almost sealed shut.
Yet he spoke with gentleness. With dignity. With hope.
His goals were simple but profound:
He wanted his eyes opened so he could see the world again.
He wanted his nostrils enlarged so he could breathe without fear.
He wanted his lips repaired so he could close his mouth and possibly eat solid food again.
When asked if he had a single wish beyond that, Quang whispered,
“Hands… so I can bathe myself, dress myself, comb my own hair… and relieve my brother-in-law of those duties.”
His son has slowly begun visiting again , something that brings Quang a quiet, glowing happiness.
When asked whether he ever felt anger toward God, Quang shook his head gently.
“Never,” he whispered. “NEVER” ! Everyone has a destiny. It is what it is. No anger.”
Today, thanks to Surgicorps International and the compassionate work of Dr. Jack and the team, Quang had several reconstructive surgeries: his eyes opened, his nostrils widened, his lips repaired. He calls the volunteers and staff at Surgicorps “his family.”
He hides from crowds, shy of the way people look at him, but with the Surgicorps team, he feels safe — understood — accepted.
Before finalizing this story, I asked Quang if he was comfortable with me sharing his story and with sharing his photographs. He said “yes” softly but firmly. He hopes that by telling what happened to him, someone else might be more careful with gasoline and avoid the tragedy he endured.
Quang hopes to return next year for more surgeries. For now, he focuses on healing, caring for his mother, and rebuilding his relationship with his son.
His story is not only tragedy; it is the story of a gentle young man whose spirit refused to burn.
A story of survival, kindness, resilience — and the quiet bravery of a man who still believes in hope.
