The story of Lan Dam, an English teacher from Vietnam, is a tale of the painful sacrifices that many immigrants and struggling people are forced to make to make ends meet. When her daughter Van was just 13 months old, Lan was forced to leave her in the care of her father-in-law and mother-in-law, as she was the sole breadwinner for the family.

“I was the only one who supported the whole family financially,” she recalls in an interview with Deutsche Welle. Because of the long separation, Lan did not immediately realize that her daughter had a health problem. It was not until Van was two years old that she discovered that her daughter was deaf. “Since I had no daily contact with her, it took me a while to realize that something was wrong,” Lan says. When Van was seven, Lan was finally able to return to her and take over her full care. She filed for divorce and began working as a distance learning English teacher.

“I was alone in this battle. However, emotionally and spiritually I felt a relief within me. There were no more family conflicts. Finally, I could dedicate myself to raising Van and my career,” she says. But the challenges for Lan did not end there. Today, she tries to rebuild her relationship with her daughter and heal the wounds caused by the years of separation. “I feel pain and wonder why she keeps her distance from me. I am doing everything I can to take her abroad. I am pursuing my master's degree in education so that Van will have the opportunity to live and study abroad for at least two years,” says Lan. Her story reflects the reality of many parents who, faced with poverty and lack of opportunities, are forced to make painful decisions in the hope of providing their children with a better future.