In October 2017, at the age of 22, Thắng began his service at the former Mường Chà district Police. Energetic and devoted to his job, his career had only just started when he was suddenly diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease. After the initial shock, he gathered his strength and embarked on a grueling routine of regular dialysis to fight for his life.

“In the early days, I had to travel 50 kilometers every week from Mường Chà to the provincial General Hospital for dialysis. By 2022, when I needed dialysis three times a week, I had to leave my job and move closer to the hospital. I rented a small room nearby to continue battling the disease”, shared Thắng.

While living in the so-called “dialysis neighborhood,” a cluster of rented rooms near the hospital, Thắng noticed that many fellow patients lived in poverty, surviving on minimal family support. From that realization came an idea: crafting bamboo chopsticks to earn a living.

“Many patients here are still of working age,” he explained. “Although their health prevents them from doing heavy labor, they can still participate in light, home-based work. Making bamboo chopsticks seemed like a perfect fit.”

True to his words, on days when he didn’t have dialysis, Thắng and another patient, Lành Văn Anh, scouted nearby villages to buy bamboo. After being transported home, the bamboo is cut, split, and shaved into chopsticks. The process isn’t technically difficult, but it requires patience and precision, skills that many dialysis patients possess.

Thắng and a few younger patients who are familiar with social media record their work and post videos and photos on platforms like Facebook and TikTok to promote the products. Each finished pair of chopsticks is sold for VND 3,000.

Thanks to social media, their story has spread far and wide. Charity groups have stepped in to help with sales, creating stable demand. Most orders are now placed through supporters on social media or kind-hearted individuals across Điện Biên who want to contribute.

One of these supporters is Nông Thị Thu Thủy, a resident of Residential Group No.14, Điện Biên Phủ ward. She regularly helps connect buyers with the dialysis community’s products.

“I learned about their stories through social media”, she said. “Since then, I’ve been visiting the neighborhood often to take photos and post updates to encourage people to buy their chopsticks. These are not just products, they carry a message of resilience, unity, and human kindness.”

Every day, patients in this small alley handcraft around 200 pairs of bamboo chopsticks. Far from being quiet and somber, the alley has now become lively. Those who can work split and shave bamboo, while others keep them company with stories and laughter. The sales bring in around VND 15 million per month, which is then shared equally among all participants. It’s not just an income, it’s part of their fight against a deadly illness.

Vừ A Xó, a dialysis patient, said: “To some, making chopsticks might seem like a simple task. But for us, it’s more than just work, it’s a way to gain income, joy, and confidence. On days after dialysis, we come together to shape each pair of chopsticks, carved with determination and the will to keep going.”

No one chooses illness, and neither did Giàng A Thắng. Yet with the resilience and service spirit of a People’s Public Security officer, he and his fellow patients are doing more than surviving, they are living, inspiring, and carving out hope each day with resilience, faith, and the power of shared humanity.