Our Mom's Nail Salon

Hi, my name is David Nguyen. I am just your average first generation in America trying to make it. My whole life, my mom took on both roles, trying her best to provide for my sister and me. I have never met somebody as selfless as her with such a big heart. Somebody willing to give up their own life to provide for their children. She spent sleepless days and nights, sacrificing her sleep and health to ensure there was rice on the table. (We ate rice every day). Even when her world was falling apart, she still tried to smile to show her kids that everything would be okay. It takes a strong and particular person to be able to do what she has done, she is my superhero.

A little history about my mom is she was born in the mountains of Vietnam on October 1968. Born into poverty, she did not have much opportunity to get an education or learn a trade skill to help provide a better life. At a young age, she was taught how to travel to the city, back and forth, with the crops she grew on her land to trade for rice and meat to feed the rest of the family. She had a Mom, Dad, Two Brothers and a sister to feed daily.

One day, the villagers came through her part of the village and told her that there was a war and we needed to be careful or run away. Because of her mom's health, running away was not optional yet. They had to stick it through until her mom was healthy enough to walk through the war zone. The time had come; she dashed through the battlefield, got on a boat and traveled to America.

Now she is here living the American Dream, until the devastating news this morning.

After arriving at my job, I got a phone call from my grandma telling me that my mom's nail salon had been burned down.

I rushed out of work to comfort my mom in this time of need and to help her as she once provided for me. Between seeing the damage and my mom breaking down, I could feel how much this meant to her. All her years of hard work were burned to the ground. Every sleepless night, missing all of our school events and sacrifices she had made.

We are not the most financially stable family, but we were on the right path.

My mom has never been the one to ask for a helping hand; she has always been independent.

Even at this time, My mom will still not ask; she has too much pride. I will suck in my pride and ask for her because this sacrifice is only a fraction of what she has done for my sister and me.

Any donation will be funded towards the renovation of her business. I will be helping my mom every step of the way to make sure she is back on her feet.

Any help is greatly appreciated; between sharing and donating, we appreciate you.

If you're not financially able to support, a quick share would be just as appreciated.