Christina Cao Xuân Thanh Ngọc, Pharm.D.: "Sharing with you my acceptance speech at the 14th annual Asian Heritage Awards night! It was a magical event!"


Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen,

Roman Payne once said “You must give everything to make your life as beautiful as the dream that dance in your imagination"

I am very honor and humble to stand here in front of all of the distinguish guests this evening. I would never have thought that I can stand here joining hands in hands among many respectable professional from all walk of life. When I was a little girl growing up in Vietnam, my dream is very simple. I dreamt to reunite with my father one day after he was captured by the North Vietnamese communist regime and they sent him to the sugarcoated “re-education camp” without a returning date in 1975. There was time, I dreamt for our family to have just enough foods for everybody at the dinner table every day. I dreamt to have a warm and safe place where we could call home so my mother can rest after long hours of hard labor working each day to make a living to raise our family. These small dreams have become a motivational force for me when our family came to America in 1991 via the Humanitarian Program for Former Political Detainees, which is known as HO program. I challenged myself to dream bigger. I dared myself to reach out to the horizon to dream the impossible dream that it can never happen to me if I was still in Vietnam. I dream to become one of the most caring pharmacists in the world of medicine.

Standing here in front of everybody tonight I know that I did not make this journey here alone. Numerous people have supported me along the way. This Award is a dedication to the life time sacrifices that my parents had made for my success today. I am honor to accept this Award and the timing can never be better, as this year, the Asian Heritage Awards is dedicated to the Vietnamese American lives. I thank you for allowing me to be part of this wonderful journey. I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Asian Heritage Award Committee Members for this honor. Thank you to my parents and my siblings for their sacrifices and unconditional love. I also want to thank you my parents-in-law for always encourage me to spread my wings and reach out to the rainbow. Most importantly, I want to thank you my lovely husband, Dr. John Nguyen and 3 beautiful children for being so caring, understanding and always believing me on a sunny day or a stormy night. Without their support and sacrifices, I am not who I am today. Last but not least, I would like to thank our Vietnamese community, my colleagues and friends who always believe in me and stand by my side throughout my journey.

Let’s Begin To Dream Together!


 

Buổi Vinh Danh Người Mỹ gốc Á - Asian Heritage Awards 2016


My journey of overcoming suffering and family tragedies to become a contributing member of society.  The overwhelming sense of accomplishment you can obtain when you don’t give up, don’t get down, and strive to succeed is within us all if you believe.

Christina Ngoc Cao, Pharm.D.

I was born and raised in the land of Xuan Loc - Long Khanh in February 1975. Many times my mother had to tell us why our families "drifted" in this remote rural area with rubber trees, rugged landscape, coffee farms and unique tropical fruits trees that sustained us.

Dược Sĩ Christina Ngọc Cao (trái) và ông Mike Cattivera, đại diện Ban Tổ Chức trao giải Doanh Gia Xuất Sắc. (Hình: Christina Cao cung cấp
Dược Sĩ Christina Cao Xuân Thanh Ngọc (trái) và ông Mike Cattivera, đại diện Ban Tổ Chức trao giải Doanh Gia Xuất Sắc.

She also helped us understand a phrase usually implied for a Vietnamese woman that we never forgot:: “Tại gia tòng phụ, xuất giá tòng phu”, which translates like this, "Before marriage, a lady is to be submitted to her father; After marriage, a lady is to be submitted to her husband”... I once remember our grandmother say, "Yes, married women must follow their husbands, and if the husbands must go to the most dangerous places like snake or tiger caves, the wives must go along as well!” That’s the reason why my mother had to follow my father to Long Khanh “the snake cave” because at the time my father’s military assignment was located in this unhospitable town.

Mother left behind the misty romantic Dalat city and her small elementary school, Da Thien, with its cute little students with red cheeks and lips. They always wore colorful sweaters and loved to spend time with their young teacher during recess periods. However, my mother had to leave the school, it was very difficult and emotional to leave the children and colleagues behind but she had to start a new life with my father.

Xuan Loc town was famous for "sunny dust, rain and mud," and not to forget it was a battlefield where bombs lay-in-wait everywhere along the road. Too often innocent people were killed or maimed because the bombs exploded. Every night, my father had to carefully navigate those roads to report to his station, my mother always stayed up and prayed until he was safely returned home.

My father attended the famous Military Academy in DaLat and he was a brave one! From the fiery fronts in central, western and tactical areas and then in the 18th Division Xuan Loc - a famous landmark of the sterling final battle of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Vietnam. He and his team fought with courage against the odds until the last minute before it all ended in 1975.

My mother attended Dong Khanh University and she was the center of attention with long, shiny beautiful hair and so feminine in her long purple dress. She had stolen many young men hearts in the ancient town of Hoi An, where she was born and raised. Then, during a military marching event through this small town, my father’s handsome image’ replete in his military uniform caught her attention! She would never feel the same. Shortly after, my father became one of the members of the "Tran Xuan" family. They married in1967!

Mother did not foresee the changes that would take place in her life when she decided to follow my father. Constantly on a move depending on where my father needed to report for his assignment. At times it seemed to be too much but the words of her mother kept her spirits up. After the fall of Saigon on April 30th, 1975, my father was captured and placed in the “re-educational camp” by the Communist party. He left behind a young wife with five children ranging from seven years old to two months old. I was the youngest one of all.

I was born in Long Khanh in February 1975, but I was able to “enjoy’ the freedom that our family had for only 2 months. The day they took our father away was the darkest day of our lives as it was for so many families in the same set of circumstances. My father, a Lieutenant Colonel for the South Vietnam Republic Army, was imprisoned for 10 unimaginable years as a result of the fall of Saigon. We were not “lucky” to be among the 1.5 million Vietnamese who were able to escape the country during the 1975-1985 period.

During the time my father was in prison, the image of my mother was really a representation of the “stork” in the famous poem by Tran Te Xuong that I have learned through my youth:

Quanh năm buôn bán ở ven sông,

Nuôi đủ năm con với một chồng.

Lặn lội thân cò khi quãng vắng,

Eo sèo mặt nước buổi đò đông

Một duyên hai nợ âu đành phận,

Năm nắng mười mưa dám quản công…

Translation:

“Year round traded on the river edge

Supporting five kids and a husband

Self-sacrifices throughout the journey

A caring touch of a dazzling soul

Love destiny has sealed the fate

Through rainy night or any sunlit day…”

After 1975, our mother continued to be an elementary teacher in Long Khanh. Her goal was to keep all of us in school and receive our education by any and all means. At young ages, we all knew that education was very important to our mother and we didn’t want to disappoint her. Although she was busy with hundreds of things that made up her busy daily routine, our mother always helped us with our homework.

Losing our country to the Communist party, my family lost everything. Through hard work and savings, my mother managed to buy a small house so we could at least settle in. In order for her to earn extra income, she would teach before work at the school in the morning, and she was able to set up some extra tables to provide tutoring for the children in the neighborhood in the afternoon. This was also her intention to make sure that all of her five children would study during this time as well. Unfortunately, we could only live in that cozy comfort house for a mere 6 months. One day, while she was teaching in class, suddenly a young man running into her classroom and informed her hastily: "Dear teacher-your entire house is burning down! The neighbor was cooking foods for their pigs, and your house caught on fire! We could not get to your front door because it was locked, all of your children might be inside!” Our mother froze at the moment, so many horrible things ran through her mind, and what would she do if she lost all of her children? Her entire body felt numb and she could not move!

At last, she was able got to the house that was almost destroyed by the fire. Our mother frantically and desperately called our names and wanted to jump into the fire, for she didn’t want to live without her children! Just then, a young boy ran to her and said: "Dear teacher, I found all of your children in our house and they are hiding under the table now. They looked very scared and they are crying!” Hearing that, my mother just seemed to regain her energy and ran straight to the boy house and there we were, all five of us! Later, when asked what happened, my oldest sister said that she saw too many people running and she did not want any people to steal our clothes and appliances in the house, so she locked the door before she managed to take her four siblings to safety. In tears, she rubbed her head and smiled. My oldest sister was seven years old at the time! After the fire, we lost everything…again.

Later, my mother recounted, that afternoon, the school principal was kind enough to give us one of the empty classrooms for us to reside at the school. All teachers extended their helping hands and gave us clothes, foods for us to get through the night. They helped clean the room and tried to make it to look like a “house” as much as possible. We literally were “homeless” people, and our mother did not know what to do from there, but at the time, she had her children with her and that was the most important thing in her life right at the moment!

When I was two years old, I had severe fever, shallow breathing and total paralysis caused by a mosquito bite. Sadly for me the local Long Khanh hospital threw their hands up in futility as they were ill-equipped to deal with such a condition. The hospital urgently advised my mother to move me to Saigon Children's Hospital. At that time, the hospital did not have ambulance services so she was on her own to take care for me! My mother returned home and after asking her colleagues to take care for my siblings she set off with me helplessly in her arms on a rickety smoke belching bus. We arrived at Saigon Children’s hospital late that night.

When we got to the hospital, I was not able to be seen because the doctors and nurses were busy in the emergency room. The scene was so chaotic with children, babies and entire families sprawled in the hallway waiting for their turn. The air hung heavy with the desperate cries of mothers begging the personnel to save their children: “Please save my child” echoed loudly down the halls.

My mother tried desperately to find a gentle face, sympathetic nurse or doctor to check on me but they all seemed to be so busy! Looking at me with my eyes completely shut and my steaming body because of the fever, tears were streaming down from her face and she hugged me tightly. My mother realized that she needed to do something, otherwise, I would die that night. Spotting a physician who just walked out of the ICU, my mother ran to him and dropped to her knees at his feet, then cradling me with one arm she grabbed his foot with her free hand to catch his attention. At the time, she completely forgot who she was, she had no pride and her only mission right at the moment was to save her own daughter by all means! Either from shock or concern he gave his attention. She gave him the medical records from Long Khanh hospital and begged him to look at my helpless body. Luckily, he paused and reviewed the record and when he saw my last name “Cao Xuan…” his face lighted up and asked if we were related to the famous physician Cao Xuan Vy.

 Without hesitation, my mother said,Yes, he’s my uncle!” That reply was my way to recovery! I got admitted to the ICU right away and they had to give me blood transfusions. I received the best care by the doctors and the nurses. I still have the scars from that time because they had to try so many times to establish an intravenous line so they could give me blood as well as electrolytes and medications that I required.

My mother’s quick thinking and action saved me! I was not doctor Cao Xuan Vy’s niece at all, we just happened to have the same last name, my mother still felt very bad about lying but I’m thankful to her. I would not be here in this world without her quick action.

Eventually, I was able to recover and reunite with my siblings in Long Khanh. We continued with our struggle to survive. There were days we didn’t have enough food to eat, but my mother never gave up, she would do anything to make ends meet and also saved enough money and food to visit my father in the North. Each time, she had to leave her children to the relatives to care for us. My oldest sister and older brother were able to accompany her, leaving three younger children, including myself to our aunt and uncle. I was not able to see my father until I was eight years old when they moved my father to another “re-educational camp” in the South. The reunion was very emotionalbecause it was the first time that I ever seen my real father. In school I was always teased by classmates for not having a father around. Now I could finally tell my classmates that I indeed had a father! And he was a hero to me.

With the International pressure to rally the Communist Vietnamese government to release these military personnel, my father was finally released in 1989 after 14 years in prison! Despite going through the darkest days of his life in prison, my father was able to hold his head high for he had served our country and my family honorably. Now his focus was helping my mom raise their children.

We all were able to attend schools, but my older siblings were not allowed to attend college and university due to our “bad history” because my father was not one of them!

In time we migrated to the United States for a new start.  Through the support of the Vietnamese American Community, the United States government allowed over 300,000 political prisoners, including my father, to migrate with their families to the United States under the Humanitarian Operations (HO) program.

Although coming to the United States was a new beginning, our difficulties were not over.  As a teenager, being treated as an “outsider” because of my inability to speak English, was extremely difficult and often times very depressing.  However, through self-discipline, hard work, and determination, I taught myself English and continued to excel in my education.  I have never used my past or upbringing as an excuse to give up.  Quite the opposite; it has instilled in me the passion and drive to make a better life for myself, my family, and my community. I am honored and proud to be in a profession where I can serve my Vietnamese and Asian community.  Through my ability to give back, I am allowed to utilize my experience in healthcare to provide exceptional patient care, on a daily basis.  As an active member of many associations that cater to the Asian community, including my involvement with the Vietnamese Pharmacist Association, I have the opportunity to go above and beyond, which is a privilege I take very seriously. I have chosen a career that allows me the ability to make a difference in this world.  Because of my compassion and love for humankind and the welfare of others, I enjoy the daily reminder of the impact I strive to make.

Spring 2016

Christina Cao (aka Cao Xuan Thanh Ngoc)

****A note to Dr. Cao Xuan Vy***
“Dear Dr. Cao Xuan Vy, my mother-out of desperation and with the implication to save her daughter’s life, she used your name and reputation to get the hospital personnel’s attention to help me. Because of her quick action, I was able to survive and still be alive today! After my mother had told me about this story, I have been determined and committed myself to work in the medical field so I would have a chance to help others. If you are by chance, reading these words, I hope you will forgive us and please accept our greatest gratitude. I hope you are proud of who I have become and I promise that I will never let you down”


Bài liên quan:

- Buổi Vinh Danh Người Mỹ gốc Á - Asian Heritage Award 2016

- Christina Cao, Giám đốc Dược của 42 bệnh viện tại 14 tiểu bang

- Làm sao để trở thành dược sĩ tại Mỹ 

- Tuổi thở của tôi nơi miền đất đỏ Long Khánh