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The Quest for a Princess: A Mother’s Sacred Journey to Find Her Four Daughters

28 November, 2024

The story of a mother of quadruplets has gone viral on social media, with people admiring not only the four girls but also the mother’s unwavering journey of pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. The four daughters are currently studying in the US, and the mother has moved abroad to be closer to them. Thanh Nien met with the father of the four girls in District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, to learn more about their story.

A Couple’s Journey to Parenthood

The mother, Ms. Yen Linh (58), and her husband, Dr. Pham Van Tan (62, retired), got married in 1995. They planned to start a family in 1997, but despite their efforts, they couldn’t conceive naturally. Ms. Linh was diagnosed with ovarian cysts and underwent surgery to improve her chances of pregnancy. However, four years later, the couple still hadn’t conceived, so they decided to try artificial insemination.

Ms. Linh tried intrauterine insemination first, but when that didn’t result in a pregnancy, they opted for in vitro fertilization. This required frequent hospital visits, so she left her job and started a business to earn an income while continuing her “journey to find her children.”

Ms. Linh with her four daughters when they were young

Their four daughters are named Mai, Lan, Cuc, and Truc, with their full names being Pham Nguyen Linh Mai, Pham Nguyen Linh Lan, Pham Nguyen Linh Cuc, and Pham Nguyen Linh Truc. These four little princesses are now all grown up at 23 years old.

Doctors informed the couple that the probability of pregnancy for each embryo was around 25%, so they usually transferred four embryos. Ms. Linh’s journey was never easy, and she constantly worried about miscarriage, having witnessed the struggles of others undergoing the same process. During her time at Tu Du Hospital, Dr. Tan was by her side, caring for her and even carrying her to examinations and tests across the hospital.

“In the first month after embryo transfer, the doctor informed us that there were two heartbeats, one of which was faint. The second month, we were told there were three heartbeats, which scared me as a multiple pregnancy comes with many concerns. We decided to continue with the pregnancy and went home to prepare. However, in the fifth month, I experienced heavy bleeding and had to be hospitalized. To our surprise, the doctor then detected four heartbeats,” Ms. Linh recalled.

The Overwhelming Joy of Motherhood

Aware of the risks associated with multiple pregnancies, Ms. Linh cried her heart out, fearing for her children’s well-being. With her husband and the doctors’ support, she stayed in the hospital to ensure the best care for her pregnancy until it was time to deliver the babies.

Ms. Linh’s challenging journey to motherhood

The couple had planned to deliver the babies on October 20, 2001, but Ms. Linh’s water broke four days earlier, and she had to undergo an emergency C-section. The girls were born with weights of 2 kg, 1.95 kg, 1.9 kg, and 1.4 kg, respectively.

“I couldn’t see my babies right away as they were in the neonatal care unit, and I hadn’t yet experienced the sacred feeling of motherhood. The pain from the surgery and the anxiety of waiting to meet my children were overwhelming. Finally, the hospital staff brought the babies to me one by one, and I burst into tears. There were no words to describe the joy I felt at that moment. All the worries and fears I had carried throughout my pregnancy suddenly vanished,” Ms. Linh shared.

As the smallest baby, Truc had difficulty breastfeeding, so Ms. Linh, already weak from the surgery, had to rely on her sister to help care for Truc. Though it pained her, she left Truc in the hospital for a month while the other three sisters went home.

With the support of her husband, a doctor, and their dedicated helpers, Ms. Linh’s burden of caring for four infants was somewhat eased. However, she was so busy and concerned about their every meal and sleep that she forgot to savor the sweetness and cuddles of having young children.

Dr. Tan has been a strong support for his wife in raising their daughters.

Time flew by, and the girls grew up surrounded by their parents’ love. When they turned 17, they expressed their desire to study abroad, and their parents agreed, investing all their energy and finances to make this happen. Ms. Linh also moved abroad to be closer to her daughters. Lan has now graduated from university, and the other three are expected to complete their studies soon.

“Ever since I became a mother, my greatest wish has been for my children to be healthy. As they grew up, I hoped for their happiness and for them to love and care for each other. These are the simple yet profound hopes of a mother,” Ms. Linh shared.

The four sisters are now young adults studying in the US.

Reflecting on her life, Ms. Linh shared, “I often asked myself, ‘Why am I here?’ After much contemplation and experiencing the ups and downs of life, I answered my own question: ‘I am here to be happy.’ Even now, I wish for my own happiness and that of my loved ones and everyone around me. For me, true happiness is impossible if those around me are not happy.”

“At this moment, I still hope for my own happiness and that of my family and everyone. Because I can’t be happy if the people around me are not happy”

Ms. Yen Linh, 58 years old

Dr. Tan vividly remembers his wife’s challenging pregnancy and the physical discomfort she endured due to her small frame carrying four babies. He took on the role of caregiver, managing his work at the hospital while wholeheartedly supporting his wife.

“The doctor told me that with multiple pregnancies, it’s advisable to reduce the number of fetuses to minimize risks to both mother and children. However, I firmly believed that our children would be fine, so we decided to keep all four. I never expected that, in the final months, an ultrasound would reveal a fourth baby. Though it has been challenging financially, every time I come home, I am greeted by the laughter of my four daughters,” Dr. Tan shared.

The four sisters always support and love each other.

Lan, the second daughter, shared her thoughts about her mother: “My mother is a meticulous caregiver, ensuring that all four of us are well-fed and taken care of. From a young age, we were aware of the hardships our mother endured to bring us into this world, and we hold a special place in our hearts for her. She has always been open to sharing her thoughts with us, especially when we entered adolescence.”

Dr. Tan occasionally visits his daughters abroad.

“She listens to all our concerns and confides in us. My parents have gone through so much financially and emotionally to raise us and provide us with a happy and fulfilling life. On this 20th of October, I wish my mother good health and peace. Thank you, Mom, for never giving up on loving, caring for, and educating us. We love you forever,” Lan expressed.