James was introduced to Thanh Thi by her relative. Seeing Thi's energetic photos on social media, James immediately messaged her.

After his divorce 13 years prior, the 40-year-old James had lost faith in love. He considered this a casual acquaintance. But after 10 days of chatting, he unexpectedly felt a strong desire to meet Thi in person. "I felt like we had a connection from a past life. I was afraid I'd lose the opportunity if I didn't meet her soon," James said.

A month later, James invited Thi on a trip to Phu Quoc. The Binh Duong native agreed on the condition that her grandmother could come along. "I also told him that in Vietnam, couples can't be intimate before marriage," Thi said. James agreed to both requests, albeit with some surprise.

Upon their first meeting, both were surprised by the other's appearance. Thi was even more beautiful and gentle than in her photos. Conversely, Thi's first impression of James was that he "looked quite old and overweight," but after talking, she found "a warm heart behind that exterior."

James and Thi during their trip to Phu Quoc in 2023. Photo provided by the couple

James and Thi during their trip to Phu Quoc in 2023. Photo provided by the couple

During the trip, James opened up to Thi about his failed marriage and the loneliness of being a single father. "Every night when I came home, beer was my only companion," he said.

He didn't expect that Thi also carried her own emotional scars. Her parents separated before she was born. She left school after 10th grade to work and support her grandmother, who had raised her since birth.

Feeling a connection, James was particularly impressed by Thi's character. She often chose inexpensive restaurants so "he wouldn't have to spend too much." During meals, she poured water and peeled shrimp for her grandmother and her new friend. "I've met many people, but never anyone like Thi. She makes me want to nurture this relationship with all my heart," James said.

A week later, James proposed. He video-called his parents and son, telling them he wanted to marry this woman and heal their past wounds together.

Thi accepted his proposal, touched by his sincerity. But she hesitated to publicize her relationship with a foreigner 13 years her senior, whom she had known for less than 10 days.

"He sensed that. And instead of blaming me, he chose to change himself to make me proud," Thi said.

At the time, James weighed 265 pounds and had previously suffered a stroke due to obesity. Seeing a photo of himself with Thi in Phu Quoc, the difference in their physique and age became stark, prompting James to make a change.

He gave up all fast food, switching to nuts and vegetables, and researched gym exercises through online videos. Every trip to the supermarket became a struggle between cookies and nut milk, beer and oatmeal. "I never thought I'd read food labels so carefully," he said.

Creating a home workout plan with weekly weight loss goals, James consistently sent photos of his body, weight, and waist measurements to Thi. In return, she sent encouraging messages, videos of her learning English, and clips of her gym workouts. "Receiving his photos felt like receiving gifts," Thi said.

During the first three months, there were days when his body ached so much that James considered giving up. But each time he remembered the eyes of the woman in Vietnam, he found the motivation to continue.

A year later, James had lost 77 pounds. He shaved his beard and paid more attention to his appearance and clothing. He was not only healthier but also regained his confidence and vitality, something he thought he had lost over the past 13 years.

James and Thi at their wedding in 2024. Photo provided by the couple

James and Thi at their wedding in 2024. Photo provided by the couple

James's mother, Pam Hodgson, was moved by her son's transformation. "I haven't seen him this happy and full of life in years," she said. Learning the reason, she wrote a letter and sent gifts to Thi in Vietnam. In the letter, she called Thi her "daughter" and thanked her for helping her son change.

Thi didn't think she had changed his life. "It's love that makes both of us better every day," she said.

With her boyfriend's encouragement, Thi pursued cosmetology, a field she had loved since childhood, and studied English daily. James researched and explained anything she didn't understand. Separated by half the world, they saw self-improvement as a way to nurture their love.

In 11/2024, James returned to Vietnam. Thi almost didn't recognize the tall, trim, and radiant man who emerged from the airport. "He looked 10 years younger and much more handsome," she said.

Seeing James's quiet year-long effort, she knew she could place her lifelong trust in him.

Their simple wedding took place in Vietnam at the end of last year. James wanted to bring Thi's grandmother to the US, knowing how important she was to his wife. But Thi's grandmother declined, fearing the American cold. Due to visa complications, Thi hasn't been able to join her husband yet, so James flies back to visit her every three months.

Despite the distance, the American man's life still revolves around his wife. He video calls her daily, takes care of her needs from afar, and waits for the day they can be reunited.

"When we're in America, we'll have lovely children. And I'll tell them about their father's journey of striving for love," she said.

Pham Nga