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After a 35-year career as a DCI equipment technician, To Nguyen retired at the end of March. To overcame many hardships in his native country and focused on helping others throughout his career. To grew up in Hue, a small village by the river in the middle of Vietnam. He studied horticulture, agriculture and French before working as a landscaper and tutor for wealthy families to make ends meet. 

When the Vietnam War began, To joined the Army of South Vietnam, fighting alongside the United States from 1970 to 1975. During his service, he worked as a veterinarian to care for the Army dogs, eventually earning a Lieutenant ranking. He had the chance to leave Vietnam when the U.S. military departed, but decided to stay and continue helping South Vietnam. The war ended, and he was captured as a prisoner of war, forcing him to give his pet dogs to monks. He was taken to a re-education camp deep in the jungle where he spent nearly two years doing hard labor and surviving on one bowl of rice per day. He eventually fled with a group of people from the camp. 

After his escape, To faced several years of housing insecurity and homelessness. He stayed with friends when he could despite putting them in potential danger, as they were considered to be harboring a fugitive. He tried to get to Thailand by boat and suffered many failed attempts. 

A fortune teller who ended up being his future father-in-law helped To change the course of his life. His fortune told him that he had elements of bold and brave tiger and fire energy, and that fleeing Vietnam by water would not work for him. The reading gave To the courage he needed to make his successful escape by walking through Cambodia. To traveled from Cambodia to Thailand by boat, set up a refugee camp there, and was designated a refugee leader. Using books and dictionaries provided by the American Red Cross, he taught himself English. He spent a few years at the camp guiding and helping refugees from Cambodia, Vietnam and as far away as China. 

To eventually journeyed to America, following his wife who had immigrated a few years ahead of him to Harrisburg, Pa. When he arrived and looked for her, he learned she had moved on, thinking he had died in Vietnam after not hearing from him for several years. To was discouraged and saddened, but determined to create a better life. He worked at a fast food restaurant and as a veterinary technician while attending community college in his spare time. 

For passionate, big-hearted To, this just wasn’t enough. He longed to help people, and became frustrated with what he was doing. “I wanted to serve people, I wanted to do good work,” he said. That’s when he saw a job posting in a newspaper for a DCI dialysis technician. 

To was determined to pursue this opportunity and purchased a run-down car for $400 and woke up at 4 a.m. to drive to Philadelphia for his interview with Dialysis Clinic, Inc., and Dr. Levinson. To was hired and started at DCI in December 1986. He eventually re-married and had two daughters, and has been working at DCI ever since.