We found a temporary house located deep in a small alley in Quang Minh hamlet, Quoi An commune, where the two mothers and daughters are staying with relatives. The cramped room, low corrugated iron roof, hot and stuffy, is where they survived the days of illness surrounding them.
The thin woman is Ms. Nguyen Thi Oanh (born in 1974), and the pale girl sitting leaning against the wall is Nguyen Thi Hong Tham (born in 1997). Both have stage 3 cancer, and are fighting against the disease every day.
With a weak voice, Ms. Oanh recounted that in the early 2010s, family happiness broke down. She took her daughter alone to Vinh Long City (before the merger) to rent a room to live, starting a struggled life.
Tham applied to work at a medical facility, while Ms. Oanh received outsourcing clothes to sew right in her rented room. Life was precarious, but the two mothers and daughters relied on each other, saving every penny with the hope of a peaceful day.
In September 2023, Ms. Oanh was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. "When the doctor said the disease, I was shocked, unable to believe it. The treatment cost to date is nearly 300 million VND, all of which is savings and borrowed money," Ms. Oanh choked up.
At that time, her daughter was still working, bearing the cost of living and helping her mother with her treatment. "I just hoped to recover soon so that my child would suffer less, but unexpectedly, before I could, disaster struck my child's head," Ms. Oanh said, her eyes red.
In early 2025, Ms. Tham was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer. From being the only support, she became a patient. "At that time, I was stunned, not knowing where to cling to," the mother recounted.
From the beginning of the year to October 2025, Tham's treatment costs have exceeded 200 million VND. Ms. Oanh sold everything left, borrowed nearly 200 million VND from relatives and then brought her child to live in her younger brother's temporary house.
In recent months, Tham's health has deteriorated rapidly. Severe abdominal pain prevented her from sleeping. At night, she could only sit curled up, holding a bag of hot water, enduring pain that lasted until morning.
The doctor said we have to continue chemotherapy, but no one dares to say how many times it will last. Depending on each person's health, we don't know how the disease progresses," Ms. Oanh said, her voice trembling with fear.
Mrs. Sau Mai, a neighbor, sadly said: "Before, seeing her and her child living relying on each other was also happy. Now the diseases are piling up, looking at the child in pain but the mother is helpless, everyone who sees it cannot hold back tears.
According to Ms. Mai, neighbors can only help each fish, bunch of vegetables or a few hundred thousand VND. "The cost of medicine each month is too high, no one in the poor can afford it," Ms. Mai sighed.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy - Chairwoman of the Women's Union of Quoi An commune said that the situation of Ms. Oanh and her child is particularly difficult in the locality, without land, without income, and having to be treated for cancer at the same time.
According to Ms. Thuy, the Association has mobilized and connected to support many times, but resources are very limited. "The monthly treatment costs are too high, while the family is almost depleted," Ms. Thuy shared.
In the temporary house, the meal of the two mothers and children is sometimes just boiled vegetables, a small fish shared by neighbors. Amidst persistent physical pain and the amount of money for medicine that they don't know when it will stop, they can only try to live through each day.
All help for life situation LD26025, please send to Tam Long Vang Charity Social Fund - 51 Hang Bo, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi. Account number (STK) 113000000758 at Vietinbank Hoan Kiem Branch, Hanoi; Account number: 0021000303088 - at Vietcombank Hanoi Branch; Account number: 12410001122556 - at BIDV Hoan Kiem Branch.
Or contact directly Ms. Nguyen Thi Oanh, Quang Minh hamlet, Quoi An commune, Vinh Long province. Or via phone number: 0901.092.554
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