In a simple house deep in Hung Hien village, Thuong Tin commune (Hanoi), Mr. Le Hong Phong (born in 1971) is lying quietly on an old bed, his body thin after months of fighting against dangerous diseases. Next to him, Mrs. Le Phuong Hoa (48 years old) - the wife - is still on duty every day, taking care of her husband with all patience and constant worry.
At the end of 2023, unexpected events struck the family. Mr. Phong suddenly fell ill, his body quickly depleted, often tired, anorexic, and his skin pale. Thinking it was just a common disease, the family took him to the Agricultural Hospital for examination. After 2 days of treatment, doctors found the condition serious and immediately transferred him to the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.
Here, Mr. Phong was diagnosed with stage 4 blood cancer, accompanied by spinal cord failure - a severe stage of the disease, almost in the late stage. Treatment is very difficult, prognosis is cautious, requiring close monitoring and costly costs.
For nearly 2 months in the hospital, Mr. Phong had to undergo many intensive tests, infusions and special care. In a short time, treatment costs cost the family nearly 100 million VND, far exceeding the ability of a poor working family.
“Sometimes the doctor said the disease was in a very serious stage, I was very confused. But in front of my husband, I didn't dare to cry. I only dared to encourage him to try, and I myself secretly took care of every penny of hospital fees,” Ms. Hoa said choked up.
Before getting sick, Mr. Phong worked as a technology motorbike taxi driver, earning about 7 million VND/month. Ms. Hoa is a worker, with a salary of about 6 million VND/month. Although life is difficult, it is still temporarily enough to cover expenses. Since Mr. Phong got sick, the source of income has almost completely disappeared. Ms. Hoa is forced to take regular leave to be on duty to take care of her husband, causing income to become increasingly depleted.
The family has a son who is still in school, obedient, good at studying, understanding and always tries to help his parents with small things within his ability.
Not only worrying about her husband, Ms. Hoa herself is also being treated for bone and joint disease, her health has declined after a long time of staying up all night in the hospital. Trips back and forth between home and hospital, living expenses, and medicine make that woman sometimes exhausted, but still does not allow herself to collapse. "Sometimes I am very tired, aching all over my body, but looking at my husband lying in one place, I do not allow myself to collapse. As long as I have strength, I will try to take care of him that day...", Ms. Hoa shared.
Currently, the family is not eligible for social allowances, all living expenses and treatment costs fall on Ms. Hoa's shoulders.
Talking to a reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Le Tho Hai - Head of Hung Hien village, Thuong Tin commune, Hanoi city said that Mr. Le Hong Phong's family is one of the particularly difficult cases in the locality. Mr. Phong suffers from end-stage blood cancer, has to undergo long-term treatment with very high costs, while the family does not have a stable source of income and is not eligible for social allowances. All burdens fall on the shoulders of his wife.
According to Mr. Hai, in the past time, the locality has regularly grasped the situation, encouraged and supported the family within its ability. However, the cost of prolonged treatment exceeded the family's ability. "We really hope to receive attention and sharing from the community so that Mr. Phong's family has more conditions to continue treatment and overcome this particularly difficult period," Mr. Hai shared.
All help for life situation LD26026, 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.
