In a small house in Nam Son hamlet, Lai Da village (Dong Hoi commune, Hanoi), the atmosphere of mourning still envelops after the sudden passing of Ms. Nguyen Thi Cuc (born in 1980) - nurse of the Department of Nephrology - Urology - Hemodialysis, Vietnam-Soviet Friendship Hospital. She passed away when she was still unborn, leaving behind two young children and elderly parents.
In early 2025, an unexpected event struck. Ms. Cuc - the main breadwinner in the house - suddenly suffered a brain hemorrhage and was taken to the emergency room in critical condition. Although she was treated with intensive care at the Stroke Center, Central Military Hospital 108, due to her severe illness, she fell into brain death. On January 12, 2025, the family was forced to accept the harshest truth: their daughter could not return...
In the most painful moment, Ms. Cuc's family made a very noble decision - fulfilling her will to donate organs to save others. The organ donation was carried out on the afternoon of January 12 at Central Military Hospital 108, bringing a chance of survival to many patients who are close to the boundary of life and death.
Few people know that, many years ago, Ms. Cuc had confided to her parents: "If something happens to you, I want to donate a part of my body to people who are more disadvantaged. Working in the medical field, I understand how meaningful that is". When the tragedy happened, her parents suppressed their grief to fulfill their daughter's last wish.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Cuc started working at the Vietnam-Soviet Friendship Hospital in 2001, attached to the nursing profession for more than 20 years. In addition to her hospital work, Ms. Cuc is also the main breadwinner in the family, raising two children of school age alone. Her husband goes to work far away, rarely is at home, all the burdens of making a living and taking care of children almost all fall on the shoulders of that woman. She saves every penny to take care of her family, does not dare to get sick, does not allow herself to rest...
Her two children - Nguyen Hieu Anh (16 years old) and Nguyen Minh Khanh (7 years old) are both obedient and studious. In particular, Minh Khanh is an excellent student, who once received a "Love" scholarship worth 30 million VND from Dong Hoi Elementary School.
Before the upheaval, Cuc was still concerned about her children's education, just hoping that in the future her children would become good people and live decently," Mr. Nguyen Dac Thuong - Ms. Cuc's father - shared.
Mr. Thuong and his wife, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Yen, are both nearly 80 years old. He suffers from cirrhosis of the liver and joints; Mrs. Yen has had a stroke and is often sick. The family mainly farms, income is precarious, currently only relying on social allowances of about 500,000 VND/month. After Ms. Cuc passed away, Mrs. Yen stood up to shoulder and take care of everything, in mounting pain...
His daughter has passed away, but in that endless pain, Mr. Thuong and Mrs. Yen still tell themselves to try to continue living - to raise their grandchildren to become good people and to preserve the memory of the daughter who lived a life of kindness, dedication and love. "No parents can stand seeing their children leave before them... But that is fate...", Mrs. Yen shared choked with emotion.
Talking to a reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Ngo Duy Dung - representative of Nam Son hamlet, Lai Da village - said that Ms. Nguyen Thi Cuc's family is a particularly difficult case in the locality. Ms. Cuc is the main breadwinner, raising two young children of school age alone. After she passed away, all economic burdens and life fell on the shoulders of her elderly and weak parents.
According to Mr. Dung, the local authorities and neighbors regularly visit and encourage the family within their means. However, due to the lack of stable income, while the two young children still need to continue going to school, the family's current situation is extremely difficult. "I really hope to receive attention and sharing from the community so that the family has more support, helping the children overcome difficulties and continue their studies," Mr. Dung said.
All help for Life Story LD26029 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.
