These days, at the Oncology Department, Hue Central Hospital, Mai Thi Tuong Vi (17 years old) is being actively treated after a bone tumor relapsed and metastasized to the bone marrow. Cancer not only erodes her health but also pushes the already difficult family into exhaustion.
Looking at the thin girl lying on the hospital bed, few people know that before the disease was discovered, Vi was once a diligent student with many dreams ahead. However, an unexpected event caused her schooling path to be unfinished.
According to the family, at the age of 15, when preparing to enter the 10th grade entrance exam, Vi began to experience prolonged pain in her legs. Initially, the family thought she only had normal pain, so they took her to many places for examination but could not find the cause.
The pain became thicker and longer, continuously prolonged, making Vi's movement difficult. After many months of examination, doctors concluded that Vi had a bone tumor. Since then, the life of a teenage female student has been associated with hospitals, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and continuous re-examinations.
When I heard the doctor say my child had cancer, I was stunned. My child is too young, and is in the age of eating and studying. Looking at my child in pain, I don't know how to bear it," said Ms. Truong Thi Loang - Vi's mother, choked up.
Although illness struck, Vi still tried to complete the 10th grade entrance exam and then postponed the results to focus on treatment. The family always hoped that after his health stabilized, he would return to school like his peers. However, after a period of treatment, at the beginning of 2026, Vi's illness suddenly recurred.
Examination results showed that the tumor had metastasized to the bone marrow, making treatment much more difficult. Frequent pain caused Vi to eat poorly, and her body became increasingly exhausted.
Currently, Vi is being treated according to a new protocol at Hue Central Hospital. According to the family's sharing, doctors had previously considered the option of replacing the knee joint to help him improve his mobility. However, due to the complicated progression of the disease, treatment drugs have not responded as expected and the tumor has metastasized, so surgery is potentially risky.
Vi's father is Mr. Mai Anh (43 years old), a freelancer, doing whatever he is hired to do, with unstable income. His mother both sews at home and takes care of her children. The total income of the whole family is only about 3-4 million VND per month.
Since Vi was hospitalized for long-term treatment, Mr. Mai Anh has often had to take time off work to be on duty to take care of his children. At home, Ms. Loang both takes care of the other three children and tries to get more sewing work to have money to cover living expenses.
There were months when the cost of medicine, travel and living in the hospital exceeded the family's ability. We had to borrow from many places, but now we don't know how to manage...", Ms. Loang shared.
Despite difficult circumstances, Vi's parents still do not want to give up hope. They only hope that their daughter will have more opportunities to be treated, to continue living and one day be able to return to school.
On the hospital bed, Vi is less talkative than before. The pain makes her tired, eating very little. However, every time she mentions studying, the eyes of the little student still shine with hope.
I just hope to recover so I can continue studying like my friends," Vi shared.
Talking to a reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Van Cac - Head of Vien Trinh village, Phu Vang commune, Hue city said that Ms. Loang's family is classified as a poor household, especially difficult in the locality. Since Vi contracted a bone tumor and had to undergo long-term treatment, the family's economy has become even more difficult.
We really hope that philanthropists will pay attention and help so that Vi has more conditions to continue treatment, soon stabilize her health and return to school, and continue to pursue her unfinished dream," Mr. Cac shared.
All help for life situation LD26041 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.
