These days, at Hue Central Hospital, Le Viet Minh Quan (born in 2021) lies curled up on the hospital bed, making many people feel heartbroken. At just over 4 years old, he has faced neuroblastoma cancer, which has metastasized to bones and bone marrow.
At the beginning of 2025, Quan continuously had a prolonged high fever. The family took him for testing and discovered severe anemia in all three blood streams: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Sensing something was wrong, relatives immediately took him to Hue Central Hospital. The following days were a series of dense tests, from bone marrow probes to in-depth examinations, in the anxiety of waiting of the whole family...
In March 2025, the family took Quan to the Ho Chi Minh City Blood Transfusion - Hematology Hospital for re-examination. Here, after many tests, the doctor concluded that he had neuroblastoma - one of the dangerous forms of cancer in young children. That result was like a "sentence" falling on a family already in difficulty.
Returning to Hue Central Hospital, Quan began a difficult treatment journey, chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy and continued prolonged chemotherapy sessions to this day. Each month, the treatment cost ranges from 30-40 million VND. Chemotherapy sessions caused his body to become exhausted, requiring continuous blood transfusions and platelet transfusions. There are drugs outside the insurance list, the family is forced to pay for a very large amount of money.
Seeing my child in pain after each chemotherapy session, crying all night but I can't do anything, I just hug my child and cry along...", Ms. Le Thi Bao Ngoc - baby Quan's mother - choked up.
What makes many people even more heartbroken is that Ms. Ngoc herself (born in 1990) - Quan's mother - is also suffering from a dangerous disease. She has stage 5 chronic kidney failure, and has to have dialysis 3 times a week to maintain her life. The complications of the disease have caused her to almost lose vision in one eye, and the other eye is also fading. The cost of each dialysis is from 2-2.8 million VND, while the social allowance she receives is only 750,000 VND/month.
Once a business employee at a hotel, Ms. Ngoc was forced to quit her job when her illness worsened and her son got sick. Since then, all economic burdens have fallen on her husband - Mr. Le Viet Tam (born in 1985). Working as a freelancer, doing whatever anyone hires him to do, Mr. Tam's income is about 10 million VND/month. That amount of money, he has to cover for the whole family, from living expenses and tuition fees of his eldest daughter to money for treatment for Ms. Ngoc and Quan.
There are times when I don't have any money left in my pocket, but my child has an IV drip schedule. I only know to borrow everywhere, as long as there is money to save my child...", Mr. Tam sadly shared.
At home, Le Hoang Viet Tran - the eldest daughter of Mr. Tam and Ms. Ngoc - who is in 6th grade, also understands things early. She both tried to study hard and helped her family, taking care of herself so that her parents could be assured to take care of her younger sibling.
Currently, Quan still has to be treated almost continuously, going to the hospital for 3 weeks each month, only being able to go home for short breaks. Although he can eat and drink, he has to eat ground food, his body is weak and often in pain after each course of medicine.
Talking to a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper, Ms. Doan Trang - Head of Residential Group 12, Kim Long Ward, Hue City - said that Le Viet Minh Quan's family is in particularly difficult circumstances in the locality.
The family's circumstances are very difficult when both mother and child are seriously ill. I really hope philanthropists and benefactors will care and join hands to help so that Quan has more opportunities to continue treatment and overcome his illness," Ms. Trang shared.
All help for life situation LD26088, 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.
