The family of Ms. Dang Thi Thanh (born in 1972) and Mr. Vo Van Phuoc (born in 1965), residing in Dia Linh village, Hoa Chau ward, Hue city. Mr. Phuoc and Ms. Thanh have 6 children. Among them, two sons, Vo Van Tai (born in 2007) and Vo Van Quan (born in 2009), unfortunately suffered from dangerous diseases from a young age.
For many years, the family's life has almost revolved around hospital trips, long prescriptions and worries about food and clothing, and hospital fees.
According to Ms. Thanh, when giving birth to Tai, in the first months everything was still normal. However, at about 6 months old, Tai began to show abnormal signs such as a listless face, frequent crying, stiff limbs and convulsions.
Worried about their son, the family took him to many places for examination before being transferred to Hue Central Hospital. After examination, doctors diagnosed Tai with cerebral palsy accompanied by epilepsy.
A month of her son being treated at the Department of Pediatrics of Hue Central Hospital was a time Ms. Thanh could never forget. At that time, her son almost only drank milk, his health was very weak and he had to be closely monitored at the hospital many times.
When I heard the doctor say my child had cerebral palsy, I was stunned. I only knew to hug my child and cry because I felt so sorry for him...", Ms. Thanh recalled.
Since then, Tai's life has been associated with medicine and hospitals. Currently, he still has to use many special medicines related to epilepsy, sleep support, pain relief and treatment of neurological complications.
Due to prolonged illness, Tai's limbs are increasingly contracted, and movement is almost impossible. All daily activities from eating, personal hygiene to changing clothes depend on his mother. Every 3 months, his family takes Tai to rehabilitation facilities for exercise. When the disease becomes severe, he has to be hospitalized for 10 days to half a month for treatment.
The incident continued to happen when Ms. Thanh's youngest child, Vo Van Quan, was also diagnosed with cerebral palsy right from birth.
Luckier than his older brother, Quan did not have epilepsy but his legs were atrophied and his mobility was limited. All of his daily activities also needed regular support from his family. At the age of 11, Quan suddenly developed shortness of breath and abnormally swollen abdomen. Examination results at Hue Central Hospital showed that he had severe kidney failure and enlarged liver. At that time, Quan had to stay in the hospital for continuous treatment for a month. After being discharged, the doctor asked the family to take him for weekly re-examination. In recent years, Quan's health has become somewhat more stable but he still has to use special medicine regularly with a cost of about 1.5 million VND/month.
For nearly 20 years of caring for two children with dangerous diseases, Ms. Thanh and her husband spent nearly 1 billion VND on treatment. All the money was saved from hard work and loans from relatives, family, and banks.
Previously, Ms. Thanh did hired jobs, with an income of only about 70,000 VND/day. Since her two children were constantly sick, Ms. Thanh was forced to quit her job to stay home and take care of her children full-time.
There are nights when my two children are tired together, I almost stay up all night to comfort the grandchildren. I just hope my children are less in pain and have the health to continue living. No matter how difficult it is, my husband and I can't bear to let go...", Ms. Thanh choked up sharing.
Currently, all economic burdens fall on Mr. Vo Van Phuoc's shoulders. The 61-year-old father is still diligently working as a hired driver. Many days he starts working from 1 am and returns home almost the next morning, earning about 6 million VND/month.
Many nights lying down thinking about my children and unable to sleep. I just hope I still have the health to go to work, and still be able to take care of my children," Mr. Phuoc said.
Fortunately, the remaining children of Mr. Phuoc and his wife are all obedient, diligently learn a trade, and go to work to help their parents partly cover their lives.
Nearly 20 years of accompanying their children's illnesses, what Mr. Phuoc and his wife desire most is not a full life, but simply that their children have more health, so that the family can continue to nurture hope for peaceful days ahead...
Talking to a reporter of Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Nguyen Huu Phong - Head of Dia Linh village, Hoa Chau ward (Hue City) said that Ms. Thanh's family is in particularly difficult circumstances in the locality. For many years, the family has had to struggle to treat two children with dangerous diseases. "We really hope that philanthropists, organizations and readers near and far will pay attention and support so that the family has more conditions to continue treating the children," Mr. Phong shared.
All help for life situation LD26145, 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.
