For more than 4 months now, the hospital room at the Respiratory Department, Hue Central Hospital has almost become a familiar residence for Ms. Phan Thi Viet Kieu (born in 1996). Every day, the young mother quietly sits by the hospital bed, taking care of every meal and sleep for her youngest child, baby boy Nguyen Phan Duc Hieu (born in 2023).
Few people would have thought that not long ago, baby Hieu was still a healthy, innocent child like many young children of his age.
The incident happened when baby Hieu was about 18 months old. Once, unfortunately falling into the river, he fell into prolonged drowning. Despite the efforts of his family and doctors to save him, the accident left serious consequences. Lack of oxygen to the brain caused baby Hieu to suffer serious brain damage, leading to cerebral palsy, epilepsy, severe pneumonia and almost complete loss of consciousness.
From a child who knew how to play, he had to lie in one place, all activities depended on his relatives. Currently, he no longer has the ability to eat normally and has to be fed through a gastric tube due to loss of chewing and swallowing ability.
Seeing her child lying motionless on the hospital bed, Ms. Kieu could not hide her tears.
Just hoping my child opens his eyes to look at me, reacting to everyone as before is also very happy," Ms. Kieu said choked up.
To have time to take care of her child, Ms. Kieu was forced to quit her job. Previously, she worked as a garment worker, but since her child had an accident, all her time has been spent in the hospital and prolonged treatment courses. The economic burden now falls on the shoulders of Mr. Nguyen Van Phi Rip (born in 1994) - Ms. Kieu's husband. Mr. Rip is a garment worker with an income of about 8 million VND/month.
In addition to earning money to cover living expenses, Mr. Rip also has to take care of his eldest son, baby Nguyen Phan Duc Nhan (4 years old), in a small rented room in alley 109 Minh Mang, Thuy Xuan ward, Hue city instead of his wife.
Although still young, Duc Nhan is very obedient and understanding. During the days his mother was in the hospital taking care of him, the boy only knew how to call to ask about him and then quietly stayed at home with his father.
There was a day when my child missed his mother so much but still didn't cry, only asked when his mother would come home. Seeing my child like that, my wife and I felt even more sorry for the children," Mr. Rip shared.
More than 4 months of continuous treatment for her child has put Ms. Kieu's family's economy in dire straits. To date, the cost of treating baby Hieu's illness has reached 36 million VND, not including off-book medicine, living expenses, travel expenses and other arising expenses... Meanwhile, both paternal and maternal families are in difficult circumstances, so they can only provide partial support. Many current expenses are mainly based on the father's meager worker salary and loans from relatives and friends.
Every day that passes is another day for Ms. Kieu and her husband to anxiously hope that their child's condition will improve more positively.
We just hope our child has a chance to recover, even just a little bit. As long as there is hope, my husband and I will try our best for our child," Ms. Kieu said sadly.
The unexpected accident completely changed the life of the small family. From ordinary workers, they now have to face a long and arduous journey to win the opportunity to live and recover for their 3-year-old son.
The sharing of philanthropists at this time will be a great source of encouragement, helping the family have more conditions to continue treating baby Nguyen Phan Duc Hieu, igniting hope for a child who unfortunately encountered adversity from the early years of life...
All help for life situation LD26158 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.
