In a small, old rented room on Nguyen Van Linh street, Huong An ward, Hue city, Ms. Truong Thi Tam (born in 2002) almost spends all her time with her eldest son, baby Ha Van Tien Dat (born in 2022). Since her child contracted a serious illness, the young mother has had to put aside her work as a worker with a salary of about 5 million VND/month to stay home to take care of her two young children, especially Tien Dat.
Ms. Tam's husband - Mr. Ha Van Tuan (born in 1990) - works as a construction worker, with unstable income. Although he often has headaches and aches in his hands and feet after hard working days, Mr. Tuan still tries to work because that is the main source of income to cover medicine and milk for his children and the living expenses of the whole family.
According to Ms. Tam, Tien Dat was born at Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital. When he was just over one month old, the baby often cried at night, breathing abnormally fast. Through examination and heart ultrasound, doctors discovered that the baby had congenital heart disease, pulmonary valve stenosis and ventricular septal defect. Tien Dat was urgently transferred to Hue Central Hospital for intensive treatment.
When the doctor announced that my child had congenital heart disease, I was stunned. I couldn't eat for several days, and couldn't sleep either, I was just afraid my child would not survive," Ms. Tam recalled with emotion.
In early 2023, Tien Dat underwent heart surgery lasting nearly two hours. Fortunately, the surgery was successful, Tien Dat overcame the critical condition. However, the boy's condition has not yet ended due to pulmonary valve stenosis that could not be completely intervened. After surgery, the baby continuously had high fever, prolonged cough and was diagnosed with severe pneumonia. Continuous complications caused Tien Dat to suffer from malnutrition, whole-body muscle atrophy, slow development, brain nerve damage, unable to speak, unable to recognize his parents and almost only lying in one place...
Looking at my child is very heartbreaking. My child is still too young but has suffered from many diseases. I just hope my child is getting better every day so that the family has more hope...", Ms. Tam said sadly.
For more than four years, Ms. Tam's family's life has almost revolved around the hospital. Whenever her child shows abnormal signs, the couple rushes to take her to the hospital. On days when her child's health is stable, she stays at home to take care of her child according to the doctor's instructions.
Currently, Tien Dat still has to use heart medication and asthma medication every day. Specific medication alone costs about 4 million VND per month. Doctors said that the baby needs to maintain long-term treatment, if he stops taking medication, the risk of complications is very high.
Up to now, Ms. Tam's family has spent more than 150 million VND to treat their child's illness. All the money has been borrowed from relatives, family and banks. For a family that only relies on irregular construction worker salaries, debt is becoming an increasing burden.
Talking to a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Van Chi Hoa - Head of Residential Group 12, Area 5, Huong An Ward, Hue City - said that Mr. Tuan and Ms. Tam's family are in difficult circumstances in the locality: "Prolonged treatment for baby Tien Dat has made the family's economy increasingly exhausted. We hope philanthropists and readers of Lao Dong Newspaper will pay attention and join hands to support so that the baby has conditions to continue treatment and reduce the burden on the family.
All help for life situation LD26160, 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.
