The small house of Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tan (born in 1991), in group 6, hamlet 5, Song Ray commune (Dong Nai province), has rarely had enough laughter from her three children for many years. Most of the time, Ms. Tan lives in the hospital with her eldest son and youngest son, while her middle son has to live away from his mother, older brother and younger brother living with his maternal grandparents.
As a single mother, Ms. Tan does not have a stable job, she does whatever anyone hires her to do, but the days she can go to work can be counted on the fingers because almost all year round she has to be on duty by the hospital beds of her children.
Ms. Tan's pain began when her eldest son - baby Le Nguyen Minh Khang (born in 2012) got sick. When Khang was in 6th grade, he suddenly had severe headaches and could not walk. Ms. Tan immediately took her child to Children's Hospital 2 in Ho Chi Minh City for examination. The results shocked the mother when doctors determined that her child had a stroke.
After a period of intensive treatment, Ms. Tan took her child back to the locality for physical therapy with the hope that his health would gradually recover. However, the pain returned, becoming more and more intense. Minh Khang continued to be transferred to a higher level. After many in-depth examinations, doctors successively diagnosed him with resistant polyarthritis, adhesive spondylitis and arthritis. These diseases caused the boy's body to be constantly painful, making walking extremely difficult.
To limit damage and reduce prolonged pain, Minh Khang had to receive biological infusions outside the health insurance list. Each infusion cost about 11 million VND and must be performed periodically every two weeks.
Up to now, I have tried to arrange 11 rounds of IV drip therapy for my child. My child's condition has not improved, every day my child still has to endure the tormenting pain. Seeing my child in pain makes me helpless," Ms. Tan said choked up.
When the mother had not yet calmed down her worries for her eldest son, an upheaval continued to strike her youngest son Le Nguyen Minh Loc (born in 2020). Minh Loc was born healthy like any other child. However, when he was only 9 months old, he continuously had high fever and prolonged convulsions. The family took him to Dong Nai Children's Hospital for treatment, but his condition did not improve.
In early 2024, when Minh Loc just turned 4 years old, Ms. Tan continued to take her child to Children's Hospital 2 in Ho Chi Minh City to find the cause. After many tests, doctors determined that the baby had local epilepsy, and also discovered lymph nodes. Continuous seizures caused Minh Loc to be treated with many types of drugs. But before there was a change, he became allergic to anticonvulsant drugs leading to blood clotting disorders. After that, chronic tonsillitis caused him to have a persistent fever, forcing doctors to prescribe surgery.
For many months in a row, Ms. Tan almost lived in the hospital to take care of her children. Two children, two different diseases but both need long-term treatment, making the life of a single mother increasingly exhausted. Currently, Minh Khang is being treated at the Cardiology Department, and Minh Loc is being treated at the Neurology Department, Children's Hospital 2. Each month, Minh Loc's out-of-insurance drug money alone is more than 4.2 million VND. Meanwhile, Minh Khang has to receive biological infusions with a cost of about 22 million VND per month. The total cost of medicine for the two children, testing fees, hospital fees, travel and other arising expenses... makes Ms. Tan spin around and miserable.
If I don't have money, I borrow from neighbors, borrow from acquaintances, and sometimes even have to borrow hot money to buy medicine for my child. As long as there is hope, I can't bear to let go...", Ms. Tan shared tearfully.
To support their daughter, Ms. Tan's parents, despite their old age, still try to work. The meager money they earned, they saved up and sent it to the hospital for Ms. Tan to cover medicine for her two grandchildren, and at the same time help her child take care of the other grandchild, baby Le Nguyen Minh Phuc (born in 2017) in the countryside.
For many years, the hospital has become a familiar residence for Ms. Tan and her three children. Amidst all the difficulties, the single mother's biggest desire is not a fulfilling life, but only enough conditions for her children to continue treatment, reduce pain and have the opportunity to grow up like other children.
Ms. Tan's family really hopes to receive sharing and help from philanthropists and readers near and far to have more funds for treatment for their two children. Each support at this time will be a valuable source of encouragement, helping the children have more opportunities to overcome their illnesses, and at the same time adding strength for her to continue taking care of her children in the long journey ahead.
All help for life situation LD26188 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.
