Previously, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ai Lam (born in 1993, residing in Hoa Chau ward, Hue City) had normal health, she worked as a garment worker with an income of about 5 million VND/month.
3 years ago, while pregnant with her second child, Ms. Lam's life suddenly turned in a different direction when abnormal signs appeared in her body.
At that time, when she was about 6 months pregnant with baby Tran Nguyen An Nhien (born in 2023), Ms. Lam's limbs were swollen and her body was tired. Through examination, doctors discovered that she had high blood pressure, abnormal test indicators and had to be transferred to Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital for in-depth examination. After many days of examination, she was diagnosed with lupus erythematosus, organ damage, accompanied by many problems with kidneys, blood pressure, blood fat and bones and joints.
Hearing the doctor say I had to be transferred to another hospital, I was only worried that my illness would affect the baby. Feeling sorry for my child and afraid that I would get many diseases, I was very confused...", Ms. Lam recalled.
After being hospitalized for about a month and a half, with many times her condition developed complicatedly, Ms. Lam was continuously transferred to Hue Central Hospital. Upon admission, her body was severely swollen, and many areas of skin developed red rashes. Faced with the risk of the health of both the mother and the fetus being affected, doctors decided to perform a cesarean section.
Baby An Nhien was born in weak health and had to use a ventilator at the Department of Pediatrics. Meanwhile, Ms. Lam also had to be actively treated. After surgery, she woke up 7 days later.
When I woke up, I was so weak that I couldn't sit up on my own. All activities at that time had to be supported by the nurse. I only thought about my child, not knowing if my child would be healthy when born," Ms. Lam said choked up.
After more than 20 days of treatment, Ms. Lam's health gradually stabilized. However, lupus and accompanying injuries prevented her from returning to her previous life. Currently, she mainly lies in one place and has to use special treatment drugs. On average, each month, the cost of medicine alone is about 2 million VND.
For more than 2 years, Ms. Lam has maintained periodic check-ups, some months her health is unstable, she has to go to the hospital 2-3 times.
While the mother struggled with illness, baby An Nhien was also frequently sick. Since birth, the baby has shown signs of shortness of breath, frequent coughing, wheezing and asthma, pneumonia.
Each month, poor families have to spend about 500,000-700,000 VND to buy medicine for their children. There are times when the weather changes, the baby has difficulty breathing and cries all night. Baby An Nhien also has otitis media, the child is being treated, the disease sometimes subsides but has now relapsed. More worryingly, An Nhien is malnourished, her weight is only around 10kg.
According to Ms. Lam, almost every week, the family has to take An Nhien to Hue Central Hospital for re-examination or to get medicine. When the disease is severe, the baby has to stay in the hospital for a few days for treatment. The family does not have a respirator. When the child has difficulty breathing, Ms. Lam has to ask neighbors to have a ventilator for the baby to use.
The burden on Ms. Lam's family is even greater when her husband - Mr. Tran Dinh Loi (born in 1993), currently works as a construction worker, with an income of only about 5 million VND/month. Ms. Lam and her husband also have their eldest daughter Tran Yen Nhi (born in 2016), currently in 5th grade.
Since Ms. Lam got sick, the family has had to borrow money from relatives, family and banks to have money for treatment, the total cost to date is estimated at about 400 million VND.
I just hope I have a little more health to take care of my children. I hope An Nhien will get less sick, gain weight, and not have to go to the hospital often anymore. The family is difficult, so every time my child is sick, I both feel sorry for my child and worry about where to get money for treatment," Ms. Lam said.
Talking to reporters, Mr. Dao Phuoc Truong, Head of Trung Thanh Neighborhood Group, Hoa Chau Ward (Hue City) said that Ms. Lam's family is currently facing many difficulties, and her life mainly depends on income from her husband's construction work.
In that situation, the sharing of philanthropists can become a support for Ms. Lam's family to have more conditions to treat their illness, accompany their two children and overcome the hard days ahead," Mr. Truong said.
All help for life situation LD26217, please send to Tam Long Vang Charity Social Fund - 51 Hang Bo, Hoan Kiem Ward, 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.
