In a small rented room at 60 Hoi Nghia, Binh Co ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Gam (born in 1985) is almost always around her young son Ngo Minh Bao (22 months old). The cramped rented room, which was already bustling with laughter, has now become even quieter as most of the time the young mother has to stay in the hospital to take care of her child.
According to Ms. Gam, baby Bao was born healthy like any other child. When the baby was about 3 months and 10 days old, she took her child for vaccination, after which, the baby suddenly had convulsions. Panicked, the family took the child to a nearby health station for first aid and then quickly transferred him to Children's Hospital 2, Ho Chi Minh City. Here, doctors examined and discovered abnormalities related to the baby's brain.
Bao was treated for a long time, but the condition did not improve, and the seizures became increasingly severe. The family continued to be prescribed many tests. After examination, the baby was diagnosed with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, with TREX1 gene mutation, accompanied by bronchitis and slow development.
“When the doctor explained about my child's condition, my husband and I were very shocked. The doctor also said that my child's illness is very difficult to treat, there is drug resistance and some special medicines are outside the insurance list. Poor family, hearing those things makes us even more sad,” Ms. Gam choked up and recounted.
According to the family, baby Bao is currently under regular treatment and monitoring. Because he cannot swallow himself through his mouth, he has to eat through a tube. Since his child got sick, the life of Ms. Gam and her husband has also completely changed. Previously, Ms. Gam worked as a worker at a cashew processing company, and her husband, Mr. Ngo Minh Tuan (born in 1986), worked at a pellet production company. They also have an eldest child, Ngo Nguyen Tuan Kiet, 15 years old. The two of them work together, although life is still difficult, they still have income to cover the family and raise two children.
Since baby Bao fell ill, Ms. Gam was forced to quit her job to stay home to take care of her child. Mr. Tuan also had to ask for leave many times to take his child to the hospital with his wife. Because of continuous leave, Mr. Tuan could not continue his work, in the end, he had to quit completely and switch to working as a construction worker, a precarious job with unstable income.
Difficulties piled up when the baby's medical expenses each month amounted to more than 4 million VND; plus food money, living expenses for the family of 4... Small amounts of money accumulated into a big burden for the poor family. To have money to take their child to the hospital and buy medicine, Ms. Gam and her husband had to borrow from relatives, friends and acquaintances. Both families are in difficulty, and relatives are old, so they cannot provide much support.
Looking at my young child having to eat through the tube, I feel so sorry for her. My husband and I just hope to have more conditions to take care of medicine for our child, hoping that our child will recover. We don't know how much we can try, but there is still a way to treat our child, we still have to try," Ms. Gam said.
In the small rented room, the father still takes advantage of going to work every day when there is work, the mother puts aside work and personal plans to follow her child on the treatment journey. As for baby Bao, at an age that should be learning to speak, learn to walk and explore the world, he has to get used to long days in the hospital bed... The road ahead for the family is still full of hardships. The sharing of philanthropists and readers from near and far will be a source of encouragement to help Ms. Gam and her husband have more conditions to buy medicine, take care of and continue treatment for their child.
All help for life situation LD26222 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.
