The life of Mr. Ngo Van The (born in 1988) and Ms. Bui Thi Chau (born in 1989), residing in Na village, Noi Bai commune, Hanoi, was peaceful even though the economy was not abundant. Both husband and wife are industrial park workers, with income just enough to cover living expenses and raise three children to study.
The incident happened in July 2025 when their second son, Ngo Quang Minh (born in 2013), suddenly fell ill.
Ms. Chau recounted that Minh was still going to school normally that day, but when he came home, he complained of headaches and nausea. Thinking that her child only had normal headaches, she gave him pain relievers.
However, when Minh vomited a lot and his neck became stiff, the family immediately took him to the hospital for examination. Initially, doctors diagnosed the boy with calcium deficiency.
After a period of calcium supplementation but the condition did not improve, the headache became increasingly severe, Ms. Chau and her husband took their child to another hospital for examination.
Minh was transferred to the National Children's Hospital and diagnosed with a brain ventricular-related disease. Doctors performed surgery to rupture the ventricular floor and after surgery, his health was temporarily stable and he could return to school.
But in October 2025, Minh continued to experience severe headaches. He was transferred to Central Military Hospital 108 for emergency surgery and abdominal ventricular drainage. After a week of treatment, Minh was discharged from the hospital but still had frequent headaches and vomiting.
The family continued to take him to Phuc Yen General Hospital for examination and was given pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs. 2-3 days later, Minh was discharged from the hospital, but only about a week later, the symptoms recurred.
By December 2025, Minh's condition became more serious when his hands and feet trembled, he could not swallow and often had a runny stomach. One night, Minh suddenly had severe headaches, vomiting 3 times in a row, so the family immediately took him to the emergency room.
On January 27, 2026, Minh was transferred to the National Children's Hospital in a state of loss of consciousness. Doctors determined that he had a drainage valve blockage and performed emergency surgery.
About an hour after surgery, while lying in the intensive care unit, Minh had to return to the operating room again because his body did not receive the drain, the pulse was weak, so the doctor was forced to remove the drain.
After that, Minh continued to be treated in the intensive care unit for a week. When transferred to the general treatment department, he developed convulsions, his limbs could not move, and he had to eat through a tube. Doctors continued surgery to re-implant the drain tube. To date, Minh has undergone 5 brain surgeries.
On March 12, doctors concluded that the child had a diffuse glioblastoma in the brain and needed long-term chemotherapy.
Since her child fell ill, Ms. Chau and her husband have been forced to quit their jobs to take care of their child. The eldest son was born in 2008, is in 12th grade, but because of difficult circumstances and his younger brother is seriously ill, he has asked to drop out of school to work seasonally, helping his parents with part of the family economy. The youngest daughter of the family is in 9th grade, preparing to take the 10th grade entrance exam.
Meanwhile, Ms. Chau's mother-in-law (born in 1959) is in poor health due to having just broken 2 legs, and is being attached with nails, so she cannot take care of her grandchild. Her father-in-law has passed away.
According to Ms. Chau, each month the family has to spend about 50 - 60 million VND on hospital fees, tests, medicine, travel and living expenses. Meanwhile, Minh's treatment process can last at least 72 months, depending on drug response and tumor progression.
The doctor said my child must be treated for a long time. I just hope my child will recover soon so that he can return to school like his friends," Ms. Chau choked up.
All help for life situation LD26059 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.
