Living with the flood
At Nghinh Tuong school (Vo Nhai, Thai Nguyen), the image of teacher Tran Dinh Quyen (born 1977) diligently working on the lesson plan has become too familiar. But few people know that, hidden behind that teacher's shirt is a 2kg bag of filter fluid clinging to the teacher's body every hour, every minute.
More than 3 years ago, bad news struck when teacher Quyen was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure after 18 years of fighting diabetes. "When I heard the news, I was very scared. My child was still in university, the house was in debt, and the work was unfinished...", teacher Quyen recalled emotionally.
Instead of choosing to rest, he chose to "live with the flood". Because the hospital is too far and economic pressure, he chose the method of peritoneal dialysis right at school. His day starts at 5 am with the first epidemic session, followed by sessions at 10:30 am, 5 pm and 10 pm. Between those breaks are class hours, and flood-overcoming trips to visit students.
Originally from Thai Binh, having contributed 15 years in the Dien Bien highlands before returning to Thai Nguyen, teacher Quyen considers the podium as the meaning of life. However, the terrible disease is eroding both the health and economy of his family. Each month, the cost of medicine and supplies for him is about 11-12 million VND, although health insurance has paid 80%. For nearly a year, the meager teacher's salary has been the only financial source for him to both treat his illness and take care of his family. Currently, the total debt of the teacher has reached more than 500 million VND.
His wife is also a kindergarten teacher, working 92km away from where he teaches. All year round, he only dares to take advantage of visiting home once because of his weak health and the distance is too far beyond his ability to bear. Difficulties piled up, especially in the winter in the highlands: "The epidemic is too cold or too warm to enter the body, it's inappropriate, painful and extremely inconvenient, but I still have to try" - he shared.
There were times when he was infected, heartbreaking pain rushed right in the middle of the teaching session, he still tried to endure it because he did not want the lecture to be interrupted. Only when night fell, unable to get up, did he ask colleagues to take him to Bach Mai hospital (Hanoi) for emergency treatment.
Sharing about teacher Quyen's situation, teacher Do Duc Tuan - Vice Principal of Nghinh Tuong Primary School (Thai Nguyen) said: "Teacher Quyen is not only a passionate teacher but also an extraordinary willpower that we admire. Despite difficult circumstances, he still chooses to stick with highland students instead of resting. The school really hopes the community will help so that he can soon have funds for kidney transplants, helping a dedicated teacher not to leave the blackboard and chalk halfway.
Aspiration to sow letters and belief in miracles
Although suffering from a serious illness, what moved teacher Quyen the most was not his own pain, but the eyes of the students in the highlands. "There are days when it rains and floods, I wear a 2kg liquid bag on my body, it feels very heavy. But seeing the children still overcome the flood to go to school, I have more motivation to continue.
When asked about his biggest dream, he did not wish for a wealthy life, he only wished for a miracle to have a successful kidney transplant. "If I could have surgery, the first thing I want to do is continue to be a teacher, continue to guide the students here.
That dream, for a teacher who is burdened with a debt of half a billion VND and is exhausted, seems too far away without the joint efforts of the community. Teacher Quyen is still fighting against illness every day, every hour with all the will of a teacher, with the iron belief that: "You must always try to overcome all storms of life".
All help for life situation LD26061, 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.
Or contact directly: Mr. Tran Dinh Quyen, Teacher of Nghinh Tuong Primary School, Nghinh Tuong commune, Thai Nguyen province. Phone number: 0349931499
Account number: 8504215028300 Account holder: Tran Dinh Quyen Bank: Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Agribank
