We came to a small house located deep in an alley in Quoi An commune when the sky was almost at dusk. The house is old-fashioned with corrugated iron roofs, many places are degraded, and inside there are almost no valuable items. A family of 5 lives crowded in a cramped space, lacking everything.
Mr. Vo Thanh Tho (born in 1957) said that for many years he has suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to superinfection, his health has seriously declined, but he still tries to drive to pick up and drop off his grandchildren to school to save daily living expenses for the whole family.
According to Mr. Tho, about two weeks ago, on the way to take his grandchild home from school, he was hit by a falling coconut, causing him to fall off his motorbike, his left wrist ached and unable to move, and his left chest was injured, but he did not have money to go to the hospital for treatment.
Ms. Le Thi Dang (born in 1955) - Mr. Tho's wife - said that for many years, she has suffered from many diseases, her left hand has broken one bone, her right hand has broken two bones, so she can almost not hold or carry objects weighing more than half a kilogram.
According to Ms. Dang, when she came to Vinh Long General Hospital for examination, the doctor requested early hospitalization for surgery, but the family did not have enough money to pay hospital fees. "The day I went for examination, there were only 150,000 VND left in my pocket, so I asked for medicine to take and endured the pain until now," Ms. Dang choked up.
Ms. Dang added that in addition to the hand injury, she also suffers from severe arthritis, has to use a cane to walk and take blood pressure medication every day. The three grandchildren have been orphaned since childhood, currently in 9th, 4th and 2nd grades, and are all thin due to prolonged food shortages.
There are days when there is no rice left in the house, the grandparents have to borrow money from neighbors to make ends meet. The two young children are often malnourished, and the child in 9th grade has had dizziness, anemia and fatigue for many days but does not have the conditions for medical examination," Ms. Dang added.
Mr. Bay Hanh, a neighbor living near Mr. Tho's family, said that Mr. Tho's situation has been very difficult for many years because both husband and wife are sick but still have to raise three young grandchildren to study. According to him, neighbors around help with whatever they have, but only partially support.
Looking at the skinny children, many days without food, it's very heartbreaking. Grandparents are sick, but every day they try to take care of their grandchildren going to school," Mr. Bay Hanh shared.
Mr. Bay Hanh added that recently Mr. Tho's health has clearly declined after being hit by a falling coconut tree. Meanwhile, Ms. Dang is almost unable to work, so the life of the whole family is becoming more and more difficult than before.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy - Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the commune, Chairwoman of the Commune Women's Union - said that the locality regularly cares for and supports essential goods and mobilizes philanthropists to help families within the local capacity.
According to Ms. Thuy, Mr. Tho's family's circumstances are particularly difficult in the locality because they have prolonged illnesses and have to raise three orphaned grandchildren. "The children are still young but very studious, the locality always tries to create conditions for them to continue going to school," Ms. Thuy said.
Ms. Thuy added that in the coming time, the locality will continue to mobilize organizations and individuals to support additional treatment costs for the grandparents and help the children have conditions to stabilize their lives, avoiding the risk of having to drop out of school halfway.
All help for life situation LD26125 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. Vo Thanh Tho - Quoi An commune, Vinh Long province: Phone number: 035 3.639.763.
