We came to Nguyen Tan Can's temporary shack located deep in the middle of the field in Thanh Tri commune, Vinh Long province. In the midday sun, the dilapidated shack appeared in the deserted land. The pale face and thin body of the 19-year-old boy made anyone who witnessed it feel sad.
Tragedy has haunted me since childhood. My father passed away when I was two years old, my mother remarried, leaving me in the care of my maternal grandparents. Difficult circumstances forced me to drop out of school at the age of 13 to work as a hired laborer, helping my family earn a living.
Thinking that difficulties would pass, but in September 2025, Can was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. Although treated many times at provincial-level hospitals and transferred to Ho Chi Minh City for surgery, his health was still unstable.
The prolonged treatment process quickly ran out of the family's meager money. The cost of medicine, travel and living each time they were hospitalized became a heavy burden, forcing the family to look forward to help from the community.
According to the medical record, Can was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis, complications of pneumothorax and pleural effusion in the left lung. During treatment, she had to have a pleural drain inserted and was hospitalized for monitoring many times. At the beginning of 2026, she continued to cough up blood, and the re-examination results showed that her right lung was atrophied, requiring long-term treatment and monitoring.
Nguyen Tan Can said that what hurts him the most is not the pain caused by illness, but the feeling of helplessness when seeing his grandparents getting older and weaker but still having to work hard to take care of himself. Every time he has a re-examination or hospitalization, he is worried because he knows his family no longer has savings.
The 19-year-old boy only hopes to have enough conditions to continue his treatment, soon recover to go to work, help his grandparents and realize his dream of having a solid home for his loved ones who have sacrificed their whole lives for him.
Sitting next to his granddaughter, Mr. Le Van Det could not hide his emotion when mentioning Can's situation. According to him, since he was young, he lacked the love of his parents, and now he is seriously ill. The family has borrowed money from many places for treatment, but resources are almost depleted.
Mr. Det said that due to his old age and declining health, fishing nets are only enough to cover daily living expenses. When it rains and storms and there is no income, he is even more worried when his granddaughter still needs money for re-examination and long-term treatment.
Ms. Hanh, a neighbor of the family, said that Can's situation makes many people in the neighborhood sympathize. Every time they see their elderly grandparents taking their grandchild to the hospital and then returning with worries about treatment costs, everyone feels sorry and tries to share within their ability.
Ms. Ho Que Chi - Chairwoman of the Thanh Tri Commune Red Cross Association said that right from the time Can fell ill, the locality regularly monitored, visited and supported the family. The Red Cross Association and mass organizations have mobilized philanthropists to give many gifts, and at the same time supported more than 10 million VND for him to have funds for treatment.
According to Ms. Chi, in the coming time, the locality will continue to connect organizations and philanthropists to call for more resources to help Can. The government and organizations hope that he will have more conditions for treatment, overcome his illness and stabilize his life.
The temporary shack in the middle of the field is now where Can quietly fights against illness and daily worries about food and clothing. Amidst the accumulated adversity, she really needs kind hearts to have the opportunity to continue treatment, keep her dreams and unfinished future," Ms. Chi added.
All help for life situation LD26156, 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.
Or contact directly Mr. Le Van Det, Thanh Tri commune, Vinh Long province: Phone number: 0326. 569. 284 (Grandfather Can)
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