For Mr. and Mrs. Duong Thi Quynh Nhu (born in 1993) and Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong (born in 1989) residing in alley 41, Pham Thi Lien street, Kim Long ward, (Hue City), the journey of being parents has not had peaceful days yet, but has been extended by the hospital trips of their children.
Baby Nguyen Minh Anh, 2 years old, is Ms. Nhu's first child. Right from when she was still in her mother's womb, through a screening examination, the family discovered that the baby had signs of abnormalities related to the kidneys. At that time, the doctor could not intervene, Ms. Nhu and her husband could only anxiously wait for the day their child was born.
Immediately after giving birth, Minh Anh was taken to a sterile room and treated with antibiotics for 5 days. After that, Minh Anh continued to stay in the hospital with her mother for another 5 days to complete enough doses of medicine before returning home. The first ten days of the child's life should have been days lying in their parents' arms, associated with hospitals, medicine and unspeakable worries...
Not long after returning home, Minh Anh continued to have re-examination. Due to pyelonephritis, the doctor indicated that the baby must continue to be monitored and nurtured to have enough weight to be able to have surgery. At 3 months and 10 days old, Minh Anh weighed 7kg but her abdomen was abnormally swollen. On August 2, 2024, the baby had to undergo surgery to remove right ureteral prolapse.
On July 7, 2025, when Minh Anh was in severe pain, the family took her to the hospital again. CT scan results showed that Minh Anh's kidney had water stasis at level 3, she had to be hospitalized, given antibiotics and continued long days of treatment.
Ms. Nhu said that by October 2025, Minh Anh's condition worsened, and the child had severe pain for three consecutive nights. When admitted to the hospital, the results showed that both kidneys had hydronephrosis at level 4 - the highest level. On October 23, 2025, Minh Anh continued to undergo surgery.
Through tests and CT scans, the baby was also diagnosed with neural bladder disease, causing urinary incontinence. On November 5, 2025, Minh Anh continued surgery to remove the urinary tract and attach a urinary catheter. Minh Anh continuously had to be hospitalized due to urinary tract infections, high fever, pain in the lower back and genitals.
Every time I infuse medicine, my child's immature body is in pain, my child cries uncontrollably. For meals, I have to patiently coax her, even force her to eat little by little. My child needs health to continue treatment, seeing my child in pain, I can only cry silently...", Ms. Nhu said sadly.
Amidst the busy days of taking care of her child in the hospital, Ms. Nhu discovered that she was pregnant with her second child. Because she thought too much and her health was depleted, she had a threatened miscarriage and had to be hospitalized for nearly a month. By the 22nd week of pregnancy, Ms. Nhu received another news that almost made the mother collapse: the fetus also showed signs of dilated kidney ducts on both sides.
When the doctor said that the baby in my belly also had dilated kidney ducts on both sides, I was really devastated. I don't know what will happen to my children later, where will the family get money to continue treatment," Ms. Nhu shared with emotion.
Ms. Nhu's second son - baby Nguyen Van Hai Dang was born on March 5, 2026. Currently, the baby is also being monitored for kidney condition, when he reaches 6 months old, he will have another ultrasound to specifically assess and have further treatment directions.
While Ms. Nhu was busy taking care of her two sick children, Mr. Cuong went to work as a hired laborer. His job was already precarious, and he had to take continuous breaks to take care of his children at the hospital with his wife. Even more miserable, Mr. Cuong's mother was also suffering from cancer. The man in the family had to take care of his mother, wife and two sick young children at the same time. Burdens piled on top of each other, while the income was like a drop in the ocean.
Ms. Nhu said that Minh Anh under 6 years old is entitled to health insurance, but the items of medicine outside the list, expenses not covered by insurance and many arising expenses during treatment are still a heavy burden. These days, Minh Anh is being treated at the Department of Pediatrics and Department of Urology - Hue Central Hospital.
Faced with the accumulated difficulties, Ms. Nhu's family really hopes to receive sharing and help from philanthropists and readers near and far to have more funds for treatment for their two children. Each support at this time will be a valuable source of encouragement, helping the children have more opportunities to overcome their illnesses, and at the same time adding strength for the poor couple to continue taking care of their children in the long journey ahead.
All help for life situation LD26184 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.
