Doctors and nurses at Le Huu Trac National Institute of Burns present a symbolic cheque for VND 100,049,000 from Dantri readers to Kha Thi Quynh (wife of patient Lo Van Bang) on April 13 (Photo: Huong Hong).
Lo Van Bang, 25, was injured while helping extinguish a forest fire in Na Sang Commune, Dien Bien Province on April 3. Although the blaze was eventually brought under control, it left two people dead and four injured, including Bang, who suffered the most serious injuries.
After receiving initial treatment at a local hospital, he was transferred to the National Burn Hospital Le Huu Trac in Hanoi.
Speaking to Dantri, Ngo Tuan Hung from the Intensive Care Unit at the National Burn Hospital Le Huu Trac said the patient was admitted in an extremely critical condition.
“Lo Van Bang suffered burns covering up to 90 per cent of his body, including 65 per cent deep burns of grade III, IV and V across multiple areas, along with inhalation injuries,” Hung said.
Bang remains in critical condition and is on a ventilator. He has undergone one surgery and is expected to require several more. Both lower limbs have suffered grade V burns and necrosis, with amputation indicated.
While battling a forest fire, Lo Van Bang suffers burns to 90 per cent of his body (Photo: Huong Hong).
According to doctors, treatment costs are estimated at VND 10-20 million (approximately USD 400-800) per day, after health insurance coverage, and could continue for several months.
Bang and his wife, Kha Thi Quynh, 21, have no stable employment and rely on temporary jobs such as construction assistance and farming. Their income is low, just enough to support their young child, leaving no savings for medical emergencies.
Within days of Dantri publishing an appeal for support, readers began contributing funds to assist Bang.
As of 10 am on April 13, donations through Dantri’s PayOS platform had reached VND 100,049,000 (approximately USD 4,000). The full amount has been transferred to his wife’s account to help meet urgent treatment costs.
Upon receiving the funds, Quynh broke down in tears in the hospital corridor.
“I never imagined so many people would care about us… This money means everything to our family right now,” she said.
Kha Thi Quynh (Bang's wife) respectfully thanks Dantri newspaper and its readers, philanthropists, local authorities, and especially the doctors and nurses at Le Huu Trac National Institute of Burns (Photo: Huong Hong).
In addition to reader support, local authorities visited the family on April 8 and provided VND 45 million (approximately USD 1,800) in emergency assistance.
Following the publication of the article, many benefactors have also visited the hospital in person, offering encouragement and donating more than VND 200 million (approximately USD 8,000).
Bang is expected to undergo another major surgery on April 15.
