Her deepest fear is that when her time comes, her two young children will be left abandoned and uneducated.
Trinh Thi Mau suffers from kidney failure.
Dantri Newspaper's reporter visited the home of Trinh Thi Mau (37 years old, Quang Hai Commune, Quang Xuong District, Thanh Hoa Province) in late April. In her small, single-storey house, Mau lay exhausted on her bed, wincing in pain from a bleeding surgical wound on her chest. Struggling to move into the living room, Mau shared with a heavy sigh, "For the past two months, I have had to undergo dialysis three times a week, which means I can no longer continue working at the shoe factory. We have no money left; my children often go hungry."
Holding back tears, Mau recounted her heartbreaking story. In 2010, she married Cao Van Hoa, and they welcomed their first daughter a year later. Though life was hard, it was filled with happiness, Hoa worked as a hired driver while Mau laboured in a footwear factory.
"In 2013, while transporting timber for a client, Hoa’s truck collided with a train, and he lost his life. At that time, I was seven months pregnant with our second child, a boy. Our daughter was just over two years old," Mau said, choking with emotion.
Determined to raise her children alone, Mau used their savings and the support of both families to build a modest home. It seemed that with hard work and perseverance, her life would slowly stabilise as her children grew healthy, well-behaved, and studious.
Hau's two children
In 2023, Mau experienced drastic weight loss and persistent fatigue. Upon visiting the hospital, she received the devastating diagnosis: stage 3 kidney failure.
"I was shattered. I cried non-stop for a month. My only fear was, if I died, who would look after my children?" Mau confided.
Despite battling a serious illness, Mau forced herself to continue working. With a monthly salary of VND7 million, she spent 6 million on medication, scraping by with the remainder to feed her family.
Fighting to live for her children
Despite strict adherence to treatment plans, Mau’s condition worsened. In March, doctors confirmed her kidney failure had reached the final stage. Her only hope now lies in regular dialysis sessions or, if lucky, a kidney transplant.
Family members volunteered for compatibility tests, but no match was found.
"Doctors told me I must wait for a compatible kidney donor. In the meantime, I had to undergo surgery on my chest to prepare for dialysis. Even if a matching kidney is found, I have no way to afford the transplant, which costs over VND1 billion," Mau said through sobs.
Currently, Mau must travel to the hospital three times a week for dialysis. Unable to work, she and her two children have no source of income. Her eldest child is in eighth grade, and her youngest is in sixth grade.
"My children have already suffered so much, losing their father early, and now living in constant fear of losing their mother. I desperately want to live and support them through their schooling years. I sincerely hope that kind-hearted people will help me afford a transplant if a suitable donor is found," Mau said, breaking down in tears.
Nguyen Van Quan, head of Boi Nguyen village, confirmed Mau’s dire situation, "Her husband passed away years ago, and she has struggled to raise two children alone. Two years ago, she was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease but still continued working. Recently, due to the need for frequent dialysis, she had no choice but to quit her job at the shoe factory."
"Since Mau fell ill, her family and local authorities have tried to support her, but in our poor rural area, resources are limited. Through Dantri newspaper, I sincerely call on readers to help, so that Mau can continue her treatment and take care of her children," Quan said.
If you can help, donate through:
- Code 5553: Trinh Thi Mau:
Address: Boi Chang Village, Quang Hai Commune, Quang Xuong District, Thanh Hoa Province
Bank account: 106004739050, at ViettinBank.
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