A family in Na Son Commune, Dien Bien Province, whose two children have thalassaemia, has moved into a new home built with donations from readers of Dantri Newspaper and charitable supporters.
Luong Van Kim, Ca Thi Panh and their two children at their new house (Photo: Tung Duong).
Three months ago, Dantri published a report highlighting the hardship faced by Luong Van Kim and Ca Thi Panh, whose children, Luong Van Nhat (born 2009) and Luong Huyen Bao Tram (born 2020), both suffer from the inherited blood disorder.
The siblings require monthly blood transfusions and regular iron chelation therapy to stay alive, placing a heavy financial burden on the family.
With their income relying almost entirely on a small plot of farmland, Kim and Panh often struggled to cover the cost of treatment. At times, they were forced to borrow money simply to ensure their children could receive scheduled transfusions.
For years, the family lived in a deteriorating wooden stilt house that had become unsafe but could not be repaired because of financial hardship.
The family's dilapidated stilt house in the mountains of Na Son before the support arrived (Photo: Tung Duong).
Following publication of the article, readers and benefactors donated VND 230.1 million (USD 8,800) to the family. Of the total, the People's Police Academy contributed VND 50 million (USD 1,900). An additional VND 20 million (USD 760) was provided by the Thien Tam Foundation, bringing the family's total support to more than VND 250 million (USD 9,500).
Using the donations, together with help from relatives and villagers, the family built a sturdy wooden stilt house covering nearly 100 square metres, complete with a kitchen and essential facilities.
They were also able to purchase beds, wardrobes, a television, tables, chairs and other household necessities, providing their children with a more comfortable environment for living and studying.
Representatives of the People's Police Academy visit and encourage Panh's family (Photo: Tung Duong).
Standing in front of his new home, Kim said the family had never imagined such a future.
"This is something we never dared dream of. Without the support of Dantri readers and generous donors, we would never have been able to build this house.
"Even more importantly, we now have money to continue our children's treatment. We will work hard and take good care of them to repay everyone's kindness."
Panh became emotional as she watched her children playing inside their new home.
"We are deeply grateful to Dantri for connecting compassionate people with our family. We sincerely thank all the readers, donors and the People's Police Academy for supporting us during the most difficult period of our lives," she said.
Nhat and Bao Tram now have better conditions for daily life, study and continuing their treatment journey (Photo: Tung Duong).
The family also received extensive assistance from local authorities and residents throughout the construction process.
Lo Thi Tam, vice-chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in Na Son Commune, said local officials, community organisations and villagers volunteered their labour to transport building materials, erect the house frame and complete the construction.
Lo Thi Tam, far right, vice chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee in Na Son Commune, visits and shares the family's joy on the day they moved into their new home (Photo: Tung Duong).
Tam said the generosity of Dantri readers, combined with the solidarity shown by the local community, had helped the family overcome its most difficult period.
"This generosity is deeply appreciated. It has not only given the two children a better chance of continuing their medical treatment but has also provided the family with a solid foundation for a more stable future," she said.
