DTiNews has transferred VND303m donated by readers to help two children in Hung Yen Province suffering from a rare skin disease that has earned them the taunt of "ghosts".
VND303m donated to the "ghost" children
After their story was published, many people have called and visited the family to offer their encouragement. Tran Van Tung and Nguyen Thi Dao, the children's parents, said they received VND500m along with clothes, books and medicines for the children.
DTiNews also gave VND303m that readers donated to the couple.
"I don't know what to say to express my gratitude," Dao said. "I thought my children would face a lonely life, away from public's scrutiny, for the rest of their life. But I was wrong. Many people came and cared for my kids without fear or prejudice. I want to extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who helped us."
Tung passes on some donations to a paralysed timber gatherer who fell from tree
The couple decided to use VND50m to help other disadvantaged people. Tung said they were lucky to have help from the community so they will continue to support other cases.
He said hospitals had no cure for his children and all they could do was give them medicine to ease the pain of their skin condition.
Tung and Dao's eldest and youngest were born with ichthyosis vulgaris, a scaling of the skin which cracks and bleeds. Their eldest child, Tran Thi Phuong Thao, 10, is in almost constant pain and doctors have so far been unable to find a treatment for her condition. She cannot attend school because other children and adults call her a "ghost".
Thao and Minh suffer from rare skin disease
In 2014, the couple had a boy, Tran Hung Minh, but he inherited the same condition and cries himself to exhaustion because of the pain.
Their father works as a motorbike driver in Hanoi, while their mother works the land to grow enough for them to eat.
