A 9-year-old boy in Ninh Binh Province must help his mother work as waste collector to earn money to treat his own blood cancer, as his father cannot work after contracting HIV.
Boy living with blood cancer for four years
Doan Van Duong is the only child from a poor family in Dong Huong Commune, Kim Son District. He has been living with blood cancer for four years. Due to a lack of money, Duong has had to delay treatment.
He was recently admitted to the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion for treatment.
Phan Thi Nu, the little boy’s mother, said, “Eight years ago I was shocked to find out that my husband was HIV positive. He went to large cities to work as manual labourer. One day he had high temperature along with convulsions and was sent to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Doctors there diagnosed him.”
After getting to know that her husband was infected with the fatal virus, Nu and her son did HIV tests and luckily they were negative to the virus. However, her family started to crack since then.
Due to his disease, the husband was no longer able to work, leaving all the family's burdens on his wife's shoulders.
She became seriously depressed when her son was found to be suffering from blood cancer four years ago.
The mother feels uncertain about her son’s future
“That was the worst day of my life. At the time Duong was about to enter primary school. He and I were so happy preparing for the school year. But just before, Duong came down with a fever and fatigue and had to be hospitalised,” Nu recalled.
Four years living with the disease has caused Duong much suffering with marrow tests and transfusions. However, the family has no choice but to return home and delay treatment due to the lack of money.
In order to earn some money to cover their daily costs and treat Duong’s disease, Nu and her son have opted to work as local waste collectors. They are paid VND500,000 (USD23.65) per month.
“I’m happy to help my mother. Sometimes, we work until 8pm. I’m not afraid of working hard but being beatten by my father when he is triggered by pain” the boy said.
The ill-fated mother is living with seemingly insurmountable worries and is afraid her son will one day no longer be by her side.
In order to help the family, donations should be sent through:
1. Code 1231: Phan Thi Nu (Hamlet 7, Dong Huong Commune, Kim Son District, Ninh Binh Province)
Mobile: 0162.646.7945
2. Compassionate Hearts Charity Fund – Dan tri Newspaper (Hanoi)
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Email:quynhanai@dantri.com.vn
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Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 045 100 194 4487
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Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 10 201 0000 220 639
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