A poor family in Ha Tinh Province is calling for help to treat their daughter, who has been suffering from congenital heart disease for 15-years.
Nguyen Thi Mai
Nguyen Thi Mai is the first daughter of a six-member family living in Dai Lu Village. Due to the disease, she is easily tired from even simplest tasks. "We can only give her painkillers when her pain seems to be unbearable. It would cost hundreds of millions of VND for her surgery and we can't afford it," said Mai's mother, Phan Thi Ha.
Because Mai's father has also been in bad health, and is without a stable job. All of their income depends on the rice fields, which have provided them with nothing because of bad weather. To earn extra money, Ha opened a noodle shop and has to wake up at 2am, but the income from the shop only comes to VND20,000-30,000 a day (USD0.96-1.4).
According to Ha, most of their income actually comes from this small stall. "There were times I was sick and couldn't work, we had nothing to eat for several days. I then had to get up and open the shop," Ha said.
Mai had to drop out of school to share some of the burden of housework and take care of her four siblings. Even though Mai is only 15 years old, she weighs just 19kg. But she has never complained, knowing the family's situation.
Mai looks small sitting next to her friend
Ha said, "She's very weak. She has to lie down immediately after returning from school. Schoolmates help to bring her home. Sometimes, she can't sleep at all because of hard breathing, so we also stay awake all night with her."
Le Thi Giang, a neighbour, said, "Farmers are usually poor but their family's situation is really bad. A crowded family with sick husband. It's hard to even afford meals, let alone finding money for the hospital."
The head of Dai Lu Village, Nguyen Trong Hung, said Mai's family had to sell a buffalo, an important animal for poor farmer. "They brought her to hospital several times but have no money for surgery. The authorities can only help so much."
To help Mai, please make donation through:
1. Code 1250: Nguyen Trong Son (Mai's father), Dai Lu Village, Hong Loc Commune, Loc Ha District, Ha Tinh Province.
Tel: 0163 8348528
2. Compassionate Hearts Charity Fund – Dan tri Newspaper (Hanoi)
No. 2/48 Giang Vo Str., Dong Da Dist., Hanoi
Tel: 04. 3. 7366.491/ Fax: 04. 3. 7366.490
Email:quynhanai@dantri.com.vn
* Vietnam Dong Account information at Vietcombank:
Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 045 100 194 4487
With Bank: THE BANK FOR FOREIGN TRADE OF VIETNAM – Thanh Cong Branch
* US Dollar Account information at Vietcombank:
Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 045 137 195 6482
SWIFT Code: BFTVVNVX
With Bank: THE BANK FOR FOREIGN TRADE OF VIETNAM
* Vietnam Dong Account information at Vietinbank:
Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 10 201 0000 220 639
With Bank: Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade – Hoan Kiem Branch
* US Dollar Account information at MB Bank:
Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 0721100357002
SWIFT Code: MSCBVNVX
With Bank: MILITARY COMMERCIAL JOINT STOCK BANK - MCSB ( No.3, Lieu Giai str., Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi, Vietnam)
3. Dantri/DTiNews' representative offices
Ha Tinh representative office: 46 Nguyen Cong Tru, Tan Giang Ward, Ha Tinh City. Tel: 039.3857.112
Da Nang representative office: 25 Nguyen TriPhuong, Thanh Khe Dist., Da Nang City. Tel: 0511.3653.725
Ho Chi MinhCity representative office: 39L Street 11, Ward 3, Binh Thanh Dist, Hochiminh City. Tel: 08. 66786. 885
Can Tho representative office:53/13 Ly Tu Trong, Ninh Kieu Dist., Can Tho City. Tel: 071.3.733.269.
