On March 13, reporters from Dantri Newspaper presented a symbolic board for VND 168,239,180 donated by readers to 18-year-old Hoang Thi Khanh Huyen from Cao Bang.
The funds were contributed through the newspaper’s charity account to support Huyen and her younger sister Hoang Thi Thu Huong, 14. The full amount has been transferred to the bank account of their mother, Nong Thi Ha, 39.
A Dantri reporter presents a symbolic plaque representing the donations from readers and philanthropists to Hoang Thi Khanh Huyen (Photo: Kim Thoa).
In addition, donors sent VND 28,570,000 directly to Ha’s account. Another VND 20 million was provided by the Thien Tam Foundation after learning about the family’s situation through the article.
In total, readers and benefactors have donated VND 216,809,180 to help the family.
The sisters both suffer from Thalassemia, also known as congenital haemolytic anaemia. Huyen was diagnosed at just one month old, while Huong was diagnosed at 11 months.
Both sisters, Huyen and Huong, suffer from congenital haemolysis (Photo: Huyen Nguyen).
As they grew older, both girls became increasingly frail and pale, relying entirely on regular blood transfusions to survive.
Overwhelmed by the financial burden and hardship, their father later took his own life ten years ago.
After his death, Ha moved with the two children from their paternal hometown in Tuyen Quang to live with her parents in Cao Bang. She then worked temporary jobs in Hanoi and Hung Yen while her parents helped care for the children.
Ha said she plans to use part of the donated money to repay debts incurred from previous medical treatments. Another portion will be used to renovate a small shop and buy tables, chairs and supplies to serve tourists, while the rest will be saved for the girls’ ongoing treatment.
She has now returned to Cao Bang, where the three mother and daughters run the small shop together to earn a living. Huong is currently studying in grade eight.
Ha expressed deep gratitude to Dantri readers and donors, saying there were times she nearly gave up under the pressure of medical expenses and financial hardship.
The timely support from the community, she said, has helped ease some of the family’s struggles.
At present, Huyen must travel to Hanoi once a month for about a week to receive iron-removal therapy following blood transfusions. Huong needs a transfusion roughly every 20 days and then takes medication at home. Due to an enlarged spleen, she is also preparing to undergo spleen removal surgery, similar to the operation her sister previously had.
