Scarred future for fire victim

Phan Vinh is suffering nearly 50 years after injuries sustained in a fire. The psychological damaged caused by the fire has far outweighed the physical pain. Due to her facial disfigurement she has been mentally scarred for life.

Phan Vinh is concerned about her future, if her wrist is amputated.

Having lost one arm in the fire, Phan Vinh is undergoing treatment on her surviving arm in the Burns Unit at Hue Central Hospital. In the Department of Traumatology & Orthopedics Surgery, she can only eat left-over foods from other patients as she cannot afford to provide for herself. She is concerned about her future, especially if she loses her other arm.

She told us of her deprived and unfortunate upbringing. She was born into a poor family whose only livelihood was fishing. It was her duty to do the household chores whilst the rest of the family was out fishing; she never went to school. One day, while cooking, the burner burst into flames and engulfed her entire body. Vinh had three years of treatment, but has since developed ill health.

Due to her appearance, she spends most of her time in the village and rarely ventures out of it; she cannot find love or make friend as people tend to be frightened of her. As her parents knew they could not support her indefinitely, they spent what little money they had to set her up with a market stall. They also arranged for her to adopt a child

Disaster struck again for Vinh in 1995 when she lost both her parents in the storm. It is very difficult for her to provide for herself and her son. The income from her market stall is not enough to support them, so she spends most days begging for food from her neighbours who sometimes give her some rice and small fishes.

Vinh would have been contented if her life had continued in that vain, but now she faces the prospect of her wrist being amputated.

Vinh said, “Since advising me to have my infected wrist amputated, the doctors have become aware of the implications. They now understand that it will be impossible for me to support myself and my son, so the Consultant Surgeon is looking at ways he could save my hand.”

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