Two poor sisters in Hai Duong Province have decided to devote their lives to taking care of their brother and sister, who both suffer from crippling diseases.
Pham Thi Mien and Pham Thi Minh live with their siblings in a 10-square-metre house in Ty Ky Town. Their younger brother, Pham Van Cuong, 48, cannot walk due to myasthenia, while their younger sister Pham Thi Mo, 43, still suffers from the complications of meningitis, which she caught as a young girl.
Mo cannot walk due to meningitis aftermath
Cuong has to crawl due to myasthenia
“Our younger brother and sister have to crawl to get around," said Mien.
Their parents died when they were small, leaving behind seven children. Some married and started their own families, while others are stuck in a life of poverty or died of disease. Mien and Minh, however, chose to take care of their siblings.
“Time goes by so quickly. We’ve lived together for nearly 50 years now. When I was a young girl, I got some marriage proposals. I loved one of them, and really considered getting married. But I couldn't stand the thought of leaving my brother and sister alone. The neighbours say that they seem like my children and it pains me when I hear them say they would like to walk once before they die," said Mien.
Feeding younger sister
Caring for younger brother
One of the sister stays at home to take care of the siblings, while the other goes out to work.
Now they are living on the modest income of one sister plus a monthly allowance of VND360,000. Money is always tight, and they rarely have enough for daily expenses in addition to medicine.
Nguyen Van Tho, head of Khu La Tinh Nam Hamlet, said, “The family has been in a desperate state for years. We’ve provided them with what support we could but it is not enough.”
If you’d like to support the family, any donation should be sent through:
1. Code 1500: Pham Thi Mien and Pham Thi Minh, Khu La Tinh Nam Hamlet, Tu Ky Town, Hai Duong Province
Mobile: 0169.454.2368
2. Compassionate Hearts Charity Fund – Dan tri Newspaper (Hanoi)
No. 2/48 Giang Vo Str., Dong Da Dist., HanoiTel: 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
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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
