Two children in Ha Tinh seek help after father’s death, mother’s illness

Nguyen The Hung, 11, and his younger brother Nguyen Bao Thinh, 9, are facing an uncertain future following the death of their father, Nguyen Van Thang, late last year.

According to their grandmother, Nguyen Thi Loan, 72, Thang, 40, died after suffering a stroke, leaving behind two school-age children and a wife who has been undergoing psychiatric treatment for years.

“My son passed away too early, leaving two children who are still far too young. I am old and struggling with many illnesses, and I do not know how they will survive in the time ahead,” Loan said.

The boys’ mother, Tran Thi Hoi, 30, developed a serious mental disorder when Thinh was just one year old. During episodes of lost control, she became violent towards relatives and visitors. She is currently receiving isolated treatment at a hospital.

Before his death, Thang was the sole breadwinner, taking on any work he could find, from farming to construction labour, to pay for his wife’s medical treatment and support his children’s schooling.

On December 22, 2025, while working at a construction site, Thang complained of dizziness and pain in his back and head. Believing it was ordinary fatigue, he returned home to rest. Four days later, his children found him unconscious when they returned from school. Despite being rushed to Hanoi for emergency treatment, he did not survive. Doctors said he died from a stroke.

Now, Hung and Thinh depend entirely on their grandmother. Loan suffers from multiple chronic illnesses, including kidney failure, diabetes and severe joint degeneration, and is no longer able to do heavy work. She grows a small amount of vegetables and raises a few chickens to provide daily meals for the boys.

“When my son was still alive, we could rely on each other. Now I am truly at a loss and can only hope for help so the children can continue going to school,” she said.

Dau Hong Nhat, chairman of the Fatherland Front Committee of Son Hong Commune, said Thang’s family was among the most disadvantaged in the area. Local authorities and organisations have provided some material and emotional support, but the challenges ahead remain immense.

“We sincerely hope that through Dantri/Dtinews, readers and benefactors will extend their compassion and support to help this family overcome their loss and hardship,” Nhat said.