Readers help little boy overcome leukaemia

Phan Van Vu and his daughter, Phan Tra My, were both diagnosed with leukaemia one year after another and transferred to the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion in Hanoi.

Phan Van Vu and his daughter, Phan Tra My, were both diagnosed with leukaemia one year after another and transferred to the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion in Hanoi.

  

Phan Van Truong released from the hospital

After their story was published in 2018, many people visited them in the hospital. Dantri readers donated VND1bn (USD44,000) to them. However, Vu's youngest son, Phan Van Truong,  was also diagnosed with leukaemia in 2019. The tests show that Vu and his children had the hereditary genes of the disease.

Vu and My's conditions had worsened so the doctors can't help them anymore. Vu's son can still be treated with a stem cell transplant. The hospital can support the family VND450m but Vustill has to pay over VND700m for the operation.

"My daughter died late last year when my small son was put in the isolation room," Vu said. "I know she is looking out for her younger brother from above."

  

Phan Van Vu

Thanks to the help of kind readers, Vu's family was given nearly VND3bn in donations. The transplant is a success. After the surgery, Truong's was too weak to talk and Vu couldn't see him while he was still in the isolation room so Vu could only watch him from afar for three months.

Dr Vo Thi Thanh Binh said stem cell transplant from umbilical cord blood was a long surgery and may have complications.

"We faced some complications and infection but the treatment succeeded. Basically, Truong is now healthy and can be released," she said. "Thanks to everyone that the doctors and Japanese experts can carry out the operation successfully. Thank you, everyone, that has helped Truong in the past three years."

After years of struggling with the illness and loss of the loved one, Vu's family finally reunited.