A family with four children, a paralysed mother and severely injured father find it difficult to get by in Hoai Nhon District, Binh Dinh Province.
Mrs Au and her sons
Dinh Thi Quynh Ngoc Bich Au met Ngo Van Kiem when she worked at Ba Ngoi fish port in Khanh Hoa Province. They fell in love, and after introducing their families, had a small and simple wedding.
Kiem continued to earn a modest living as a fisherman, while Au took on odd jobs to add to their income. They eventually had four sons, the first born in 2001.
Things took a turn for the worse for the family in 2005. While out fishing Kiem lost his footing and fell against the boat, resulting in a spinal injury. He was unable to go back to work as a fisherman.
Mr Kiem has to hunt for sea cucumbers to earn money
In order to contribute financially to the already burdened family he started joining his neighbour to hunt for sea cucumbers. Not only was this damaging for his back, since the work required him to constantly bend over, but many times he would travel for dozens of kilometres and come home empty handed.
Then, one day in 2011, just when the family thought things could not get worse, Au had a stroke while collecting rubbish. The stroke left her paralysed an affected her eyesight and speech. She did not show improvement after hospitalisation and the family was advised to check her into a psychiatric ward. However, they could not afford such treatment, and they returned her home, treating her with traditional medicine.
A plain meal of the children
The family has had to borrow tens of millions of VND from relatives and neighbors, but have little hope of repayment.
While Au is confined to bed, dependent on their eldest son, her husband earns around VND80,000 to VND100,000 per day, which does not cover daily expenses.
Tran Van Tien, Vice Chairman of Tam Quan Bac Commune, said local authorities have granted Mr. Kiem’s family land for accommodation and mobilised local people to support them. He hoped that Dantri/DTiNews would help in assistance efforts.
To help Au, please make donation though:
1. Code 1097: Dinh Thi Quynh Ngoc Bich Au, 29 years old, Hamlet 1, Cong Thanh Village, Tam Quan Bac Village, Hoai Nhon District, Binh Dinh Province.
Phone: 01697-012-682 (Ngo Van Kiem, Mrs Au's husband)
Tel: 03503.504.758
2. Compassionate Hearts Charity Fund – Dan tri Newspaper (Hanoi)
No. 2/48 Giang Vo Str., Dong Da Dist., Hanoi
Tel: 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)
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