On May 14, Dantri reporters presented a symbolic donation board worth VND 309,523,185 (approximately USD 11,920) to Nguyen Thi Thuy Duong, mother of Nguyen Thi Thuy Kieu. The funds had previously been transferred directly to the family’s bank account.
A Dantri reporter presents the symbolic plaque for VND 309.5 million donated by readers to Thuy Duong, the mother of Thuy Kieu (Photo: T.Tien).
Thuy Kieu, from Duc Thang Hamlet in La Nga Commune, should now have been attending sixth grade alongside her twin sister, Nguyen Thi Thuy Nga. Instead, her education was interrupted after she was diagnosed with stage III rhabdomyosarcoma in the throat and pharynx area, a rare form of malignant cancer, shortly after completing fourth grade.
In August 2024, as she prepared to enter fifth grade, Kieu suddenly developed severe swelling on the left side of her jaw. The condition worsened rapidly, with bleeding and infection spreading throughout her mouth. Doctors at Children's Hospital 2 in HCM City later diagnosed the disease.
Over the past two years, Kieu has endured persistent pain as the tumour repeatedly became infected and ruptured. At times, swelling around her tongue prevented her from eating, while severe fever and seizures occasionally caused her to lose consciousness. Her health deteriorated significantly, with her weight falling from 37kg to 30kg.
The emotional burden on the family has also been severe. Since her daughter fell ill, Thuy Duong has stopped working to care for Kieu, while the child’s father relies on unstable income from construction work.
“There were times when Kieu saw me holding hospital payment notices worth tens of millions of dong and burst into tears, begging me not to spend more money to save her,” Thuy Duong said.
After Dantri published the family’s story on April 13, readers and donors from across Vietnam contributed financial support for Kieu’s treatment.
Thuy Duong signs to confirm that the readers' donations have been transferred to her account (Photo: Tung Nguyen).
According to Thuy Duong, the girl underwent two surgeries in the past month after the tumour returned near her airway, causing breathing difficulties and preventing her from eating. Doctors inserted a tracheostomy tube to assist her breathing and a feeding tube directly into her stomach.
Kieu has now been transferred to the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital to begin a new chemotherapy regimen from May 16.
“Right now, I only hope my daughter responds well to the new treatment,” Thuy Duong said. “Thanks to the support from Dantri readers and philanthropists, we had enough money for immediate hospitalisation when the cancer returned. I am deeply grateful to everyone who helped us continue treatment and hold on to hope for my child’s life.”