Everyday a struggle for elderly sisters

Two sisters, one aged 80 and the other 75, living in Can Tho City, desperately need the support of the community.

In a dilapidated leaf-covered hut in Thoi An Ward, O Mon District, Le Thi Loi, is lying curled up on a rotted and wet mat while her younger sister, Le Thi Dong, carries a bowl of soup while coughing away. Her eyes appeal to our Dantri/DTiNews reporter for help.

Nguyen Van Chinh, Chairman of the Red Cross in Thoi An Ward said these women lived in the most pitiful condition in his locality.

With limited time left, the two sick and elderly women need the community’s help

Loi has stayed at the hut made from a broken boat and leafs for over the past 30 years, but refused to live with Dong’s family.

Explaining the odd behaviour, Mrs. Dong revealed that “Sister Loi lived with our parents on this boat and she insisted on staying here alone since our parents died 30 years ago.”

“After Loi started experiencing convulsions and fell into the river several times, I decided to pull the boat up on the bank. However, she has continued living here since then, while refusing to live with my family,” Dong said.

“My sister has been ill in recent days, but I do not have any money to buy medicine for her. I came to the garden to take some herbs for her when I took a spill.” she added.

A heavy burden for the 75-year old woman

Mrs Dong had a beloved family with a husband and a daughter. However, sorrows began for her in 1998 when her husband died and the daughter divorced with her husband.

After the divorce, the daughter left her hometown until now, leaving her three-year epileptic son behind.

The newphew is now 18 years old but often suffers from convulsions and cannot do much. Meanwhile, Dong has become weaker and contracted arthritis making it difficult to care fort her elder sister and nephew.

The Red Cross has mobilised locals to contribute rice and money to help these elderly women.

Charitable donations please send to: