10-year-old child with blood cancer needs help

The family of Tran Thi No (born in 1985, in Cu Thanh Hamlet, Suoi Hiep Commune, Dien Khanh District, Khanh Hoa Province) has been depressed after No’s eldest son, 10-year-old Tran Ngoc Bao, was diagnosed with blood cancer.

As said by No, on May 18, Bao was tired, lost appetite, had many bruises and red rashes on his body. His was taken to Khanh Hoa Oncology Hospital. He was diagnosed with acute leukemia (blood cancer) and suggested to be transferred to Ho Chi Minh City Children's Hospital 1 and then to Ho Chi Minh City Blood Transfusion-Hematology Hospital for treatment. The cost of treatment for this deadly disease is quite high. Meanwhile, Bao’s family is facing financial difficulties. Bao’s parents have borrowed VND40 million for his initial treatment; however, they are depressed about how they can afford the treatment cost in the future.

Tran Ngoc Bao

No used to work as a housekeeper, but she couldn’t continue working because she got weak after giving birth to her second child. Since then, she has stayed at home, done the housework and looked after her children. No's husband, Tran Ngoc Danh (born in 1985), is the breadwinner in the family. He does loading and unloading at Thanh Market from 7pm to 6 a.m. the next morning, earning about VND200-300 thousand/day, just enough to put food on the table and pay their monthly rent. With their circumstances, the family pray for a miracle that helps Bao to be cured.

Bao has had his first chemotherapy treatment. The side effects have caused Bao physical symptoms such as a lot of pain, high fever, dizziness, vomiting, and poor appetite. His body has still been covered in bruises. He is so weak that he needs help when he walks. 

Reportedly, the local authorities visited and offered some support to the family of Bao and are instructing them to prepare documents to receive social welfare for people with severe disabilities. 

Dien Khanh 1 Primary School where Bao studies also raised a school donation and received a financial support of over VND200 million from the whole school, its former pupils and benefactors. The school visited and gave Bao's family the money.

According to No, besides expenditure for food and travel back and forth between Khanh Hoa Province and Ho Chi Minh City, the hospital fee after health insurance in the first week cost around VND23 million. Meanwhile, Bao’s disease requires long-time treatment and a lot of money. The family wish to receive support from people everywhere so that Bao can be cured and continue his study.

People who want to help Bao’s family can contact Tran Thi No (tel: 0706367446), or Khanh Hoa Newspaper office (tel: 0258.3822019) at 77 Yersin St., Nha Trang City. Support can also be sent to Khanh Hoa Newspaper’s bank account at Vietcombank Nha Trang (account number 0581000765262).

T.D
Translated by H.N