Pham Thi Hoa's family lives in a poor house in Phong Thanh Hamlet, Ninh Loc Commune, Ninh Hoa Town, Khanh Hoa Province. The house is empty except for an altar and old plastic table and chairs. Hoa's husband works away from home as a welder in Hyundai – Vinashin Shipyard Co., Ltd. (Ninh Phuoc Commune, Ninh Hoa Town). Hoa stays home, weaves baskets to earn money and looks after their little ill children.
Pham Thi Hoa’s family lives in a poor house in Phong Thanh Hamlet, Ninh Loc Commune, Ninh Hoa Town, Khanh Hoa Province. The house is empty except for an altar and old plastic table and chairs. Hoa’s husband works away from home as a welder in Hyundai – Vinashin Shipyard Co., Ltd. (Ninh Phuoc Commune, Ninh Hoa Town). Hoa stays home, weaves baskets to earn money and looks after their little ill children.
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According to Hoa, her eldest son, Le Thanh Nhan (six years old), often had fever and fits of convulsion when he was seven months old but the doctors could not find the cause. Around August of 2015, Nhan had dengue fever and was treated at Khanh Hoa Hospital of Tropical Diseases. After that, his belly was swollen and the symptoms of the disease became more serious; therefore, he was transferred to Ho Chi Minh City Hematology and Blood Transfusion Hospital where he was diagnosed to have hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, a rare but potential fatal disease.
Hoa’s husband has an unstable income while her earnings from basket weaving is low (VND300 thousand per month). They have no valuable property. Therefore, they cannot afford to pay for the hospital fees and medications which are not covered by the health insurance.
Nhan has to be hospitalized in Ho Chi Minh City every month. Hoa and her husband had to borrowed money from many people for Nhan’s treatment. The debt has risen to nearly VND40 million. They cannot borrow more because they have not paid off the existing debt. At present, Nhan has been looked after at home because his family cannot afford his treatment at the hospital.
Reportedly, Le Thi Thanh Thao (born in 2012), Hoa’s youngest child, has had a hemangioma since birth.
Hopefully, the readers and sponsors everywhere will offer supports to help Hoa’s family to overcome the difficulties. Donations can be sent directly to Pham Thi Hoa (0167 892 6619) or to the charity box of Khanh Hoa Newspaper office at 77 Yersin St., Nha Trang City.
P.B.D
Translated by H.N
