7-year-old Nguyen Anh Tuan Kiet (Khanh Thanh Nam Hamlet, Suoi Cat Commune, Cam Lam District) has undergone a surgery and more than 30 courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy to cure his malignant brain tumor.
7-year-old Nguyen Anh Tuan Kiet (Khanh Thanh Nam Hamlet, Suoi Cat Commune, Cam Lam District) has undergone a surgery and more than 30 courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy to cure his malignant brain tumor.
Early this month, Kiet's parents, Nguyen Duc Hung (born in 1986) and Nguyen Thi Ngan Ha (born in 1994), took him to Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital (Ho Chi Minh City) for his follow-up examination. At that time, Kiet lost all his hair and was sickly.
As said by Ha, in mid-March 2020, Kiet, who was a first-grade pupil in Suoi Cat Primary School, had a sudden headache with fever and vomiting during his class. He was taken to Dien Khanh District Medical Center and afterwards transferred to Ho Chi Minh City Children’s Hospital 2 (Ho Chi Minh City) where his was diagnosed with hydrocephalus and a tumor in the left hemisphere. Kiet had an urgent surgery. During the surgery, Kiet’s tumor was diagnosed to be a malignant one. He was transferred to the oncology hospital for specialized treatment. In seven months since then, Kiet has undergone more than 30 courses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy with the treatment expense of more than VND250 million.
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Ha and Hung have moved heaven and earth to be able to afford the treatment their son needs. They have two little children and do not have a steady job or any valuable property. Hung is a plaster ceiling worker with a monthly income reduced from VND7-8 million per month to around VND3 million since the outbreak of COVID-19. Ha used to work as a construction worker with an income of around VND150 thousand per day. Since Kiet got sick, Ha has left her job to take care for her sick son and her 6-year-old daughter. The whole family has lived on a meager income of Hung.
Nguyen Thi Sanh (Hung's mother) had to sell half of her land for VND100 million to help her son and his family pay their debts. Hung and Ha have still owed the bank and their neighbors more than VND150 million. Meanwhile, their son’s life-threatening disease requires long-term treatment.
Suoi Cat Commune authorities have acknowledged the difficult circumstances of Kiet and his family and identified them as a near-poor household. Kiet’s family has been eligible for social support since last August. In addition, the commune has also helped Kiet's family to make necessary documents for possible support in the future.
Reportedly, in the follow-up examination at Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital on December 10, Kiet was required to be hospitalized for treatment to guard against possible recurrence of the tumor.
People who want to help Kiet’s family can contact Nguyen Thi Ngan Ha (tel: 0352530467) 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).
B.K.H
Translated by H.N
