8-year-old boy with leukemia needs help

Nguyen Hoang Bach, 8 years old, the second child of Nguyen Le Thanh Phong (born in 1990) and Nguyen Thi Truc Thoa (born in 1995), in Thuy Xuong Hamlet (Suoi Hiep Commune, Dien Khanh District), has been diagnosed with leukemia and is in needs of help.

8-year-old Nguyen Hoang Bach

Thoa and her husband, their 2 children namely Nguyen Ngoc Thao Hien (born in 2016) and Nguyen Hoang Bach (born in 2017) are living with Phong’s parents and mentally ill sister in a small house. Illness has taken a heavy toll on their family, with most of the family members suffering from diseases; the most critical case is Nguyen Hoang Bach. Reportedly, in September 2023, Bach presented with unusual symptoms. Due to his declining health, frequent leg pain, and unsteady walking, and prolonged unexplained fever, Thoa and her husband took Bach to Ho Chi Minh City Children's Hospital 2. He was diagnosed with leukemia and needs about 3 years of treatment.

Bach has undergone chemotherapy at Children's Hospital 2 over a year, costing the family over VND100 million for treatment, food and transportation. In order to afford their son's treatment, Thoa and her husband borrowed over VND30 million from their relatives and neighbors. The donations from local authorities, Bach’s school and other individuals also partly helped the family cover Bach’s treatment expense.

Thoa and her husband don’t have stable jobs. Before Bach got sick, Thoa did many types of jobs such as construction worker and garment worker in Suoi Dau Industrial Park with an average income of VND4 million/month. Since Bach got sick, Thoa had to quit her job to take care of her child. Phong works as a mechanic at a private company in Dien Phu Industrial Park (Dien Khanh), with an average income of VND4 to VND6 million/month. Phong also often suffers from illnesses due to thrombocytopenia, which impacts his work. Both his and Thoa's families are facing financial hardships. Phong's aging and ailing parents are taking caring for Phong's sister, who has had epilepsy and mental illness since childhood. Bach is going to be admitted to Children's Hospital 2 for his scheduled treatment on March 12, but the family is struggling to pay off their old debts, according to Thoa. Bach had to repeat first grade due to the disruption in his schooling caused by his treatment.

As said by Vu Thi Thanh Tam, vice-chairman of Suoi Hiep Commune People's Committee, the local authority has provided support by ensuring Bach a monthly social assistance allowance of VND1 million for severely disabled person. Additionally, the locality has submitted a request for support for Bach’s family. The Provincial Social Protection and Social Work Center gave the family VND3 million; Dien Khanh District Association for Promoting Education supported VND5 million. Suoi Hiep Primary School also gave a donation of over VND50 million to Bach’s family. However, the cost of Bach's treatment exceeds the family's financial capacity. The local authority hopes that readers everywhere will offer support to help Bach's family overcome their difficulties.

People who want to help Nguyen Hoang Bach can contact Nguyen Thi Truc Thoa (tel: 0867457990) 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