Over-2-year-old child suffer serious illness

Since birth, Nguyen Thanh Binh (born in 2023), the son of Nguyen Van Thanh (born in 1992) and Dinh Thi Be Nam (born in 1995, living in Trung Dong 1 Hamlet, Van Thang Commune) has been sick often due to pneumonia and severe respiratory failure which requires intubation. Unfortunately, Binh also suffers from myasthenia gravis in his right arm.

Reportedly, Binh is the youngest son among the four children of Thanh and Nam. Binh’s three older sisters are in good health. Just 10 days after his birth, Binh had difficulty breathing and was brought to Khanh Hoa General Hospital where he was diagnosed with severe pneumonia and respiratory failure, with a suspected underlying genetic neurological condition. Doctors recommended a transfer to Ho Chi Minh City Children's Hospital 1 for immediate treatment. Binh's hospitalization for almost a year took a heavy toll on the family. The husband and wife had to borrow money from their relatives and neighbors to cover hospital bills, medication, travel expenses, and medical equipment.

Over-2-year-old Nguyen Thanh Binh

Thanh and his wife, Nam, are freelance laborers, taking on any work they can find. Thanh works as a bricklayer, earning an average of about VND400,000 per day, but he almost cannot find work during rainy months. When they don’t have enough money for their children's tuition or Binh's medication, Thanh has to ask his employer for an advance, which is then deducted from his future wages. Nam works by carving aloeswood. After Binh’s illness began requiring constant care, Nam started work at home, hoping to earn a small income to help her husband support the family. Her average monthly income from carving aloeswood is only VND1.2 million. The family owns no valuable assets, apart from various ventilators and other medical equipment to prepare for an immediate on-the-spot health intervention whenever Binh's condition worsens. A tracheostomy tube placed in Binh's neck makes Binh struggle with eating; his food must be pureed and divided into multiple small meals. Furthermore, Binh suffers from myasthenia in his right arm, which prevents movement and has led to muscle atrophy.

According to Phan Thi Truc Quynh, deputy head of Van Thang Commune Department of Culture and Society, the local authorities have provided support to the family by offering gifts and essential goods during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year). Furthermore, Van Thang Communal People’s Committee established a council to determine the type and severity of disabilities for people in the commune. Nguyen Thanh Binh was classified as having a severe level of disabilities. The committee has informed and instructed Binh’s family on how to complete the paperwork to receive monthly social allowance.

The treatment for Binh's congenital, life-threatening disease will be long-term and the medical costs are substantial while their debts haven’t paid yet. Therefore, through Khanh Hoa Newspaper, Radio and Television, Thanh and Nam's family earnestly hope for more support to help Binh to overcome his illness soon.

People who want to help Nguyen Thanh Binh can contact Dinh Thi Be Nam (tel: 0901839743) or Khanh Hoa Newspaper, Radio and Television 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).

THUY DUONG

Translated by H.N