Tragedy in a family affected by Agent Orange for three generations.
A poor family in Yen Xuan commune is facing a series of heartbreaking tragedies. From grandparents to children and grandchildren, they live in near despair due to the horrific effects of Agent Orange and incurable diseases.
In Gia Giang hamlet, Yen Xuan commune, the name Lang Van Yen has long been associated with a life full of hardship and suffering. From his teenage years, Yen faced cruel adversity when he contracted a rare disease inherited from his maternal grandfather – a war veteran exposed to Agent Orange. A deformed tumor appeared on Yen's right leg, growing larger and larger, making it difficult for him to walk.
Despite his constant efforts to overcome his insecurities and his tireless work to earn every penny to make ends meet, human strength is limited, and that malignant tumor has deprived him of the opportunity to work like everyone else.
The excruciating pain made every step a torment, forcing Yen to put aside her dream of financial independence and accept returning to her small home to become a pillar of support for her brother and sister-in-law in caring for the children.
The seeds of painful disaster.
Yen's older brother, Lang Van Binh, was luckier than her in that the after-effects were still under control. However, beneath his worn-out clothes lay a body covered in strange, lumpy tumors. Even more heartbreaking, the disease had shown signs of spreading to his eldest daughter, who is now four years old.
But that's not all; in that house also lives the elderly mother, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Thanh, who is battling a terrible breast cancer every day. In that house, the bitterness of poverty and physical pain permeates, making every passing moment heavy with anxiety about an uncertain future.
A struggle for survival on the brink of fate.
Every day, despite the constant, throbbing pain that threatens to erupt, Lang Van Binh still goes out to work, doing all kinds of odd jobs, from strenuous work in the fields to strenuous manual labor in the village. His sweat is not only used to earn a living for himself, but also serves as the sole source of sustenance for his family of six living in their dilapidated house.
On days when his health permitted, Binh would work odd jobs to earn a few hundred thousand dong. That amount was not enough to cover the family's medical expenses; therefore, the poor family always faced food shortages.
The two women in the family—the elderly mother suffering from a serious illness, and the daughter-in-law with intellectual disabilities—can only help their husbands and children with the simplest tasks. Out of love for her children and grandchildren, the great-grandmother, Vo Thi Lan, even at the age of 80, still strives to support them with the belief that "as long as there's life, there's hope," to the point where she's even considering selling her only asset, the cow that provides their livelihood.
Mr. Bui Cong Chinh, Deputy Head of the "Anh Son Online" volunteer group, shared: "In the face of a series of devastating events, the current support is still just a drop in the ocean. The pain is too great and the poverty too pervasive, making every individual effort seem too small in the face of the struggle to reclaim life for those here."
Each day for this four-generation family is a real battle for survival. They need not only material assistance, but also extended "bridges of compassion" to rekindle hope for a miracle for lives already so unfortunate.
All donations should be sent to: The family of Mr. Lang Van Binh, Gia Giang hamlet, Yen Xuan commune, Nghe An province.
Account number: 7340.281.646 - Vietnam Investment and Development Bank (BIDV).
Account holder: Lang Van Binh.
Contact details: Journalist Nguyen Ngoc Dung - Phone number: 0913.064.060.
