Heartbreaking stories of lives in the 'dialysis patient neighborhood'

(Baonghean.vn) - The row of old two-story buildings opposite the Vinh Transport Hospital (Nghe An) has become a "second home" for countless dialysis patients for more than ten years. People have become accustomed to calling this place by the familiar name "dialysis neighborhood".

"Father Nguyen Dinh Thuc incites parishioners."

Breaking News: 20 students in a commune in Nghe An province suffer from kidney failure, 2 have died.

The Nghệ Tĩnh Non-Ferrous Metals Joint Stock Company's guesthouse, located on Lệ Ninh Street (Quán Bàu Ward, Vinh City), has been dilapidated for over 10 years and has become a second home for countless dialysis patients. They rent rooms here to make it easier to get to their dialysis treatments at the Transport Hospital. Over the same period, countless patients have resided here, and many have passed away in this shelter. Thus, the constant coming and going has transformed this area into what is now known as the "dialysis patient neighborhood."

A somber atmosphere pervades the "dialysis patient community". Photo: TC

The room, located in the middle of the first floor, looked desolate and silent despite being occupied by two people: Mr. Truong Dinh Vinh and Mr. Nguyen Van Doan. Each month, they pay 500,000 VND for rent for both of them. Mr. Truong Dinh Vinh (from Quynh Doi, Quynh Luu) is 58 years old but looks much older because he has been battling kidney failure for over 9 years. He has four children; his wife passed away 3 years ago. His children, some in the North and some in the South, work odd jobs to send money home each month for his medical treatment.

Stage 4 kidney failure has caused Mr. Vinh to experience tinnitus and hearing loss, and his skin has noticeably darkened. Numerous "connecting points"—the locations where blood is transfused—are visible on the wrinkled, aged arms of this 58-year-old man. This is a common condition among end-stage dialysis patients.

For over a month now, his illness has worsened, preventing Mr. Vinh from returning home. "I vomit so much; whatever I eat, I throw up. I think I'm nearing the end of my life," Mr. Vinh said calmly, speaking of his impending death. He knows, like everyone else living in this house, those who have come to live in this "dialysis neighborhood," that they will all die, it's just a matter of sooner or later.

The FAV blood transfusion tubes—where blood is transfused—are prominently displayed on the wrinkled, aged arm of the 58-year-old man. Photo: TT

The "dialysis village" has seen countless people come and go...forever. However, it's mostly inhabited by the elderly, those from distant districts, and people with difficult family circumstances who rent rooms. Currently, the "dialysis village" houses 10 patients, all in the terminal stage of their illness. Mrs. Dao Thi Nguyen (from Son Hai commune, Quynh Luu district) is the oldest patient in the "dialysis village." At 87 years old, her strength is failing, but she has been battling kidney failure for nearly eight years.

“With failing eyesight and hearing, after a four-hour dialysis session at the hospital, my mother would alternate between sitting and lying down, muttering things that no one could understand. She constantly dug into her toenails, completely oblivious to anyone entering or leaving the room,” said Thai Thi Hoi, Mrs. Nguyen’s daughter, wiping away tears as she spoke about her ailing elderly mother. For nearly eight years, Ms. Hoi has handed over all household chores to her husband and children to care for her mother, never leaving her side. From feeding and using the toilet to taking her to and from the hospital for dialysis, Ms. Hoi does everything herself.

Ms. Dao Thi Nguyen (Son Hai commune, Quynh Luu district) is the oldest patient residing in the "dialysis village". Photo: TC

The youngest man, and also the longest-serving dialysis patient in the "dialysis village," is Thai Khac Dan from Ky Tan commune (Tan Ky district). According to other patients, Dan has the most tragic fate here. At 42 years old, he has been undergoing dialysis for over 13 years, suffering from a serious illness, so he has never thought about dating or getting married. He only has his 90-year-old mother back home, who is also suffering from lung cancer. Each month, he spends nearly 5 million dong on medication and living expenses, and he only manages to receive a few million dong from relatives.

Mr. Dan enjoys playing the guitar and flute, but he hasn't paid attention to them for a long time. He jokingly says, "My guitar and flute are my wife," so he only plays them when he's feeling down. Before that, Mr. Dan shared a room with two other patients, but they passed away a few days ago. Lighting a cigarette, Mr. Dan recounted, "Since Quyen and Que (his dialysis patients who shared the room with him) passed away, this room has become incredibly cold and empty. The nights are freezing!" Since losing his two friends, Mr. Dan brought a stray dog ​​from his hometown for companionship. He's very close to it and takes it everywhere with him.

With Ms. Hai visiting, Mr. Dan seemed much happier, even though he didn't say anything. Photo: TC

In his final days battling a terminal illness, Mr. Dan found more meaning in having Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai (in the purple shirt) as his companion. Ms. Hai, originally from Ha Tinh, had been living in the "dialysis village" in Nghe An for over six years. Recently, Ha Tinh has had dialysis machines, so Ms. Hai stayed in her hometown to receive treatment. However, she still occasionally visits Mr. Dan, sometimes bringing him a dozen chicken eggs, other times a few cartons of fresh milk.

After exhausting dialysis sessions at the hospital, everyone in the "dialysis neighborhood" collapses onto their beds. But sometimes, they gather together in the lobby on the first floor to chat and ease their sadness. Sadness from being far from loved ones, sadness knowing that "once they've come this far, there's no going home." They lack the strength to do anything. Because one arm has a dialysis ball implanted inside, a careless break would interrupt dialysis, affecting the blood filtration process in their bodies.

After exhausting dialysis sessions at the hospital, the "dialysis community" sometimes gathers in front of the ground floor lobby to chat. Their conversations sometimes bring bursts of laughter... Photo: TC.

Each dialysis patient in the "dialysis village" only hopes that when they pass away, they can see their family members. Because they know that death can come to them in just a few moments...

Thanh Cuong - Thien Thien