The pitiful situation of a veteran's family with 3 children with cerebral palsy

We were at Mr. Cong’s family in Thuan Hoa hamlet, Thanh Hoa commune one afternoon to give gifts sent by benefactors. In the small house, Mr. Cong and his wife, each holding a child with cramped limbs and vacant eyes.

Mr. Cong and his wife's two children have cerebral palsy. Photo: Huy Thu

Mrs. Pham Thi Thuy (52 years old), Mr. Cong's wife, shared: These are the third and fourth children. They have been sick for many years. My husband and I have taken them to many hospitals from the South to the North for treatment, but in the end we were helpless and brought them home to take care of them, day by day.

According to Ms. Thuy, she and her husband had 4 children. When they were born, they were all normal, but when they turned 5, 3 of them fell ill one after another. The eldest daughter, Dinh Thi My Linh (born in 1994), fell ill while she was in preschool. After 3 years of treatment, she passed away at the age of 8.

Mrs. Thuy recalled: That day, when she got home from school and reached the gate, she heard her say, “Mom, my legs are so tired,” and then she collapsed and couldn’t walk anymore, so she had to crawl on her hands. My husband and I were shocked and took her to the hospital. The doctor said she was seriously ill, possibly due to the effects of Agent Orange.

The children's limbs were all cramped and they could not walk. Photo: Huy Thu

The third daughter Dinh Thi Van Khanh (born in 2011) and the youngest daughter Dinh Thi Mai An (born in 2014) also fell ill at the age of 5. Mr. Cong said: When they first got sick, they all had symptoms of shaking hands and feet, then their bodies became weak, their legs and arms were cramped and they could no longer walk, their eyes were lethargic, their tongues were retracted, and they could not speak...

Over the years, despite the family's difficult circumstances, Mr. Cong and his wife have borrowed money to take their children to many hospitals for treatment (Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, Children's Hospital 2, Central Children's Hospital, Oriental Medicine Hospital, acupuncture and thread implantation centers, etc.), but without results.

Currently, the health of the two children is very weak, when awake, the parents have to hold them in their arms often. Every day, the children can only eat porridge and pureed food. Feeding them porridge is also very difficult. When the children are fussy and cry, Mr. Cong and his wife can only hug and comfort them in tears. Mrs. Thuy shared: "People give birth to children, raise them hoping that they will grow up to be relied on, but my husband and I, our children were born sick, disabled, and unfortunate, but who can we complain to?"

Dinh Thi Van Khanh (11 years old) has had cerebral palsy for 6 years. Photo: Huy Thu

Talking about his children's health, Mr. Cong said: Every time I went to a hospital for a check-up, the doctor would ask if anyone in the family had fought in the battlefields. When I told them that their father and grandfather were both in the army and fought in the battlefields, the doctors shook their heads.

Looking for help

It is known that Mr. Cong enlisted in February 1984, after training in Khe Lang (Ha Tinh), he went to Cambodia to perform his duty until his demobilization in 1987. While in the army, he belonged to engineering unit C19, E689, F5, front 479, Military Region 7.

Mr. Cong's father, Mr. Dinh Van Hoa (born in 1932), joined the army to fight against the US from 1962 to 1976. Mr. Hoa enlisted twice, the first time from 1962 to 1964 because he was injured and had malaria and was discharged, the second time from 1965 to 1976. "My father was in many units, and fought on Route 9 Khe Sanh, Vinh Linh, Quang Tri... He was demobilized for 2 years, then fell ill, was severely poisoned and died" - Mr. Cong said.

Mr. Cong participated in the Cambodian battlefield from 1984 to 1987. Photo: Huy Thu

Mr. Cong himself also suffered many injuries during the fighting in Cambodia. According to Mr. Cong, on his body there are still many healed scars from wounds caused by shrapnel and mines on his stomach, legs, arms...

Mr. Cong added that his parents had 6 children (2 boys, 4 girls), 4 of whom joined the army. He got married in 1993, had 4 children, 3 of whom had cerebral palsy, and one daughter who got married in Nam Dinh many years ago still has no children. His wife has had 6 surgeries and is currently in stage 3 heart failure. His younger brother, Dinh Xuan Dieu (born in 1976), has a disability in his right hand, was married but had no children, so his wife left him and he is currently living alone.

Over the years, Mr. Cong has submitted a dossier on Agent Orange contamination to the authorities but has not been recognized. “I have submitted a dossier to the commune three times, the last time was 7-8 years ago, and I heard that the commune had confirmed it. I waited and waited but did not hear anything, so I went to the district to ask, and the staff of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Thanh Chuong district at that time replied, “You do not have a dossier here yet”. Since then, I have not written a dossier anymore,” Mr. Cong sadly said.

Mrs. Thuy, Mr. Cong's wife, cried her eyes out for her son. Photo: Huy Thu

Mr. Cong and his wife are currently in a very difficult situation. They farm several acres of land and raise buffalo and pigs to earn extra income. Although they say they are a couple, Mr. Cong does most of the work because Mrs. Thuy has to take care of the children all day, and sometimes Mr. Cong has to work at night to go to the fields. Mr. Cong's greatest wish now is to receive attention and help from the State, all levels and sectors.

“My father and I both fought in fierce battlefields. After being discharged, my father died early from illness, and my children became disabled. Neither of us received any benefits. At this point, I no longer have any hope of curing my children, but I hope the State, the government, departments, and agencies at all levels will pay attention, help, and resolve the issue so that I can receive benefits like other veterans in the same situation,” said Mr. Cong.

Mr. Nguyen Van Phi - Head of Thuan Hoa hamlet, Thanh Hoa commune said: Mr. Cong and I are both veterans. Mr. Cong's family has the most special situation in the hamlet, with 3 sick children, and is currently raising 2 children with cerebral palsy, who have to be carried in their arms. Although we feel sorry for Mr. Cong's family, the neighbors in the hamlet cannot help much.