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 held 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 now. 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 Mrs. 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 1994), fell ill while she was in preschool. After 3 years of treatment, she passed away at the age of 8.

Mrs. Thuy recalls: That day, when my grandchild came home from school and reached the gate, I heard him say, “Mom, my legs are so tired,” then he collapsed and couldn’t walk anymore, and had to crawl on his hands. My husband and I were shocked and took him to the hospital. The doctor said he 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 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, Traditional Medicine Hospital, acupuncture and thread implantation centers, etc.), but without results.

The health of the two children is very weak, when awake, their 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 go to a hospital for a check-up, the doctor asks if anyone in the family has 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 duties until his demobilization in 1987. While in the army, he belonged to the 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 present 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 and had 4 children, 3 of whom had cerebral palsy. One daughter got married and moved to Nam Dinh many years ago but 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. He was married but had no children, so his wife left him and he is currently living alone.

Over the years, Mr. Cong has made a dossier about Agent Orange contamination and sent it to the authorities but it has not been recognized. “I have made a dossier three times and sent it to the commune, the last time was 7-8 years ago, and I heard that the commune had confirmed it. I waited for a long time but did not see anything, so I went to the district to ask, and the officer 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 both work on several fields 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, sometimes Mr. Cong has to work at night to go to the fields. Mr. Cong's biggest 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 due to 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 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: Cong and I are both veterans. Cong's family has the most special situation in the hamlet, with 3 sick children and currently raising 2 children with cerebral palsy who have to be carried in their arms. Although we feel sorry for Cong's family, the neighbors in the hamlet cannot help much.