The heartbreaking plight of a 7th-grade boy caring for his mentally ill father.

Arriving at Trong's house in Hamlet 4, Nam Anh Commune, when the sun was already high in the sky, witnessing the scene of the father and son exchanging food and water through the window made me feel even more sorry for the boy's family circumstances.

Inside the window frame, Nguyen Van Hung (45 years old), with his thin body, gaunt face, and vacant, emotionless eyes, seemed not to notice his youngest son bringing him food. After taking the food, he quickly ate it, then threw his belongings into a corner of the house.

Inside the house, everything was in disarray and mess, with loud music blaring from the music player. Trọng said, "Because Dad was sick."mental illness"He often wandered around, so his family had to keep him indoors to care for him. Every day, his only companions were his music player, sometimes playing it all night, preventing those around him from sleeping."

The two-room house where Trong's family lives. Photo: Huy Thu

According to Hung's son, his family used to do business in Dak Lak province. Although both husband and wife were hardworking and diligent, life was always fraught with misfortune and difficulties. First, their eldest son died from a serious illness.

In 2015, when his wife, Nguyen Thi Nga, fell seriously ill and their financial situation became dire, the whole family had to move back to their hometown. His wife passed away that same year, leaving him and two young children (his youngest son was only 7 years old).

Out of compassion for the orphaned father and son, the maternal side of the family gave them their two-room house to live in. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Sau (66 years old), Hung's mother-in-law, said: "My family built this house for my son to live in, but he went to the South to work far away, so we gave it to Hung and his son."

Every day, Hung would join the villagers in working as a construction laborer to earn a living. Just when it seemed life was already difficult, tragedy struck his family again.

Because Hung often wanders around, his family has to keep him indoors for safety. Photo: Huy Thu

In early 2020, Mr. Hung began exhibiting unusual behavior and mental instability. Around April last year, he left home and wandered aimlessly, once even going as far as Thanh Nho commune (Thanh Chuong district), nearly 50 km from his home, requiring his relatives to search for him and bring him back.

To restrict his movements, his relatives considered confining him to the house for care. Since then, he has spent his days and nights confined to the two-room house, lying down, sitting, or shouting. Whenever someone came to open the door, he would want to rush out into the yard to run. He would hastily grab bags of belongings, muttering, "Going to the rice paddies."

Every day, his biological mother from Hamlet 6 or his son would bring food and water through the window. Occasionally, relatives would open the door to clean, bathe, and help him get ready.

Trong and his father often exchange food and water through the window. Photo: Huy Thu

Ms. Nguyen Thi Sau added that Hung's father, Mr. Nguyen Van Tan (born in 1940), was a veteran of the war against the Americans. He was affected by Agent Orange and also suffered from mental illness before his death. Whether Hung suffers from the aftereffects of Agent Orange is a concern for many in his family.

Out of love for her son-in-law who was seriously ill, and for her grandchildren who had lost their kind mother, Mrs. Sau has, over the years, taken over the role of her daughter in caring for and supporting her two grandchildren. Trong's older brother, who was frail and underweight, had to drop out of school early, while Trong himself has completed 7th grade at Anh Xuan Secondary School.

Every day after school, the boy goes home to help his paternal and maternal grandmothers take care of his father. Hung has also been brought back to Hamlet 6 by his mother a few times to be cared for. However, both grandmothers are in poor health, so most of the care for his father still falls on Trong.

Nguyen Van Trong shared: “My mother passed away after a drug overdose. My father is suffering from mental illness. My family is truly unfortunate.”

Every time an acquaintance opens the door to his house, Mr. Hung wants to pack his bags and leave. Photo: Huy Thu

More than a year has passed since he fell ill, and due to family circumstances, Mr. Hung has not yet been taken to the hospital by his relatives.He has been examined and treated. His condition seems to be getting worse, while his children are not yet old enough to take care of him.

His son's greatest worry and most heartfelt wish right now is to be able to take his father for medical treatment. Trong couldn't hide his sadness: "We talked to Grandma about taking Dad to the hospital last year, and after much discussion, due to financial difficulties, we still haven't been able to take him."

Nguyen Van Trong. Photo: Huy Thu

Mr. Tran Van Quyet, Secretary of the Youth Union of Nam Anh commune, said: "Nguyen Van Trong's family is in one of the most difficult and unfortunate circumstances in the commune. To help him, the local Youth Union has launched a fundraising campaign, calling on agencies, units, philanthropists, youth union members, young Pioneers, and benefactors inside and outside the commune to provide assistance."

More than ever, Trong's family desperately needs the support of the community. Every act of kindness is a much-needed source of encouragement and sharing for him.

All assistance should be sent to:

* Nguyen Van Trong, Hamlet 4, Nam Anh Commune, Nam Dan District, Nghe An Province.

* Publishing, Quality Control and Social Activities Department, Nghe An Newspaper, No. 3, Le Nin Avenue, Vinh City, Nghe An Province. Tel: 02388.600.006