The desire to go to school of a Nung female student in Nghe An who takes care of her bedridden mother alone

We were at Phuc's house in Tan Phuong 2 hamlet, Thanh Lam commune on a day in early August; while his friends were preparing everything for the new school year, he was worried about treating and taking care of his mother who had bone marrow disease.

On the old, rickety bed, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Van (51 years old) - Phuc's mother - lay curled up, emaciated, her face pale and pale. It has been more than half a year since she fell ill. Despite going to the hospital many times for treatment, it seems that her condition has not improved but has gotten worse.

Si Denh Phuc has to constantly take care of his mother who is sick in bed.

Through the story of her mother, who was “born with hardship”, it is known that after finishing high school, she went to the South to do business. While working at a pho noodle factory in Kon Tum province, she married Mr. Si Pho Cau (born in 1956) - a Nung ethnic.

Married in 2000, a few years later, the couple and their children moved to Thanh Lam commune (Thanh Chuong, Nghe An) which is her hometown to live. Returning home with empty hands and a few children, her relatives took pity on her and pooled money to build a small house for the couple on her parents' land so they could have a place to live.

There were four mouths to feed in the family, but only one sao of rice field, so after a short stay in the countryside, Mr. Cau returned to Kon Tum. He said he was going to work, but his health was poor, he had many illnesses, so the money he earned was not enough to cover his own medical expenses, let alone enough to send home to help his wife and children.

Mrs. Van and her children in the countryside live in poverty all year round, doing whatever jobs are hired, struggling to make ends meet. Since 2009, she has suffered from a strange disease, gradually losing both rows of teeth, having difficulty eating, declining health, and working at a reduced pace. Her family is considered "chronically poor" in the commune.

In the family, there are now 2 mother and son, Phuc becomes the breadwinner of the family.

In early 2019, Ms. Van suffered from paralysis of her limbs, had to use a cane or wheelchair to walk, and was often dizzy. After being examined at many hospitals in the province, the doctor concluded that she had bone marrow disease and required long-term treatment and blood transfusions.

Her family was poor, earning a living was already difficult, now worrying about paying for medical treatment was even more difficult. The cow was the most valuable asset in the house, she had to sell it to raise money to go to the hospital. As prescribed, she had to go to the hospital once a month for treatment, but for many months, due to her unusual health, she had to be hospitalized continuously.

The eldest daughter got married in another commune, had a tumor, and was poor, so she could not help her mother. Si Denh Phuc (born 2003) - the second daughter, studying in grade 10, became the family's breadwinner, taking care of everything. In the middle of the last school year, when her mother fell ill, Phuc had to take care of her bedridden mother, take her to the hospital, and worry about her studies.

Si Denh Phuc is a good student.

“Phuc is a diligent student with the will to overcome difficulties. His family situation is quite difficult, his mother is seriously ill, his sister is poor, in this difficult time, he really doesn’t know where to turn. At the end of the last school year, Phuc confided, “Maybe I will just try to finish 10th grade, teacher, because I probably won’t be able to go to school anymore after 11th grade.” Feeling sorry for the student, my class and I also went to his house to encourage him, hoping that next school year Phuc will still go to school.”

Ms. Ho Thi Cam Hang - Homeroom Teacher of Class 10C, Dang Thai Mai High School

Ms. Van's petition presents her situation and appeals to local departments, branches and organizations.

Before the mother and child continued to go to the hospital, Mrs. Van reluctantly had to write a 2-page application explaining the family situation, asking for help from local departments, agencies and organizations. “My family is poor and short of people, when I got sick, Phuc took care of everything at home and at the hospital. It was understandable that I was sick, but I loved my child and was afraid that he would have to drop out of school,” Mrs. Van shared wearily.

The new school year is approaching, while Phuc has to start taking her mother to the hospital for treatment. Due to her poor and needy family, the desire to continue going to school and the dream of becoming a teacher of the studious Nung ethnic girl are at risk of being interrupted.

Saying goodbye to the small house in the middle of a poor neighborhood, the image of Phuc and his mother evokes many worries.

Please send any help to:

Si Denh Phuc, Tan Phuong 2 hamlet, Thanh Lam commune, Thanh Chuong district, Nghe An;

Phone number: 0345259325

Account number: 3615 2053 68015 Agribank Thanh Chuong branch - Nghe An