Single mother raising a child with congenital heart disease

(Baonghean.vn) - Thinking that fate had not come, her health was poor, and she was over 40 years old and still had no family, Ms. Tran Thi Hien decided to have a child to support her in her old age. Unexpectedly, as soon as she gave birth, her child had to be hospitalized continuously because of congenital heart disease.

The ground-floor house in block 4, Hung Nguyen town is the shelter of 3 families: parents, the older brother's family and Hien's mother and children. The family has 4 siblings, and the family is poor, so all four Hien siblings had to drop out of school. When they were young, the sisters had to work for hire to support themselves. After starting a family, the two older brothers also worked as construction workers, with unstable incomes, and had to rent a house without a house.

Hien’s mother has neurological and joint problems, making it difficult for her to walk. Her father has paralysis and jaw stiffness, making it difficult for him to eat and drink. He needs help with all his personal activities. Despite their illnesses, the couple still endured and did not go to the hospital for treatment because their children were struggling to make ends meet.

Ms. Hien is heartbroken that her baby is nearly 7 months old and weighs only 3.8 kg. Photo: Dam Phuong

Little Hien, weak in body, worked day and night "selling her face to the ground, selling her back to the sky" with 4 sao of rice fields, had no time to rest, let alone go out with friends. Youth passed by without her knowing. Before she had time to save up enough money to buy a decent set of clothes, she was already over 40. Feeling sorry for herself, many sleepless nights Hien could only cry silently...

She decided to become a single mother and give birth to a child in the hope of being a supporter when her parents passed away. In August 2016, baby girl Tran Thi Ngoc Anh was born, weighing 3.5 kg. Hien's whole family was happy to see both mother and child safe and sound. However, as soon as she was born, Anh had difficulty breathing and her face turned purple, so she had to be hospitalized for treatment.

At the Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital, she was diagnosed with a complete atrioventricular septal defect. The doctor said that the sooner the surgery, the better, but after the examination and diagnosis, Anh contracted pneumonia and had to be treated continuously in the hospital, with very little hope of survival. The doctors actively and wholeheartedly treated her, but Anh's health was still very weak. Just 2 months old, she had to be taken to the National Children's Hospital for emergency treatment.

Knowing the single mother and child's situation, the patient's family also gave them money for daily meals. Photo: Dam Phuong.

After curing pneumonia, the doctor advised Hien to try to nourish her mother so that her child would be healthy, and arrange about 30 million for heart surgery for her child as soon as possible, and it might take 3 surgeries. Hien held back tears and took her child home. On the days before the Lunar New Year, Anh turned purple again and could not breathe, and had to go to the emergency room. This time, Hien and her mother were taken by the Children's Hospital ambulance straight to Hanoi and had emergency surgery that same night. After nearly two months in the hospital after the surgery, Hien and her mother were discharged and returned home, but had to borrow nearly 30 million VND for the surgery.

Since giving birth, Hien has been taking her child from one hospital to another. The fields have been left to grow weeds, all food expenses have to depend on poor siblings, and there is also the unpaid debt. Both parents are sick and depend on their children, they have no assets except a small house that had to be divided into shelters for 3 families of nearly 10 people.

Elderly parents and Hien and her mother in front of a small house for 3 families in block 4, Hung Nguyen town. Photo: Dam Phuong

Although the hospital allowed her to pay for the surgery on credit, Hien clearly understood that her child still had to undergo two more surgeries, and that her life was not guaranteed. Looking at her child who was almost 7 months old but only weighed 3.8 kg, just a little more than when he was born. Hien sadly shared: I am always afraid, because my child's illness is serious, and he is weak, and if he has to go to the emergency room again and have surgery, it will be very dangerous. The money I have saved for many years has been exhausted in no time, and the debt to relatives and the policy bank is getting higher and higher...

Mr. Nguyen Van Hao - Secretary of the Party Committee of Hung Nguyen Town said: Due to the circumstances of Hien's family, the government also created conditions to complete all procedures and care for and share, the neighbors sympathized and helped with rice and milk boxes, but not much. However, for Anh to have the conditions to be treated, it will take a long time and cost a lot of money, and her circumstances are too difficult. Therefore, we hope for the support of the community to have the opportunity to bring life to Anh.

Ha Linh