Mother with cancer, father disabled, the path to school of a male student is unclear

The house in Hamlet 9A, Hung Long Commune (Hung Nguyen) was dark, the shelter of Nguyen Thi Thao (born in 1969) and Thai Van Khanh (born in 1970). Having just returned home after nearly 2 months of radiation therapy at the Hanoi Oncology Hospital with her right breast completely removed, Thao lay unconscious on the bed. Knowing that there were guests, she could not get up, her eyes opened and closed dully, her mouth moved without forming words. Tears streamed down her nose, her sobs were blocked in her throat...

Khanh is mentally challenged, and in addition to his cleft palate and eczema, his legs are always rough and ulcerated. He is mentally challenged, so he cannot even do the simplest task of cooking rice. The only job Khanh can do is herd cows in the field; however, recently his legs have suddenly swelled up, showing signs of edema, making it difficult for him to walk. Every month, Khanh receives a monthly allowance for the disabled.

Being mentally ill and sick, Khanh could do nothing but herd cows, but now his eczema is incurable and has caused his legs to swell, making it very difficult for him to walk.

Ms. Thao is the second child in a poor family with many children. Because the family is poor and old, she still loves Khanh because he is stupid and decides to stay with him for spiritual support. In 2001, their son, Thai Van Dat, was born. The burden of the family is even heavier on the woman's shoulders when her husband is unable to work and her children are growing up.

Ms. Thao worked hard in the fields and on the fields, hoping to have enough food for her husband and children three times a day. After planting and harvesting, she followed the villagers to sell chickens to earn more money for her husband's medicine. The worries about food and money took up all her time and mind, until the pain in her right breast became sharp, her health declined, she could not bear it and fainted and had to go to the emergency room, then the "death sentence" of late-stage breast cancer was hanging over her head.

The family had to sell their most valuable cow to save Thao's life. After surgery to completely remove her right breast and dozens of chemotherapy shots at Nghe An Oncology Hospital, Thao was transferred to Hanoi for further treatment.

Dat hopes to share some of the pain his mother is suffering.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Truong - Secretary and Head of the Front Committee of Hamlet 9A said: In Hanoi, there is a nephew who helps Ms. Thao, but her husband is so stupid, and her son is not grown up yet... When going to the hospital, the brothers and sisters can only save a little money, but the food is not enough, every day waiting until the patient in the same room finishes eating, then asking for leftovers from others. After the treatment, she goes home and lies flat on the bed, unable to get up again...

There was nothing left to sell at home, and Khanh did not know how to do anything worthwhile, let alone make money. A relative took pity on him and asked him to herd cows. If the cows gave birth, he would receive the calf as capital, and occasionally give them some rice. In the morning, Khanh drove the cows to the pasture and in the afternoon, he drove them back. Relatives living nearby sometimes cooked porridge and brought it over to Thao or helped with the rice cooker. Everyone had their own family and life, and they loved her family very much, but they could only help a little.

Thai Van Dat, a student in grade 11A (Dinh Bat Tuy High School), came home from school and only had time to put away his school bag, change clothes, and then hurriedly take care of his mother... Sympathizing with his situation, the school also mobilized teachers and students in the school to support him. The school board also created conditions to reduce some of his contributions, but in such a situation, Dat did not have the mind to focus on studying.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy - an officer of the Youth Union of Hung Long commune said: "Recently, the Youth Union of the commune coordinated with Long Hoa pagoda to organize a charity music night to raise 22 million VND to support the family. I just hope that Ms. Thao will have better treatment conditions so that Dat can rest assured to complete his high school program."

Dat confided that he didn't dare think about his future life when his mother was no longer around and his father was absent-minded like that; would his studies be ruined?

Any help please send to Thai Van Dat, hamlet 9A, Hung Long commune (Hung Nguyen). Phone: 0163 326 3906.

Or Publishing Department - Social Affairs, Nghe An Newspaper. No. 3, Lenin Street, Vinh City, Nghe An. Phone: 0388 600 006