Mother with cancer struggles to raise two children to go to college

(Baonghean.vn) - After 6 rounds of chemotherapy, having to have surgery to remove her left breast and daily injections to limit the growth of cancer cells, the education of her two daughters is the motivation for her to struggle to survive... that is the tearful confession of Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh (born 1968) in Block 1, Hung Nguyen Town.

In 2010, she found signs of breast cancer. After researching information, she knew that if the disease was detected early and treated early, there would be a chance of cure. However, her family was poor, her husband was constantly sick, and her two children were still in school, so she had to endure it silently.

In 2012, her husband passed away after a long illness. Her two daughters were in important stages of schooling, so she tried to overcome the pain. In early 2015, when she could no longer bear it, she went to the hospital, but the doctor said it was too late.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh in front of her house. Photo: Ha Linh

After nearly 2 years of undergoing 6 rounds of chemotherapy, having to have surgery to remove the left breast and daily injections to limit the growth of the right breast, now, through examination, it has been discovered that the tumor has metastasized to the right side. She does not regret hiding her illness or delaying treatment, because it cannot be cured. She must devote all her time, money and energy to the education of her two daughters.

Weak and plagued by illness, Ms. Minh moved slowly, her face was still pale, but when talking about her children, her face exuded a strong endurance, a strong will of maternal love to protect her children. She did not appear weak or tired so that her children could go to school with peace of mind... She said, she endured everything for the sake of her children's education, for their future...

Her two daughters are Cao Thi Hoa (born in 1995), currently a fourth-year student at the Faculty of Investment Economics, and Cao Thi Hong (born in 1997), a second-year student at the Faculty of Mathematics Education, both at Vinh University. When talking about her children, she worries and feels most guilty about her youngest daughter, Hong: she is good at math, cherishes the dream of studying at a prestigious university, going to the capital, but because her family is poor, her father passed away, and her mother is sick, she had to give up... Even though she had to take care of her sick mother and miss a lot of school, she still got 26 points in the exam, she feels sorry and sorry for her...

There is no property in the dilapidated house, two college-age daughters still have to sit on the bed to study. Photo: Ha Linh

Her family has 6 siblings, her husband's side has 8 siblings, her husband served in the army for 5 years in the Cambodian battlefield and then returned home due to poor health, until he was 40 years old, he met her and came home with her. After getting married, she still had to take care of the family, farming, housework, taking care of the children and taking care of her husband's illness. She alone worked hard in the fields, taking care of 5 sao of rice fields by herself, the land was gone in the morning, and people came back at night when it was unclear who they were. In 1994, she saved up to build a level 4 house in hamlet 1 and since then it has been degraded but her strength has been exhausted.

Her two children go to school far away by bicycle. Their relatives kindly pooled their money to buy them an old motorbike, so they have a motorbike to share. She often encourages her two children to study hard. They continuously receive scholarships and certificates of merit from the school.

Now, she is too weak to farm anymore, so she has paid back some of the land. Her relatives and neighbors still keep 2 acres of land to help her have rice to eat for her and her 3 children. Therefore, the tuition fee for her two children and the medical treatment for her are urgent issues...

The Party cell secretary and the executive committee of block 1 (Hung Nguyen town) regularly visit and encourage Ms. Minh. Photo: Ha Linh

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung - Head of Block 1 shared: Ms. Minh's family is currently in a very difficult situation, she has to undergo long-term treatment, has a lot of debt, and her two children are in college, so it is very expensive. Therefore, the district Fatherland Front, the town government, as well as the villagers all sympathize and hope that there will be a benefactor to support her two children's education.

We look forward to the support of readers near and far so that her two daughters can graduate from university as the woman with cancer has wished to send her children to university.

Ha Linh