The mother with cancer was in a coma, just wanting to see her child once.
Five days after the cesarean section to give birth to her son Binh An, the mother Nguyen Thi Lien, a cancer patient at K Hospital, is in a dangerous situation, "hanging by a thread".
"In the first two days after giving birth, Lien felt better, but from May 24 until now, she has barely regained consciousness and had to have an endotracheal tube inserted to assist her breathing. Today (May 28), K Hospital invited colleagues from A9 Bach Mai to come for a consultation. We are doing our best so that she can see her son once," said Mr. Nguyen Ba Tinh, Head of the Social Work Department of K Hospital.
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Baby Binh An is being cared for in an incubator at the Neonatal Care and Treatment Center - Central Maternity Hospital, the baby's health is progressing well - Photo: NGUYEN KHANH |
I hope to see you once.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien was diagnosed with late-stage breast cancer on March 20, when she was 5 months pregnant. At that time, doctors advised her to terminate the pregnancy to save her mother, but she decided to try to give birth first and then think about herself.
And just 5 days after giving birth to baby boy Binh An at the 31st week of pregnancy, Ms. Lien's life was in a "life and death" situation.
Two days after giving birth, she broke up with her husband so he could visit their child who was being cared for at the Central Maternity Hospital, more than 10 km away from her. She also told her husband that she hoped he would come home soon so she could see pictures of her son.
But when her husband returned, Ms. Lien was unconscious, and from that day until now she has not woken up once to see the baby lying in the incubator.
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Mr. Do Van Hung, husband of Ms. Nguyen Thi Lien, takes care of his wife at K Hospital on the afternoon of May 23. Photo: NGUYEN KHANH |
"When the baby was born, because the mother was weak and the baby was also weak, the doctors had to quickly take the baby to the Central Maternity Hospital, which has the conditions to care for premature babies, so the mother could not see her baby's face. Currently, we are trying our best, focusing on all good medicine for Lien, her situation is so pitiful. I just hope she can come see her baby once," said Mr. Tinh.
Since his wife became seriously ill, Mr. Do Van Hung, Ms. Lien’s husband, has had to focus on taking care of his wife and has not been able to visit their son again. Every time he misses his son, he looks at the photo of the boy lying in an incubator that the journalists sent him.
He also wished his wife would open her eyes so she could see the baby.
According to Mr. Tinh, Ms. Lien's illness is in the final stage, the tumor has metastasized to the lungs, liver and many organs, she is not healthy enough to undergo any further surgery.
After the "cesarean section" surgery, Mr. Tran Danh Cuong - Director of the Central Maternity Hospital - said that the mother and child were "temporarily safe". But it seemed that she could only hold on until the baby was born and then gradually weakened.
"We are trying, first of all, to make sure she can visit her child once. Although we cannot say anything in advance, what she said after the surgery, her wishes, haunt us..." - Mr. Tinh said.