BRIDGE OF COMPASSION: Man undergoing dialysis cares for his wife who suffered a stroke.

A series of events

More than eight years ago, during a follow-up examination, Mr. Vi Van Ngu was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney failure. Leaving behind his home, wife, children, and farming work, his life is now tied to hospitals. Currently, he rents a room near Coi Market (Vinh Loc Ward) to facilitate treatment at the Nephrology, Dialysis, and Rheumatology Department of Military Hospital 4. After each dialysis session, he wearily drags himself back to his dilapidated rented room to care for himself. His two daughters are married and live far away, unable to support their father. His wife in their hometown has to work hard to earn money to cover his medical expenses.

Having endured countless hardships and difficulties, misfortune did not stop there. More than two years ago, his wife, Ms. Ha Thi Thuy, suffered a stroke due to overwork. After treatment, her life was saved, but Ms. Thuy suffered severe aftereffects and is now confined to a wheelchair. For easier care and mobility, Ms. Thuy is also receiving treatment at Military Hospital 4.

For over two years, accompanying his wife on her battle against illness, Mr. Vi Van Ngu had to shoulder and take care of everything: from meals, transportation, hygiene, visits between departments, to supporting her rehabilitation. He hid all his pain and worries in his heart to try his best to fulfill his duties as a husband.

Selling the house to pay for medical treatment.

The couple are unable to work, meaning their daily income has ceased. Their monthly rent, utilities, and other expenses amount to 700,000 dong. This doesn't even include medication, food, and living costs, which also run into millions of dong. Mr. Ngữ and his wife frequently require emergency treatment due to exhaustion and complications from medication. All the burden falls on Mr. Ngữ's already frail shoulders. The couple has had to sell their only asset, a small house in their hometown, to cover medical expenses and other living costs. The poor man's dream is for his wife to become financially independent and receive social welfare benefits from the government.

When asked if he had any other wishes, his eyes welled up with tears:"I also wish I could have a small house for my wife and me to come home to, but now I'm so weak and exhausted that I can only dream about it..."

We desperately need compassionate hearts.

""At one point, I was seriously ill, and I also had to take care of my wife who was undergoing rehabilitation. There were days when I came home from dialysis, exhausted and unsteady on my feet, but I had to immediately clean up after my wife so we could take her to her acupuncture appointment on time. We are also patients, fellow men, and witnessing that scene brought tears to our eyes..."That's the story of Mr. Phan Van Trinh, a patient at the Traditional Medicine Department, where his wife, Vi Van Ngu, is receiving treatment.