Orphaned girl takes care of sick grandmother

We arrived at Thanh's house when she had just returned from school. The small house in the middle of the village of Thanh and her grandmother seemed to be more crowded today because relatives and neighbors came to inquire about the health of Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hong (80 years old) - her grandmother. For the past few days, she has been sick and is being treated at the district general hospital.

In the story about the poor female student's difficult situation, Ms. Nguyen Thi Tam - Thanh's neighbor said: "In this neighborhood, Thanh's family is the most difficult. The grandmother is old and often sick, Thanh is an orphan, both grandmother and grandchild live on the support of siblings and neighbors. Recently, the neighborhood also launched a fundraising campaign, each family donated 10-20 thousand VND, depending on their generosity, to encourage her to start the new school year."

At 6 months old, his mother left and his father died of mental illness. Thanh lived with his grandmother.

Thanh is the only grandson of Mr. Hong. His father, Mr. Nguyen Tat Hoang (born in 1972), was also a normal person before, but after an unsuccessful attempt to work abroad, he gradually became mentally ill. When Thanh was 6 months old, because his father became seriously ill, his mother could not bear the situation and left home, leaving her child with her grandmother. It can be said that Thanh grew up in painful days, lacking the love of his mother, especially being haunted and afraid of a crazy father.

According to Mrs. Tam, during the years Thanh’s father was sick, few outsiders dared to come to the house. Mr. Hoang often lit a fire in the middle of the yard, danced, cursed, and screamed miserably… When his illness became too severe and he could not be controlled, his relatives had to chain his hands and feet to feed him on the spot. In March 2019, he passed away after a severe illness.

These past few days, Thanh has been going to school and taking care of his grandmother at the hospital.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Hong (80 years old) - Thanh's grandmother, swallowed her tears, trying to save each bunch of vegetables, each egg to raise her granddaughter. For the past 15 years, she has been both the father and mother of her poor granddaughter. In recent years, her health has been declining, she has been sick frequently. Early this September, unable to hold on any longer, she had to go to the hospital.

Thanh said that when her grandmother was still healthy, the two of them often dug the garden to grow vegetables, sow beans, raise chickens, etc. to earn extra money. Every day, after school, Thanh followed her aunt to the market to sell vegetables and eggs. Many nights, she followed her friends in the village to catch crabs and snails in the fields to sell, to earn money to buy books. Now that her grandmother is sick, she goes to school in the morning and in the afternoon she has to go to the hospital to take care of her. Life, which was already difficult, has become even more difficult.

The orphan girl's wish is to finish grade 12 and then go to work to help her grandmother.

Growing up in difficult circumstances, Thanh always tried to be a good student. Overcoming difficulties, Thanh has continuously achieved excellent results in recent years, especially in the recent transfer exam, Thanh passed the 10th grade of Do Luong 3 High School. The poor female student's wish is to finish 12th grade, find a suitable job, go to work and help her grandmother.

Talking about his student, Mr. Nguyen Cong Phap - homeroom teacher of class 10 T3, Do Luong 3 High School said: "On the opening day, we visited and encouraged Nguyen Thi Thanh. Thanh's situation is the most special case in the class. Hopefully, the departments, organizations and the community will help her so that Thanh can continue to go to school."

Please send any help to: Nguyen Thi Thanh, Hamlet 9, Tan Son Commune, Do Luong District, Nghe An Province or Class 10 T3, Do Luong 3 High School.

Or through the Publishing Department - Social Affairs, Nghe An Newspaper, No. 3, Lenin Street, Vinh City. Phone: 02383.686.585