The precarious fate of a poor Catholic family.

Even though they still have the warmth and sharing of neighborly love and community spirit, they remain trapped in a vicious cycle of hardship.

Diseases surround us.

Returning from the hospital after months of battling a serious illness, Mr. Tran Van Cau is now just a shadow of his former self.

The severe aftereffects of persistent pleural effusion have completely robbed him of his ability to work, leaving a man who was once the family's breadwinner now unable to stand on his own two feet.

That tragedy dealt a devastating blow, plunging the already impoverished family into utter destitution. In their empty house, Cầu's chances of receiving further medical treatment were dashed. Poverty was suffocating the lives of these four unfortunate people, turning daily meals into a constant worry, while their future seemed bleak and without a way out.

A hard life

Running back and forth to find medicine for her husband and food for her children, even a woman as unskillful and quick-witted as Truong Thi Lien has reached the limit of exhaustion.

Her thin, frail hands could only earn a meager seventy thousand dong each day from collecting scrap metal – a hard and arduous job she had been involved in for a long time. The nearly 20 million dong hospital debt from the days her husband, Cau, was in the hospital weighed heavily on her shoulders, leaving her completely helpless and not knowing where to turn for help.

Tra My felt sorry for her mother's constant worries and her father's dying wish on his sickbed, but she could only stay at home, dedicating her time to helping her family. At an age when she was too young to understand the hardships of adulthood, My had to shoulder the immense responsibilities of a grown woman.

The unwavering filial piety of the two siblings, Tra My and Quoc Duy, is like a rare ray of warmth, comforting their small home amidst the storms of fate. However, behind those innocent eyes, a heart-wrenching question still hangs in the air: What will the future hold for these children? With each passing day, the burden of providing for their family, along with the dark shadow of illness, continues to weigh heavily, suffocating the entire household.

We desperately need sharing.

Faced with a cruel twist of fate, the neighbors extended a helping hand to Lien and Cau's family with special care and support. However, in this impoverished rural area, even with the most compassionate hearts, their resources are limited.

The bowls of rice, the small donations from neighbors, though heartwarming, could not possibly overcome the immense hardships and severe storms threatening to tear down the dilapidated house. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Mai, Head of the Front Committee of Hamlet 16, Phuc Loc Commune, told us:"For this small family, there's no other way for them to rebuild their lives. Now, the village's Front Committee only hopes that kind-hearted people will extend a helping hand to save the whole family."

Another day filled with anxiety began. Stepping out into the garden with a heavy heart, Lien absolutely refused to allow herself a moment's rest.

She carefully gathered and saved every last wild vegetable and green tea leaf remaining in her barren garden – things that, though few, still held some value to bring to the humble market. Her instincts as a wife and mother prevented her from giving up. She still hoped, still scrimped and saved every penny, in the hope of contributing to the already dire circumstances of her family.

"

All support and assistance should be sent to the following address:
Ms. Truong Thi Lien, Hamlet 16, Phuc Loc Commune,
Nghe An province.

Recipient of assistance: Ms. Nguyen Thi Mai
Head of the Front Committee of Hamlet 16, Phuc Loc Commune. Phone number: 0988.754.395.
Reporter in charge of the program:
Journalist Nguyen Ngoc Dung,
Phone number: 0913.064.060.