Heartbreaking scene of a disabled husband taking care of a wife with cancer and a child with acute appendicitis

We visited Mrs. Tran Thi Nguyet’s house (born in 1968) on a cold, rainy day, and the family atmosphere seemed even heavier. Mrs. Nguyet recounted that in 1998 she married Mr. Pham Van Hanh (born in 1954) – who had a congenital disability and could not do heavy work. Therefore, the family’s daily meals almost depended on Mrs. Nguyet.

But this woman has albinism and is in poor health so she can’t do much. The couple mainly earns a living by doing seasonal work. Life is still poor but the small house is always filled with laughter when the baby boy is born and is obedient and studies well.

The small family was living in peace when disaster struck one after another. In early 2018, after many sore throats and high fevers, Mrs. Nguyet went to the doctor and found out that she had thyroid cancer. Difficulties piled up on difficulties, with no money for medicine, having to worry about food and clothing for her disabled husband, and her children being sick often, so the terrible disease became more and more serious.

Mr. Pham Van Hanh takes care of his wife with late-stage thyroid cancer. Photo: Minh Thai

The tumor spread throughout her body, causing her limbs to become completely paralyzed. Knowing that Ms. Nguyet had a serious illness, her relatives encouraged her and took her to the hospital for treatment, but her condition did not improve, while the family's finances became increasingly exhausted.

Both sides of the family are poor, so no one can help Mrs. Nguyet and her husband forever. Now, the thyroid cancer has reached the final stage, her face shows obvious fatigue, her hair has fallen out after many previous chemotherapy sessions, all she can do is wait for a miracle to happen, to help Mrs. Nguyet have more life.

Cancer has left Ms. Tran Thi Nguyet exhausted, all she can do is wait for a miracle. Photo: Minh Thai

Seeing his wife in pain, the disabled husband was trying to use a hot towel to help his wife relieve her pain, making everyone feel sorry for her. Feeling sorry for his mother, the son dropped out of school and went to Da Nang to work to earn money for medicine. The little money he saved was only enough for 1-2 trips to the hospital. Recently, the son fell from the scaffolding to the ground, and when he got to the hospital, he learned that he had appendicitis but still tried to go to work.

Faced with the difficult situation of Mrs. Tran Thi Nguyet's family, people from Cuong hamlet often visited, some gave oranges, others gave rice. Recently, the Fatherland Front of the commune supported the family to build a solidarity house and supported a breeding cow.

Representatives of local organizations came to encourage and visit Mrs. Tran Thi Nguyet and her husband. Photo: Minh Thai

Ms. Duong Thi Luong - President of the Women's Union of Nghia Khanh commune said: "Mrs. Nguyet's family is poor, her husband is disabled from birth, her children are sick, and Ms. Nguyet has terminal cancer. Given the family's situation, the Women's Union of the commune has called on women to support and help."

Saying goodbye to us, Ms. Nguyet closed her eyes, unable to open them, and said sadly: "If there is a miracle, I just hope that myself and my child will be cured and healthy."

Currently, Mrs. Tran Thi Nguyet's family is in dire need of spiritual and material support to help give them more hope in fighting the disease.

Please send all support to the Department of Publishing and Social Activities - Nghe An Newspaper, No. 3, Le Nin Avenue, Hung Phuc Ward - Vinh City - Nghe An. Contact phone: (023)83.588138; (023)88600006.

Or: Phan Van Loc (son of Ms. Nguyet), Cuong hamlet, Nghia Khanh commune, Nghia Dan district, Nghe An province. Phone number: 0254.251.178.