Heartbreaking situation of mother and two children with congenital heart disease

Visiting the family of Pham Van Huy and Pham Van Hieu in Hamlet 8, Nghia An Commune (Nghia Dan), we saw a house built of unplastered boards, with almost no valuable furniture. There was only a bed and a table, which was used as a study place and a place to receive guests for the mother and her three children. Pham Thi Tam (Huy and Hieu's mother) lay on the bed with tired eyes and weak breathing due to a serious illness that had plagued her for many years, struggling to sit up to talk.

The small house built with a plank, not plastered yet, of Pham Thi Tam and her children. Photo: Minh Thai

Less than 5 years after getting married, her husband died of cancer. At that time, Huy and Hieu were only 2-3 years old, leaving Ms. Tam to raise two children alone. Not long after, the pain multiplied when Hieu had symptoms of frequent fainting, the doctor concluded that he had a heart disease with weak blood flow and heart problems. Then, Hieu's brother also received the diagnosis of this disease.

Ms. Pham Thi Tam confided: “I have been sick for several years now, and have sold all my assets to have money for medicine for myself and my two children. There were times when I thought about dying to ease my children’s suffering, but seeing them still so young, I could not bear to close my eyes…”.

Outside of class, Pham Van Huy spends time taking care of his mother. Photo: Minh Thai

Currently, Ms. Tam and Hieu have to take heart support medication regularly, without which the heart will stop beating. Although only 8 years old, when asked about his situation, Hieu was speechless, then expressed his wish to be healthy like his friends of the same age: "My family's situation is very difficult, all 3 of us are sick, I just hope everyone in the family is healthy, not having to suffer from heart attacks so that we can be healthy like our friends."

Nghia An Primary School (Nghia Dan) launched the "Rice Jar of Love" movement to help two students Pham Van Huy and Pham Van Hieu. Photo: Minh Thai

Faced with the difficult circumstances of Tam and her family, local authorities and philanthropists have donated and provided both material and spiritual support to facilitate treatment. In addition to regular support for Huy and Hieu, Nghia An Primary School will soon organize the program “Heart for Children” and the “Charitable Arms” music night to call for help.

Teachers donate and support Pham Van Huy and Pham Van Hieu. Photo: Minh Thai

Ms. Que Thi Thanh Hoai - Principal of Nghia An Primary School said: "The circumstances of Huy and Hieu are very difficult, their father passed away early, their mother and both of them have heart disease. In the past time, teachers and students of the school have done many meaningful things such as building the "Rice Saving Jar" and "Piggy Bank" movements, collecting scrap paper and scrap to help."

The lives of Pham Thi Tam and her three children are facing many difficulties due to serious illness. Photo: Minh Thai

In an empty house with no assets left to sell, Ms. Pham Thi Tam is almost hopeless because of her serious illness and the difficulties ahead. The family's economy is difficult, all 3 mother and children are suffering from excruciating pain every day, pushing them to the fragile boundary between life and death...