Heartbreaking situation of two brain-damaged children in need of help

(Baonghean.vn) - Two sisters, Ho Thi Hang Nga (10 years old) and Ho Sy Thai (8 years old), suffered from congenital jaundice that led to brain damage. Up to now, both sisters still cannot sit, walk, or speak on their own. Doctors diagnosed that if stem cell transplantation is performed on the brain, it may help them recover motor function, but at a cost of hundreds of millions of dong. Meanwhile, the two children's families are too poor to manage, and there is no valuable property in the house to mortgage to borrow money from the bank.

In 2005, Mr. Ho Sy Quang and Ms. Le Thi Na, both living in Hamlet 4, Quang Son Commune (Do Luong), got married and had their first daughter, Hang Nga, with a pretty face, but right after birth, she had jaundice. About 5 days later, her whole body turned yellow like turmeric. She gradually stopped breastfeeding. The couple took her to the doctor and were told it was physiological jaundice and would go away on its own.

5 months later, the baby's skin was less yellow but still could not turn over and had little movement, so the couple took the baby to the Swedish Children's Hospital (Hanoi) and the conclusion was that the red blood cells in the blood were broken down too quickly and converted into Bilirubin - a yellow pigment, pathological jaundice, bilirubin exceeded the allowable limit, the liver could not eliminate it in time, it had seeped into the brain, due to brain damage, the baby could not speak, could not see, could not hear; had paralysis of the limbs; had behavioral disorders; did not develop intellectually...

Thai was treated with timely blood transfusion, so his development is improving.

In April 2008, Ms. Na gave birth to another son, Ho Sy Thai, and unfortunately, when Thai was born, he also had jaundice like her. The couple was very scared, so two days after giving birth, although he was very weak, they still tried to take their son to the hospital for examination. The doctor's conclusion was physiological jaundice.

The couple continued to take Thai to the National Children's Hospital, where the doctors directed blood transfusion treatment, so Thai's development tended to improve, his awareness improved, and he could move his arms and legs. Later, in a charity program, he received surgery from Saigon Hospital, so he could sit up and walk on his knees, but he still could not speak.

My maternal grandfather is Le Van Duc - a 1/4 class disabled soldier, with 84% health loss, who served and fought for 7 years in the Khe Sanh battlefield (Quang Tri), suffered a traumatic brain injury and was infected with Agent Orange, and was supported by the State. My paternal grandfather is Ho Sy Bay, who also served in the army for 11 years in the Laos battlefield and the Truong Son - Khe Sanh road (Quang Tri), and is a disabled soldier with 45% health loss.

Thai can walk on his knees, but still cannot speak.

The children's mother, Ms. Le Thi Na, is currently working as an accountant at Nhan Son Primary School, 4 km from home. To have time and conditions to take care of her children, she had to request a transfer to Quang Son Primary School to work as a janitor.

Every day, seeing their two children writhing on the bed, Na and her husband felt heartbroken. Both the maternal and paternal grandfathers were tormented and blamed themselves for the children not being born normal, the children having to suffer and endure so much pain… Although they had taken them to the hospital many times, due to poverty, they only stopped at diagnosis and emergency care and had to take their children home.

In October 2016, after examination at the International Hospital, it was concluded that the two children could be treated to be able to take care of themselves with a regimen: stem cell transplantation to the brain 4-6 times, the cost for each time is 75 million VND/child.

Thai is more developed in cognition and activities than his sister.

The surgery could be scheduled for February 7, 2017, but in the past, while taking care of and treating their two children, Ms. Na and her husband borrowed too much from relatives, the grandparents were sick and needed medicine and daily care, now with the amount of at least 150 million VND for the surgery for their children in the near future, they do not know where to look.

The couple's income is only over 5 million VND/month, not enough to cover the cost of travel for treatment and childcare, all expenses and living expenses are supported by the paternal and maternal families. Having no house of their own and no collateral, the couple cannot borrow money from the bank.

Currently, Nga is receiving emergency treatment at Nghe An Province Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital.

Mr. Le Van Vinh - Secretary of the Quang Son Commune Party Committee (Do Luong) said that his paternal and maternal grandfathers had fought in fierce battlefields and were exposed to Agent Orange, which could have left behind after-effects for their grandchildren. Because of their difficult circumstances, although the government and relatives have paid attention and supported them, a huge amount of money is needed to treat them. We hope that philanthropists and the community will join hands to help so that the two children have the opportunity to reduce their illnesses and be able to take care of themselves.

Currently, Hang Nga has pneumonia and is being treated at the Emergency Resuscitation Department, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital. More than a week has passed, but Nga still has a high fever, convulsions, and shows no signs of improvement. Quang and Na have cried their eyes out for their child, earnestly praying that everyone will open their arms of compassion to save the two children...

Ha Linh