Heartbreaking situation of 92-year-old mother raising 2 mentally ill children
(Baonghean.vn) - Although he is at a rare age, Mr. Mao still has to struggle to take care of his two mentally ill daughters and worries about their lives when he is no longer in this world.
That is the pitiful situation of Mrs. Duong Thi Mao (92 years old) in hamlet 7, Thanh Van commune, Thanh Chuong district that when mentioned, everyone here feels sorry.
The image of an old woman with gray hair, disheveled clothes with many holes, trying to draw water from the well to wash dishes in the hot summer afternoon sun made those who witnessed it feel sad.
Pouring a glass of water for the guests, Mrs. Mao pointed to her two daughters: “That is Loi, my youngest daughter. All day long she just sits absent-mindedly, languidly in one place in the dark. And that is Minh, my poor fourth child who was not born normal.”
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| Although he is 92 years old, he still has to do everything every day to take care of his two sick children. Photo: Diep Phuong |
When she was young, Ms. Mao and her late husband had 6 children (2 boys and 4 girls) namely: Phan Thi Hanh, Phan Thi Phuc, Phan Ba Van, Phan Thi Minh, Phan Ba Thang and Phan Thi Loi. Her family life was very happy until misfortune came one after another.
When she was born, the fourth child, Phan Thi Minh (born in 1969), was plump, healthy and active like any other child, but as she grew older she became more and more silly, her health gradually weakened and her nerves were not normal. Next was the youngest daughter, Phan Thi Loi (born in 1979), who was gentle and good at studying, but when she was in her teenage years, she suddenly fell ill. Loi did not speak all day, just sat in the dark alone and ate only raw rice to survive. For decades, the couple worked hard to earn money to treat their two children, all the valuable assets in the house were gone, but the children's illnesses did not improve.
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| Mr. Mao's dilapidated house is seriously deteriorating. Photo: Diep Phuong |
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| This is the place where the mother and her three children shelter from the sun and rain. Photo: Diep Phuong |
Six years ago, her husband passed away due to old age and poor health. Since then, the burden has been on Mrs. Mao's shoulders as she has to take care of meals and everything for her two sick children.
The remaining four healthy children of the old lady have all started their own families. Among them, Ms. Hanh and Mr. Thang settled in the South, where life in a foreign land is still full of hardships and deprivation. Ms. Phuc and Mr. Van live in their hometown, but although they live near the old lady, their family situation is also very difficult. Ms. Phuc's husband has a mental illness, and he has to take care of his husband and children with a few fields, so he cannot help his family. All hope lies in Mr. Van who goes to work in Laos, and his economy is somewhat "better" than his sisters, but his wife has a heart disease and is sick all year round. All the money they earn is spent on treating their husbands and wives. Although they love their mother and sisters very much, they are "powerless" because the family situation of the four siblings is very difficult.
| The worries of Mr. Mao in his old age. |
Currently, the life of the three mother and children of Mrs. Mao depends only on one million VND in state subsidies for the elderly and support for the mentally ill. No fields, no garden, no livestock, nothing valuable in the house except the old, dilapidated and seriously degraded house. It is bearable in the dry season, but on rainy days, water leaks all over the house.
Now, at the age of 92, Mr. Mao should be living a peaceful life, enjoying the care of his children and grandchildren. But now, he has not had a day of peace. His legs are no longer steady, taking care of himself is difficult, but every day he still has to take care of his two mentally ill children. What he always worries about is how his two sick daughters will live when he is no longer in this world.
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| Mr. Mao with his two sick children. Photo: Diep Phuong |
Mr. Nguyen Viet Binh - the old man's neighbor said: The old man's family is one of the most difficult and unfortunate in the village. Therefore, everyone in the village sympathizes with him and helps him a little in his difficult time, but it is not enough. Hopefully, when they know about his situation, there will be many benefactors who will help, so that the mother and son can ease some of their difficulties.
Please send any help 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: Ms. Duong Thi Mao, Hamlet 7, Thanh Van Commune, Thanh Chuong District, Nghe An Province. Phone number: 01668.567.210
