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 white hair and disheveled clothes with many holes, trying to draw water from the well to wash dishes in the hot summer afternoon sun makes those who witness 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 she is 92 years old, she still has to do everything every day to take care of her two sick children. Photo: Diep Phuong |
When she was young, Mrs. 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, Ms. Phan Thi Minh (born in 1969), was also 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, and was in her teenage years when she suddenly fell ill. Loi did not speak all day, just sat in the dark alone and only ate raw rice to survive. For decades, Mr. Mao and his wife 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 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 got married. Among them, Ms. Hanh and Mr. Thang moved to the South to settle down, life in a foreign land is still full of hardships and deprivation. Ms. Phuc and Mr. Van live in their hometown, although they live near the old lady, their family situation is also very difficult. Ms. Phuc's husband has a mental illness, taking care of his husband, taking care of the children with a few fields of rice, so he cannot help the family. All hope lies in Mr. Van who goes to work in Laos, his economy is somewhat "better" than his sisters, but his wife has a heart disease and is sick all year round. All the money earned is spent on treating the husband and wife of each person. 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 company of his children and grandchildren. However, 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: Mr. Mao's family is one of the most difficult and unfortunate in the neighborhood. Therefore, everyone in the village sympathizes with him and helps him a little in his difficult times, but it is not enough. Hopefully, when they know about his situation, there will be many kind-hearted people who will help him, so that he and his family can ease some of their difficulties.
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: Ms. Duong Thi Mao, Hamlet 7, Thanh Van Commune, Thanh Chuong District, Nghe An Province. Phone number: 01668.567.210
