Staying in bed all the time with an enlarged belly, Nguyen Thi Be always wishes to extend her life so she can bring up her son.

Nguyen Thi Be, 27, was born at Phu Vang, Thue Thien Hue. After moving to Ho Chi Minh City, she got married to Vo Van Bon, born in Tien Giang.

They have a son. Every day after work, she came home and looked after her family. One day, suddenly, she found out that she got kidney disease.

After 10 days of treatment in Cho Ray Hospital, her health improved and she was discharged from the hospital. “I still tried to go to work to earn some money to raise my son and for my medicine. My legs often become swollen and painful,” said Be.

With a modest income for her family, her disease became worse. Doctors said that her kidney disease is so serious now, that it’s very difficult to cure it.

Be’s family spent most their savings. “One month ago, I came to the hospital to visit her. I found her whole body swollen. Her appearance was changed so I could not recognise her. Doctors told me to take her home and prepare for her funeral. I was crying like hell,” said Be’s mother in law.

Taken home, Be is struggling for survival till now. Her husband does not give up and he buys herbal medicine in hopes to cure her and that she can live longer.

Her husband’s sister living in Thu Duc now takes care of her son. “Our family borrowed several dozens of million dong for Be’s treatment expenditure. We now don’t have enough money to get her admitted to the hospital but we will try to buy medicine for her,” added Be’s mother in law.

Be said, “I am not scared of death but worried for my son who is so young. I want to live just to look after him.”