Le Trung Tuan, 15, from Thanh Hoa Province's Ben Sung Town, has a large tumour on his face for four years and is hoping for surgery.

Tuan has been living with a large tumour on his face for four years

Tuan's health was regular during the first ten years of his life, and he was a good student, but he was hospitalised in March 2009.

After going to several hospitals in his area and in Hanoi, doctors diagnosed him with nasal meningioma.

He continued medical checkups at the Central Ear-Nose-Throat Hospital throughout October 2009. But his status changed when doctors said he suffered from fibrous dysplasia of the bone, a life-threatening disease.

Tuan's family has continued taking him to several other hospitals across the country but they received the same answer from all that the tumour was too large and the prospects for successful recovery were small.

He has been compelled to leave school and stay at home

However, the boy's parents found out about a similar case in which a child suffering from the same disease received successful treatment at Cho Ray Hospital in HCM City. Although hearing about the case raised their hopes, they have yet to hear any reply from the hospital as to the admission of their child.

"We have come to the limit of hopelessness trying to deal with this disease. We were really encouraged from the news of the successful surgery they did on a patient with the same illness Tuan has. But not only have we not heard any news from the hospital, we live on an extremely limited income," said Hong, the boy's mother.

His condition was rather bad in late 2012

Now Tuan and his family are nurturing a hope that he can receive a surgery in the near future as his tumour has become smaller after the help of a Buddhist follower and a traditional medical practitioner.

In early March, a philanthropist Buddhist follower from Quang Ninh Province's Ha Long City advised Tuan to call for spritual power in combination with using traditional herbal medicine.

Tuan and his father were provided with an accomodation in Halong where has a Buddhist altar. They recite and do penance daily amid the support of the Ha Long Buddhists Association.

Tuan has been also provided with a traditional herbal medicine by Truong Mau Dien from Bay Chay for two months.

The tumour has been a bit smaller

"We're greatly surprise and happy to see my son's tumour getting one third smaller. My son has gained four kilos for two months and his condition is getting better," Ha said.

Mau said, "Tuan's disease is really rare and I'll try my best to help. I hope that his tumour's size would be further reduced by 30% in the next month." This means that Tuan has reason to hope for a surgery.

Tuan's father said after being informed about his son's improvement, some foreign doctors have planned to come to Vietnam for a checkup and if everthing goes smoothly his son could receive a surgery in July. Now they're really in desperate need for help to mobilise funding for Tuan's surgery.

In order to help Tuan, donations can be made via:
1. Le Trung Ha, Quarter 1, Ben Sung Town, Nhu Thanh District, Thanh Hoa Province
Mobile: 0984 722 489 

2. Compassionate Hearts Charity Fund – Dan tri Newspaper (Hanoi)
No. 2/48 Giang Vo Str., Dong Da Dist., Hanoi (beside Kim Ma petrol station)
Tel: 04. 3. 7366.491/ Fax: 04. 3. 7366.490
Email:quynhanai@dantri.com.vn
 
* Vietnam Dong Account information at Vietcombank:
Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 045 100 194 4487
With Bank: THE BANK FOR FOREIGN TRADE OF VIETNAM  – Thanh Cong Branch
 
* US Dollar Account information at Vietcombank:
Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 045 137 195 6482
SWIFT Code: BFTVVNVX
With Bank:  THE BANK FOR FOREIGN TRADE OF VIETNAM
 
* Vietnam Dong Account information at Vietinbank:
Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 10 201 0000 220 639
With Bank: Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade – Hoan Kiem Branch
 
* US Dollar Account information at MB Bank:
Account holder: Bao Khuyen hoc & Dan tri
Account number: 0721100357002
SWIFT Code: MSCBVNVX
With Bank: MILITARY COMMERCIAL JOINT STOCK BANK - MCSB ( No.3, Lieu Giai str., Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi, Vietnam)
 
3 Ha Tinh representative office: 46 Nguyen Cong Tru, Tan Giang Ward, Ha Tinh City. Tel: 039.3857.112
Da Nang representative office: 25 Nguyen TriPhuong, Thanh Khe Dist., Da Nang City. Tel: 0511.3653.725
Ho Chi MinhCity representative office: 39L Street 11, Ward 3, Binh Thanh Dist, Hochiminh City. Tel: 08. 66786. 885
Can Tho representative office:53/13 Ly Tu Trong, Ninh Kieu Dist., Can Tho City. Tel: 071.3.733.269