A poor couple in the northern province of Ha Nam is calling for community help to save their seven-month old boy from congenital heart disease.

He was born with a  heart-valve disease, causing serious pressure on the pulmonary artery

The little boy, Tong Cong Viet, was born as plump and pretty as other normal babies, but, when he was two months old he started showing unusual symptoms and he suddenly became skinny and pale. Doctors said that he suffers from a congenital heart problem.

The boy now weighs less than 5 kilos, his face is pale and bruised and his eyes blink uncontrollably.

The mother, Nguyen Thi Thuy, 22, from An Lao Village, Binh Luc Province, held her son in tears while the child struggled with pain. She said that, “He was normal after birth and for the two following months, but after that his weight only increased by 0.5kg. We were very anxious and took him to hospital immediately. Doctors at E Hospital in Hanoi diagnosed that he was born with a  heart-valve disease, causing serious pressure on the pulmonary artery.”

The couple has had to borrow VND137 million (USD6,523) from banks and relatives for three surgeries, over the past four months.

The next operation will cost the little boy's family VND150 million

The poor family’s income depends solely on 720 square metres of farm land so, the husband Tong Cong Tuan, must work as a painter to earn extra money. However, their son’s condition has seen no noticeable improvement.

Nothing valuable is left in the couple’s deteriorating house because they have sold everything to try and pay the child's medical bills.

Earlier, the family registered for a free heart operation for the little boy through a Vietnam Military Telecommunications Group's (Viettel) programme, but the boy needed urgent surgery due to his critical condition, so, he had the operation without help from Viettel.

The hospital recently informed the couple that next month their child must have another operation costing nearly VND150 million (USD7,142). This is way beyond their resources, nor do they know where to find it. They are completely powerless.

Every night, when he wakes up, Viet cries. The young mother can only hold him and blame herself for being too poor to save him.

Any donation please make through:

1.Code 1188: Nguyen Thi Thuy: An Lao Village, An Lao Commune, Binh Luc District, Ha Nam Province
Mobile phone: 0984719211

2. Compassionate Hearts Charity Fund – Dan tri Newspaper (Hanoi)
No. 2/48 Giang Vo Str., Dong Da Dist., Hanoi
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. Dantri/DTiNews' representative offices
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