A poor old woman in Binh Dinh Province must witness her son dying because their family can no longer afford his treatment.

 Nien's body is breaking

That is the case of 80-year-old Nguyen Thi Hay and her 34-year-old son, Nguyen Minh Nien in Lai Khanh Tay Village, Hoai Duc Commune. Currently, Nien is struggling with chronic nephritis, hypoglycemia, diabetes and necrosis of the femoral head. Both of Nien's legs are paralysed and his body is covered in scabs.

"I already sold this house but the buyer still can't think of a use for it so they let us stay here temporarily." Hay said.

Nien is the youngest of her three children. Hay's husband passed away when Nien was 8 years old and the following year, Nien's two sisters got married. Since then, only Nien and his mother live together. Because Hay often got sick and their family only has two rice fields, Nien had to drop out of school to find work.

A neighbour suggested that Nien should learn how to drive a car so that he could then drive a truck for their construction company. He did this and  mother and son's lives greatly improved. Nien was able to build a new house and get married, but illness struck him down when his first child was born.

 The 80-year-old woman is the sole pillar in the family

"At first, he had a high fever and his hand and foot joints became inflamed. Moving around also became difficult, and he was then diagnosed with arthritis and stayed in hospital for a year but there was no improvement. When his body developed those scabs, it was rumoured he had leprosy and some people even said he was HIV positive." Hay said.

Frightened by the illness, Nien's wife left with their child, which made Nien quiet and depressed and just seemed to worsen his health. Currently, he has to depend on his mother for everything.

Hay borrowed money everywhere-- a total of VND95 million (USD4,500), for a femoral head ostectomy on Nien's left thigh, performed at the Hospital of Trauma and Orthopaedics, but, Nien still feels tremendous pain in his untreated right thigh. Since 2010, Nien has been at the following hospitals: Cho Ray, Trauma and Orthopaedics, Nguyen Tri Phuong in HCM City, Bach Mai in Hanoi and Quy Hoa Leprosy Dermatology in Binh Dinh.

Dr Vu Tuan Anh, Vice Director of the Hospital of Quy Hoa Leprosy Dermatology said, "Because his treatment is always interrupted, it has spread to other body parts and caused chronic nephritis, hypoglycemia, diabetes and necrosis of the femoral head. It'll take a lot of time and money to cure him completely."

It has already cost Nien and his mother VND200 million in the last four years. "My heart breaks for him but we have no-where to turn for help; I'm willing to die for him. His health might not have deteriorated so dramatically if his wife hadn't left." Hay said.

Hoang Quoc Viet, Chairman of Hoai Duc Commune People's Committee said, "We really sympathize with their situation but we can only help so much. We hope kind people will help them."

To help Nien, please make donation through:

1. Code 1204: Nguyen Thi Hay in Lai Khanh Tay Village, Hoai Duc Commune, Hoai Nhon District, Binh Dinh Province.

Tel: 0983.574.655.

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.