A family with an ill grandmother, a son with epilepsy and a small 20-month-old girl in Phu Tho Province are in dire need of help as their hardships overwhelm them.

Thanh has polyarthritis and myelosuppression

Nguyen Thi Thanh's husband died early, leaving the young wife and three small children in the poor Tam Son Commune. The oldest child, Le Van Thuan, has epilepsy, while two youngest children has mental problems. Because of poverty, Thanh had to send her two youngest children to live with her brother-in-law.

Cracks and holes on the walls

After Le Van Thuan married and had his first child, his mother's health got worse from polyarthritis and myelosuppression. They borrowed hundreds of millions of VND from the banks and black market, but she failed to get better.

Thuan suffers from epileptic seizure 

When Thuan's child was 20 months old, his wife left the family. Because Thuan suffers from frequent epileptic seizures, he is unable to work.

Their house is in bad shape with various cracks and big holes on the walls and roof.

A stick to hold up the family altar 

Tran Duc Thinh, chairman of Tam Son Commune Fatherland Front Committee, said, "Thanh's family is one of the most difficult. Thanh has many illnesses but since there's no money left, she just stays home and waits for her fate. Her son has epilepsy and also can't do anything much. Their neighbours often take care of the child when she is hungry or else she might die. We're all poor and can only help them with some rice."