DTiNews has transferred nearly VND385m (USD17,500) donated by readers to help a father from the San Chi ethnic group in Bac Giang Province who only has VND40,000 left to admit his son to hospital.

17-year-old Ly Van Dung was diagnosed with the blood disorder thalassemia. For over four years, Dung was not treated because of poverty. But as his condition has increasingly worsened to a dangerous state, his family and relatives contributed to over VND200,000 (USD9) to help him go to hospital.

After travelling, Dung's father, Ly Van Thuan, only has VND40,000 (USD1.81) left when arriving at the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion in Hanoi. The hospital has provided them with free meals but Thuan can't afford the treatment although doctors had urged that his son needs to be treated immediately.

Thuan only has VND40,000 left
when arriving at hospital

"He was admitted in dangerous state and need a plasma transfusion. His skin has turned yellow because yellow pigment bilirubin is increasing. If he is not treated quickly, bilirubin will enter the brain," Dr. Vu Hai Toan from Thalassemia Centre under the National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion said.

The plasma is covered by health insurance, but the family needs to pay VND3m each time Dung use the plasma filter.

After their story was published, readers visited and gave the family VND320m (USD14,500). He was surprised to know that readers have donated another VND384m through DTiNews to his son.

Thuan receives the donation

"We can't believe that people have helped us so much. But we were already recieved lots of money so we want to donate VND200m to other disadvantaged people. We'll deposit the rest of the money for our son's treatment," he said.

Thuan donated VND50m (USD2,270) each to a 13-year-old boy who set himself on fire after arguing with parents, a woman who is suffering from toxaemia of pregnancy, disadvantaged children in Yen Bai Province and to build a primary school in Thai Nguyen Province.

Thuan donated VND50m to a woman suffering from toxaemia of pregnancy

Thuan expressed gratitude to everyone who had helped his family, ensuring that they had received enough help to treat his son and to give him a better life. Thuan said his son's health was improving following treatment and he was discharged.