A couple in Quang Ngai Province are calling for financial support to help treat their 12-year-old son with leukaemia.

12-year-old son Nguyen Quang Hieu was diagnosed with leukaemia

Nguyen Quang Cuong and Vo Thi Ty are primary school teachers with two children together. Cuong and Ty earn a total of VND10m (USD440) a month and now they have to struggle to raise both children and support their ailing parents.

Unfortunately, their 12-year-old son Nguyen Quang Hieu was diagnosed with leukaemia in early this year. Ty said Hieu fell sick while attending school and the fever went on for several days.

Doctors at district-level hospitals couldn't give them accurate diagnosis, however, they advised them to go to HCM City since the symptoms look like blood disorders. He was diagnosed with leukaemia at Ho Chi Minh City Hospital of Haematology and Blood Transfusion.

Ty takes care of Hieu in hospital

Despite their low incomes, Ty was determined to cure Hieu and followed a VND350m (USD15,400) course of treatment. She sold everything valuable, borrowed from friends, neighbours and relatives and raised nearly VND200m. Ty and her husband then continued to borrow VND200m with unsecured loan.

But Hieu had complications and his health worsened. He has to stop and follow another course of treatment every time he had high fever and complications, pushing the costs to over VND400m (USD17,500) in eight months. Hieu still needs to use at least 12 medicines that costs VND28m each. The family has run out of money and doesn't know how to continue the treatment.

"My family doesn't have any solution. We haven't repaid anyone so we can't borrow anymore," Ty said.

Ty has decided to take leave to take care of Hieu. This also means the family will lose a source of income.

Nguyen Thi Xuan Hoa, Hieu's teacher at Duc Chanh Secondary School, said, "Our class called for over VND1m to support Hieu. Pupils and teachers from other classes also contributed but it's not enough."

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