DTiNews has transferred over VND100m (USD4,400) from readers to support heart surgery for a three-month-old baby in Dak Lak Province.

Nguyen Phuong Dong is a teacher at Nguyen Dinh Chieu Secondary School. When his son was two years old, doctors told him that his son had autism.

He and his wife, Tran Thi My Dieu, tried to give Anh their love as the six-year-old boy can't go to school or mingle with friends. The couple struggles to pay monthly tuition fees of VND6.5m (USD287) to send Anh to boarding school for autistic children in HCM City. Dong's wife then became pregnant with their second child.

Unfortunately, their second child was diagnosed with brain atrophy, pneumonia and heart disease. The doctors said he must be operated on before he turns six months old, but the surgery costs hundreds of millions of VND. Dong had already taken loans and salary advances to build a house and care for the first child. He cannot afford the surgery.

After their story was published, many people expressed their sympathy about Dong's situation.

On December 28, representative of DTiNews and heads of Nguyen Dinh Chieu Secondary School visited and gave VND100,100,000 in donations from readers to Dong.

Dong receives donations from Le Van Duong, head of Nguyen Dinh Chieu Secondary School

"I don't know what to say, but I'm deeply grateful to everyone who helps us. This money is really important to us because our youngest child will be operated in time. We are given hope and strength to go on," Dong said.

Dong said he had received hundreds of encouraging and sharing calls. Many people also sent him donations through the banks and post office and employees of the education sector in Ea Kar District helped him raise fund to a total of nearly VND100m.

The first operation was successfully carried out two weeks ago.

Le Van Duong, head of Nguyen Dinh Chieu Secondary School also expressed gratitude to donors.

"We have encouraged and tried to help him as much as we can but he needs jointly effort from the community because his child has various illnesses," he said.