Nguyen Thanh Phuong, 18, is staying at the Hanoi Medical University Hospital for the treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Phuong is staying at the Hanoi Medical University Hospital for the treatment of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder

Phuong’s mother, Nguyen Thi Tam said that in February last year when Phuong was in Grade 12, she often faced great pains in her eyes. She was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. She then experienced surgery and had to use dialysis and chemotherapy for three months.

Tam has borrowed around VND200 million to cover her daughter’s treatment. She was advised by doctors to spend an additional VND90 million to buy medicines for Phuong.

Meanwhile, Phuong’s father is struggling with diabetes.

Tam expressed her great thanks to public assistance. “Our family will use this money to repay the debt and cover Phuong’s treatment,” Phuong added.

The family also used VND40 million from the donation to support poor patients at Hanoi Medical University Hospital and VND100 million to support construction work at Ban Tong Primary School in Nghe An.

Phuong was hospitalised with visual loss and the entire paralysis of her two legs. But, through intensive treatment, she has seen considerable improvement. She now can move and has regained around 30 percent of her eyesight.