The challenging circumstance of one Khmer ethnic family has touched the hearts of Dan Tri/DTiNews readers.

Editor in Chief Pham Huy Hoan (in black T-shirt) and journalist Phan Huy, the Chief Representative of Can Tho Office of Dan Tri/Dtinews granted donation of readers to Ly Sa Oanh’s family

Ly Sa Oanh and Do Thi Son are Khmer ethnic people living in the Binh Loi area, Truong Lac Ward, O Mon District, Can Tho. They have two new born daughters and a 4 year old son.

When we last visited, the whole family was living in a poorly built cottage with about 20 square metres of space. Tinh, their son had been suffering from a kidney disease for two years. Doctors said it was necessary to replace one kidney but the family was too poor to afford the treatment. They did not even have enough money to buy food. Tinh, skinny, pale and glossy eyed, suffered from an inflamed stomach due to his disease. At 4 years old his weight was just 10kg.

Tinh’s stomach is enlarged due to his kidney disease, but his family cannot afford medicine

Oanh and his wife have no job and own no land. Oanh is a hired labour worker and has to support the whole family. His wife has just given birth to twins. They do not even have enough money to buy food so that she can adequately provide milk to feed her newborn children, who often cry from hunger.

Their story was reported by Dan Tri and on September 18, 2009 Pham Huy Hoan, the Editor in Chief and chief representative of the Can Tho Office of Dan Tri/Dtinews as well as leaders from Can Tho Red Cross Association donated VND3 million ($160) to aid the family.

The new born babies crying for milk

On January 15, Hoan came to visit Oanh’s house once again. Oanh was touched and extremely grateful for all the kind-hearted readers who compassionately donated a house worth VND20 million ($1,066). “I never imagined that it could happen. My dream has come true. I do not even have enough money for my son’s treatment, how could I manage to have money for building a house? But now I have a new house,” said Oanh.

Thanks to Dan Tri/DTiNews readers, a house was provided for Ly Sa Oanh

Tinh's mother told Dan Tri/DTiNews through her tears, “My son is suffering from a kidney disease and I do not have enough milk to feed my new born babies. I do not have enough money to buy food. Dan Tri/Dtinews came to know our family’s circumstance through the Can Tho Red Cross Association. Our life has been changed. My son is recovering and my daughters are so fed."

Joy sweeps through Hoan as he sees the now-nourished children

Hoan felt very happy when he saw the twins become playful and now healthily growing. “We named the twins as Ly My Nhan and Ly My Ai. When you combine these two words, it will have the same meaning as the Compassionate Hearts Charity Fund of Dan Tri/Dtinews. It conveys my wish that when they grow up, they will do compassionate deeds for our society that will be not only a big joy to their family, but also to Dan Tri’s readers,” said Hoan.

Hoan also handed them a donation for VND21 million ($1,119).

Dan Tri and local authorities sharing the joy with Oanh's family

At present, Tinh’s treatment costs are about VND115 thousand ($6.1) per day. With the donated money, his disease can be reduced a little bit, however it will take time to heal, so his family needs continuous support from kindhearted readers.

For information on how to contribute, please see below: