At the "March Birthday Celebration for Dialysis Patients" program, organized by the Social Work Department of Nhan Dan Gia Dinh Hospital on 18/3, Ms. Thi, 38, appeared visibly fatigued. Her darkened skin and arms swollen with needle marks bore the traces of 12 grueling years of dialysis. This was a rare occasion for her to set aside her daily struggles to earn a living and attend a special birthday party.

Recalling the shock at age 26, Ms. Thi recounted that while in her prime, busy caring for her two young children, then four and six, she began to experience persistent fatigue and poor appetite. Believing it was simply exhaustion from overwork, she sought medical attention and was shocked by the diagnosis of end-stage kidney failure accompanied by high blood pressure. Immediately, she underwent emergency dialysis to save her life and became a "regular" at the Dialysis Department. Steadily, three times a week, she arrived at the hospital for the earliest session at 6h.

"After dialysis, I'm completely exhausted, but after a short rest, I go to the market to help my husband sell accessories and hair clips to earn a living and raise our children," Ms. Thi said.

The battle with illness eroded both her health and finances, but it never extinguished the mother's resilience. The sweet reward after more than a decade of perseverance is that her two children are now grown, studying in grade 10 and grade 12, and her husband remains by her side. Understanding her mother's hardships, her eldest daughter harbors the dream of studying nursing to personally care for patients like her mother.

Lucky bracelets, hand-knitted by students, were given to dialysis patients with March birthdays, personalized with their names. *Minh Toan*

Seated next to Ms. Thi was Ms. Thoa, 53, who has 15 years of dialysis experience due to complications from high blood pressure. There were periods when she felt completely defeated, her body so weakened that her weight dropped to 32 kg, but thinking of her child, the woman rallied, seeking data entry work and small-scale trading to afford treatment.

For kidney failure patients, undergoing three needle insertions each week and being tethered to a dialysis machine entails immense physical pain and overwhelming financial pressure. Doctor Vo Hong Minh Cong, Deputy Director of Nhan Dan Gia Dinh Hospital, stated that for dialysis patients—a long and challenging journey—sharing and encouragement, even through a cake or a wish for peace, becomes crucial for bolstering their spirit.

Dialysis patients with March birthdays wore birthday hats, blew out candles on a cake, and sang "Happy Birthday" at the program organized by the Social Work Department on 18/3. *Minh Toan*

Doctors also warn about the early onset of this disease, with many individuals discovering their condition in their 20s and 30s. Young people often feel complacent, relying on their health, and tend to ignore unusual symptoms. Many patients arrive at the hospital for examination when their kidney function is almost entirely lost and blood pressure is extremely high, necessitating emergency dialysis and a lifelong reliance on the dialysis machine.

Doctors recommend regular health check-ups to detect and treat the disease in its early stages, preventing progression to end-stage kidney failure. Young people must never be complacent about symptoms such as edema, persistent fatigue, loss of appetite, or frequent nighttime urination. It is crucial to prevent diabetes and high blood pressure, and if these conditions exist, they must be well-managed. Patients should not self-medicate indiscriminately or use unverified traditional medicine or supplements without a doctor's prescription.

Le Phuong

*Patient names have been changed.