In July 2019, Nguyen Hong Hanh, 37, a telecommunications employee from Sao Do ward, Hai Duong (now Chu Van An ward, Hai Phong), was admitted to the hospital to give birth to her second child. During childbirth, she experienced an amniotic fluid embolism, leading to circulatory arrest.
Amniotic fluid embolism is a rare and severe obstetric complication. It occurs when amniotic fluid, fetal cells, or debris enter the mother's bloodstream, triggering an anaphylactic-like reaction that results in heart failure, respiratory failure, and blood clotting disorders. Faced with this critical situation, doctors performed emergency resuscitation and a C-section to save both mother and child.
The baby boy was born in cardiac arrest, requiring 5 minutes of resuscitation before his heart began beating again. Although his life was saved, he suffered a brain hemorrhage and was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and other complications.
“It took 20 days for my son to utter his first cry, a sound as faint as a kitten's meow,” Ms. Hanh recalled. Holding her child, a profound anguish filled the young mother's heart. “My son bears this pain through no fault of his own,” she said. She and her husband named their son Kien, hoping he would bravely overcome life's challenges.
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Ms. Hanh with her son during his physical therapy sessions in Ha Noi, 2022. *Family photo* |
In the initial months, Ms. Hanh and her mother took turns staying awake at night, feeding Kien spoonful by spoonful. Kien lacked a swallowing reflex and could not breastfeed. Each feeding session lasted three to four hours. He did not roll over or crawl like other children his age. By the time he started solid foods, Kien's jaw often stiffened, pushing food out, which required caregivers to wear protective clothing. At night, he struggled to sleep and cried frequently.
When Kien was one year old, the family took him to Ha Noi for rehabilitation therapy. Ms. Hanh's husband worked remotely, while she stayed in Hai Duong to care for their older son. Kien's paternal grandmother accompanied him. “It took him two months to learn to sit and nearly two more years to stand,” said Nguyen Thi Tam, 65.
Monthly costs for Kien’s treatment, accommodation, and living expenses in Ha Noi amounted to about 15 million VND. Ms. Hanh’s husband, Hoang Thanh, transitioned from construction to opening a restaurant, but incurred significant debt due to the pandemic. After the pandemic, he drove a taxi with unstable income. Ms. Tam had to sell a piece of land to help her children cover their grandson's expenses. Last year, Ms. Tam broke her arm, so Kien was moved back to their hometown in Ninh Binh, where a teacher now provides home-based therapy at a cost of over 4 million VND per month.
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Ms. Hanh affectionately holds her son during a visit to his hometown in Ninh Binh, 2023. *Family photo* |
By age 6, Kien began to smile and take short steps. He still cannot speak but recognizes his mother's voice over the phone and nestles into his grandmother’s embrace. Every two to three weeks, Ms. Hanh and her older son travel from Hai Duong to Ninh Binh to visit him.
Last November, these visits ceased when Ms. Hanh was diagnosed with stage 2B breast cancer. To date, she has undergone six rounds of chemotherapy, one surgery, and is preparing for radiation therapy. Between treatments, she works remotely to maintain an income. Her husband has a stable job and covers most of Kien's treatment costs. Relatives have loaned them money for Ms. Hanh’s medical expenses.
Now, Ms. Hanh’s deepest wish is not for a miracle for herself. “I only hope my son can feed himself, use the restroom independently, and perform the most basic tasks. If one day I am no longer here, he can still live and not be left behind,” the mother stated.
* The parents' names in this article have been changed.
Supporting children with rare diseases and difficult circumstances is an activity within the "Mat Troi Hy Vong" (Sun of Hope) program, implemented by the Quy Hy Vong (Hope Foundation). Every contribution from the community adds a ray of light to the nation's future generation. Readers can support the program here:
Program name: Ten cua ban - Mat troi Hy vong
Program ID: 195961
Nhat Minh
