"If it weren't for my children, I probably wouldn't want to live anymore," said 35-year-old Can in the hospital corridor where her son is being treated.

Originally from Ninh Thuan, Can married in 2014. The couple started a business in Lam Dong with an advertising, design, and printing shop. Their marriage gradually deteriorated due to various conflicts.

She separated from her husband but, fearing her parents' sadness, tried to reconcile. The attempt failed. She divorced in 2023, with a one-year-old and a seven-year-old son.

Can and her son at their home in Lam Dong on 13/9, after a treatment period at the hospital. Photo: Family provided

With no assets or capital, she embarked on a difficult journey to raise her children. She worked multiple jobs, from serving and waiting tables to cleaning and catering weddings. Some days, she worked in three different places, returning home after midnight. "I was afraid of upsetting my parents, so I didn't tell them about the divorce or ask for help," she said.

Preoccupied with earning a living, Can didn't notice her son's changes. A year ago, her eldest son, Pham Dang Khoi, developed a lump in his neck. Doctors in Da Lat advised monitoring. Later, the lump grew rapidly. Upon re-examination, she received the devastating news: Khoi had stage 3 lymphoma. "Hearing the word 'cancer,' I crumbled," she said.

According to the medical records, Dr. Nguyen Hoan Chau from the Hematology-Oncology Department of Nhi Dong 2 Hospital in TP HCM, who is directly treating Khoi, said the boy needs six months of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy, costing approximately 30 million VND.

With Khoi seriously ill, Can had to leave her younger son overnight at daycare. But when the older boy was discharged after a round of chemotherapy, she picked up her younger child, only to find him severely emaciated. The sight tormented her, leaving her feeling helpless. She had to send her younger son to live with her mother, even though the child had never lived with his maternal grandparents.

That day remains a painful memory for Can. She took her younger son to her sister-in-law's house, asking her to take him to her mother's. To prevent him from crying, she stayed and played with him for a while before sneaking away. "When he cried for me, my sister-in-law said she'd take him to find me so he would get in the car, but actually, she took him to my mother's," she recounted.

Every night, missing her son and hearing about his incessant crying for her, Can would pick up her bowl of rice, only to put it down again, tears streaming down her face.

At the hospital, Can and her son face the fear of illness along with a bigger worry: money. After the divorce, her ex-husband provided almost no support. Occasionally, he sent a few million VND, insufficient to cover the treatment costs. The house they live in is about to be foreclosed by the bank.

Because she took so much time off, her workplaces repeatedly urged her to return. Can had to resign. Her income was cut off. Meanwhile, hospital fees, medicine, and living expenses increased daily.

Vu Thi Nghi, the head of the neighborhood group where Can lives, confirmed her difficult situation. "Can is truly struggling. I hope philanthropists will support her and her children," she said.

There were times when Can contemplated suicide. "If it weren't for my two children, I would have given up," she admitted. Her fitful sleep is often punctuated by nightmares: the sound of her younger son crying for her and the feeling of helplessness at being unable to protect him. Yet, she perseveres, believing that love and resilience will give her and her children a chance.

"My life has no happy memories, only tears. I just want my son to recover. If I could, I would trade my life for his," Can said.

With the goal of inspiring hope for children with difficult circumstances, the Hy Vong Foundation has partnered with Ong Mat Troi to launch the Mat Troi Hy Vong program. Every contribution from the community is a ray of light sent to the future generation of the country. Readers can join the program here:

Program Name: Ten cua ban - Mat troi Hy vong

Program ID: 195961

Nhat Minh