In 11/2025, Dang Tien Phat, the grandson of 50-year-old Nguyen Thi Toi from Long Khanh commune, suffered from persistent fever that did not respond to medication. Noticing his skin turning yellow, she took him for tests.

At Children's Hospital 2 in Ho Chi Minh City (TP HCM), Phat was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a form of blood cancer. His medical records from 7/2026 indicated he would require chemotherapy treatment, expected to last three years.

Hearing the diagnosis, Ms. Toi felt overwhelmed. She believed she had already faced life's greatest losses. Now, her grandson, whom she considers her "last hope and reason for living", was battling a serious illness.

Her grandson's severe illness marked another major tragedy for Ms. Toi's family. In 2009, her husband passed away just 11 days after falling ill, leaving her with their only son, who was 5 years old. "I decided not to remarry and dedicated myself to working and raising my son," she stated.

In 2021, her son and daughter-in-law welcomed baby Phat. Just a few months after Phat's birth, his father died in a traffic accident on his way to work.

Following the accident, Phat's mother remarried, and the boy remained with his grandmother. To support her grandson, Ms. Toi works odd jobs daily, earning 100,000 to 200,000 VND a day, while relatives help care for Phat. She hopes Phat will grow up healthy, receive an education, and become an adult. "If I pass away later, I will be happy if he knows how to offer incense to his father and grandfather," she expressed.

Ms. Toi with her 5-year-old grandson Tien Phat at Children's Hospital 2. *Family photo.*

Since Phat's diagnosis, she has had to stop working to accompany him through his treatment cycles. Each bus trip from Dong Thap to TP HCM takes about 5 hours and costs over 200,000 VND per trip.

Although Phat has health insurance, the high costs of living expenses, travel, and medication have forced Ms. Toi to borrow money from various sources. "Without the support of benefactors, I cannot manage this alone," she stated.

During the breaks at home between chemotherapy sessions, Ms. Toi refrains from working, fearing that her grandson's condition might suddenly worsen and she wouldn't be able to respond in time. After each medication dose, the boy's body becomes fatigued.

Phat's mother currently has another young child and is facing financial difficulties, making it impossible for her to provide financial support. She has visited Phat at the hospital only two times since his admission. Ms. Toi stated that she does not blame her daughter-in-law, understanding that she is young and needs to build her own life.

After her family's tragedies, the 50-year-old woman's greatest wish is to earn enough money for her grandson's treatment. "He is my motivation; I only hope to raise him to be healthy," she said.

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Program name: Ten cua ban - Mat troi Hy vong

Program ID: 22966

Nhat Minh