In the late afternoon of a day in June, Nguyen Van Hung carefully maneuvered a pot of water onto the stove in his family's small tin-roofed house in Tuy Hoa. The seemingly simple task left him drenched in sweat. His limbs, weakened by a stroke three years prior, no longer obeyed him fully. "But I'm blessed to be able to stand at all," he said with a gentle smile.

Before his stroke, Hung worked as a security guard, while his wife, Le Thi Thuy Hoa, worked at a bird's nest farm. Their income, though modest, was enough to support their three children.

One evening in late 2021, while on his way to work, Hung felt his limbs go numb. His blood pressure spiked, and he collapsed. At the hospital, doctors diagnosed him with a stroke, giving him a 50% chance of survival.

The family's temporary home (green gate) in Tuy Hoa. Photo courtesy of the family

The family's temporary home (green gate) in Tuy Hoa. Photo courtesy of the family

Once a healthy man, Hung was now bedridden and unable to work. Hoa became the sole provider for her husband and three young children. Seeing his family's hardship, Hung refused to remain immobile. Leaning against the wall, he practiced standing and walking, picking himself up each time he fell. After three years of persistence, he could walk slowly, manage his daily routine, and even sell lottery tickets to supplement his wife's income. "My only wish is to ease the burden on my wife and children," he said.

Just as the family began to recover, tragedy struck again. In April, their second son, Le Phi Hao, developed a persistent high fever and aching limbs. The family took him to hospitals in Phu Yen and Quy Nhon before finally arriving at Children's Hospital 2 in Ho Chi Minh City, where doctors suspected an abnormality in his white blood cell count.

Hao was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a form of blood cancer. The doctor's words, that without prompt treatment Hao had little chance of survival, devastated Hoa. "I was stunned, unable to stand. Seeing my little boy burdened with such a serious illness, my heart ached," Hoa said, her voice choked with emotion.

Hung, Hoa, and their youngest child in Tuy Hoa, 2023. Photo courtesy of the family

Hung, Hoa, and their youngest child in Tuy Hoa, 2023. Photo courtesy of the family

Since Hao's hospitalization, Hoa quit her job to stay by his side. Hung also stopped selling lottery tickets to care for their other two children. The family now relies entirely on the kindness of neighbors, relatives, and charitable donors. In his application for assistance to the Hy Vong Foundation (Hope Foundation), Hung described their only asset as a temporary house with brick walls and a tin roof. "My wife and I can no longer afford the treatment costs," he wrote.

During the initial days of treatment, Hao was scared and confused. His hair began to fall out from chemotherapy, he had difficulty eating, vomited frequently, and suffered from high fevers. Watching her son shiver in his hospital gown, Hoa fought back tears as she comforted him. "He asked me if there was a cure, and I told him there was. He smiled and said, 'I thought there wasn't any medicine.' His words brought me both joy and pain," she recalled.

Hoa cares for her son at the hospital in late June 2025. Photo courtesy of the family

Hoa cares for her son at the hospital in late June 2025. Photo courtesy of the family

At first, Hao refused to shave his head, despite the doctor's and his mother's encouragement. He clutched his head and cried, fearing he would look "ugly." But after a few days of observing the other children in the ward, all of whom had shaved their heads for treatment, Hao quietly agreed: "Mom, shave my head." "When he's in pain, he just whimpers softly, never complains," Hoa said, her voice filled with emotion. Despite knowing the long and arduous road ahead, she remains determined. "As long as there's hope, I will never give up. No matter how difficult it is, I will ensure he has enough medicine," she affirmed.

To alleviate the financial strain, Hung's former employer contacted him, offering him a job within his limited capacity. On days when she isn't at the hospital, Hoa seeks out charitable meals and saves every penny she can. "We only hope our son can receive complete treatment, without interruption due to lack of funds," Hung said.

Aiming to inspire hope in children with cancer, the Hy Vong Foundation, in collaboration with the Ong Mat Troi (Mr. Sun) program, launched the Mat Troi Hy Vong (Sun of Hope) program. Every contribution offers a ray of hope to the nation's future generation. More information about the program is available here.

Program Name: Ten cua ban - Mat troi Hy vong

Program ID: 195961

Pham Nga