In late 2025, during a treatment course at K3 Tan Trieu Hospital in Hanoi, 16-year-old Nong Hieu Bao Son reached out to touch his mother's head. Still groggy from chemotherapy, he didn't understand why his mother's hair was gone.

"I told him I wanted to be like him, that I would accompany him, so he had to try hard," recounted Nong Thi Nhung, 45, Son's mother.

Nhung, a single mother, works as a factory worker, earning about 7 million VND monthly. She lives with her two children and 78-year-old mother in Trang Xa commune, Thai Nguyen province.

In November 2025, while at school, Son, her eldest son, collapsed at his desk and was rushed to the emergency room. An abnormal area in his brain was initially thought to be calcified tissue, not necessarily cancerous. Nhung hoped it was a minor illness, but subsequent tests confirmed Son had a pineal germ cell tumor.

The night she learned of her son's illness, Nhung went online to research. The information she found only increased her fear. "I read about 10 articles and found no information that gave me any hope, so I eventually had to turn it off," she said.

Nong Thi Nhung and her son in Trang Xa ward, Thai Nguyen province. *Photo: Courtesy of subject*.

Son underwent surgery in December 2025. Four days after being discharged, the left side of his body became stiff, and he lost mobility. Son gradually fell into a coma, losing control of his behavior and bodily functions. Nhung decided to quit her job, dedicating all her time to feeding, cleaning, and massaging her son.

After two months in a coma, Son began to respond and practiced walking with his mother's support. Once, while being supported by his mother, Son asked her to let go so he could walk by himself. "When I let go and saw him walk on his own, my tears just fell," she recounted.

However, at this critical moment, the surgical wound on his head became infected, forcing Son's transfer to the intensive care unit at Viet Duc Hospital. With no family members to take turns, Nhung had to ask relatives of other patients to watch over Son whenever she needed to pay hospital fees or complete procedures. During one such instance, a woman from Hoa Binh province, caring for a patient in the adjacent bed, discreetly handed Nhung 500,000 VND as a gesture of support.

For nearly one year, Nhung has lost her income due to quitting her job. She borrowed from relatives and sold land, raising about 90 million VND to cover treatment and living expenses.

After six rounds of chemotherapy and 30 radiation sessions, Son can now talk and eat on his own. However, he still requires regular tumor monitoring. The latest test results indicate Son might need further surgery.

"Now, I only wish for my son to overcome his illness and return to school like his friends," Nhung said.

Aiming to ignite hope for pediatric patients facing difficult circumstances, Hope Foundation, in collaboration with Mr. Sun, is implementing the "Sun of Hope" program. Every contribution from the community adds a ray of light to the nation's future generation. Readers can support the program here:

Program name: Your Name - Sun of Hope

Program ID: 195961

Ngoc Ngan