From the child who is completely reliant of the assistance of others to go to school to one who has gained his mobility to walk the same path independently, the Life Changing Surgery initiative has made a great difference. Children who are afraid of the constant teasing by their friends because of the strange extra thumb have rid themselves of the physical “burden” to play and smile like normal children. Gone are the days when they had to suffer in silence, bending their heads because of the fear of getting jeered by their schoolmates.
Over the years, HSCV has learned that there are still many children who are in need of the help of the Life Changing Surgery initiative. HSCV would like to share the stories of those children who have been given free surgeries through this initiative with everyone.
Following is a story of this week about a young boy, Tuan Anh. We would be sharing stories of other children in the subsequent weeks.other stories in the following weeks.
Tuan Anh is born in a poor family in
His desperate mother feels deeply sorry for her son’s physical handicap and has tried ways an means to cure him or at least improve his current condition.
However, the family’s resources is limited because of their financial difficulties. His mother can barely make ends meet with her meager income as a farmer . His father tries to earn more money by working in the South but his means are also limited. The doctors at the local province have advised that it would be best for Tuan Anh to seek treatment at the National Hospital of Pediatrics (NHP) in
Though this is the only cure for Tuan Anh, his mother is really worried sick about the high transportation fees, living expenses and the hospital fees at the National Hospital of Pediatrics. As a farmer, she does not earn very much and hardly has enough money to provide the daily essentials and food for her children. As a loving mother, she persisted and explored all means, and had to resort to borrowing money from her relatives for her child to seek medical treatment. The fact that her husband was working in the South left her stranded to face these dire circumstances on her own.
In December 2007, Tuan Anh and his mother made their way to the hospital and stayed there for one week for the pre-surgery tests. The week-long stay has drained her of the money she has loaned.
The doctors at the hospital were fully aware of their financial difficulties and introduced HSCV to them as a possible avenue that could seek help from.
With HSCV and the generosity of their sponsors, Tuan Anh’s hospital fees, transportation and living expenses were fully sponsored. This sponsorship came in timely when the desperate mother and son duo were helpless. They are deeply grateful to HSCV and would like to send their best wishes to HSCV.
The doctors performed a surgery on Tuan Anh’s left leg. After the surgery, his left leg was put in a cast for three months. The discomfort and itch during the three months was unbearable but he endured. Tuan Anh was bed-ridden during this period and had to miss classes during this difficult period.
The cast was eventually removed. With the financial assistance from HSCV, Tuan Anh was able to return to the hospital for the routine check-ups by the doctors. He was elated at the sight of his renewed mobility. Tuan Anh returned home and practiced hard on using his new crutches over the next few months. Today, he can walk independently at ease.
In November 2008, Tuan Anh and his mother called HSCV to express their sincere gratitude to HSCV for the kind assistance and generosity rendered to a young handicapped boy like himself and added that he wish that HSCV would continue to help more disabled children to give them a new lease of life.
To sponsor a child like Tuan Anh please visit our website at http://www.hscv.org/medical_life_changing.htm.
Blogged by HSCV Team Member - Nugyen Thi Minh Chau
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