Mending more than a broken limb… Nguyen Van Hoang

This week, I would like to introduce you to another child who had been given a new lease of life with the sponsorship of the with Life-Changing Surgery program.

With the help of this initiative, fourteen-year-old Nguyen Van Hoang from Nghe An Province has managed to ease the pain on his crooked left arm. The pain has posed hindrance to his daily life. Van Hoang was not born with defective limbs. The crooked arm was caused by an unfortunate mishap when he was in Grade 5. The accident left his left arm badly damaged. His family sent him to a charlatan doctor and sought medical help for two months. The broken arm could not be mended to its original state and the condition took a turn for the worst, and his arm became permanently crippled.

Van Hoang approached the National Hospital of Pediatric for surgery but the family was unable to afford the high medical and hospitalization fees. Thankfully, he was able to proceed with the medical treatment with the sponsorship from HSCV, the Life Changing Surgery initiative. Van Hoang comes from a very poor family, his father is plagued with poor health and his health condition only allows him to do simple chores at home. His mother works hard in the fields as a farmer but the money she earns is barely enough to feed the family. In October 2007, Van Hoang underwent a surgery to improve the condition of his left arm. In December 2008, the doctors reviewed his arm and said that the surgery went very well and his left arm has successfully resumed normalcy and is no longer crooked. The family is very happy and has sent a thank-you letter to HSCV.

Here is the translated letter.

Thank you letter to HSCV organization,

My name is Nguyen Van Hoang and I was born in 1993 in Group 4, Nghia Tan Commune, Cua Lo District, Nghe An Province. I had an accident while I was riding my bicycle and that has caused my left arm to be broken. Nghe An Hospital introduced me to the National Hospital of Pediatric for Surgery. I am very lucky to receive the kind sponsorship from the Humanitarian Services for Children of Vietnam (HSCV), which covered my hospital fees and living expenses during the time when I was at the hospital. I am deeply moved and would like to send my heartfelt thanks to the members of HSCV. I promise that I will study well and exercise my left arm everyday, following the instructions of the doctors and the nurses from the hospital. Sincere thanks for your kind help and I wish that you are always happy and successful.

Your child, Nguyen Van Hoang

Blogged by HSCV Team Member Nguyen Thi Minh Chau