Mother of Three Sick Kids Gets $18K in Donations

When Nguyen Thi Lien spoke out about caring for three seriously ill children while barely scraping by, thousands of strangers answered with overwhelming generosity.

The 43-year-old mother from Thanh Hoa Province, Vietnam, received more than 435 million Vietnamese dong (about $18,000) in donations to help treat her children's life-threatening conditions. Three of her four children face major health battles: two suffer from bone marrow failure, while another has hyperthyroidism.

Years of medical treatment had drained the family's savings completely. Lien's husband works construction jobs while she sells fruit at the local market between hospital visits, but their combined income couldn't keep up with mounting healthcare costs.

After Lien shared her story with Dantri Newspaper readers, donations poured in from across the country. The newspaper's charity program collected 285 million dong, while individual donors and the Thanh Hoa Red Cross Society contributed another 150 million dong directly to the family.

On August 21, representatives from Dantri Newspaper and local authorities visited Lien's home in Hoang Giang Commune to present the funds. The money went straight into Lien's bank account, earmarked entirely for the children's medical care.

Sunny's Take

What makes this story shine brightest isn't just the dollar amount. It's that despite everything, all three sick children are still pursuing their education.

Phuong Ngan is preparing for 11th grade, Phuong Thao just got into upper secondary school, and Minh Quan is heading to 8th grade. Their determination paired with community support creates a powerful combination.

"The treatment journey is still long, but thanks to the kindness and support of readers, I no longer feel alone in this difficult struggle," Lien said. Local officials thanked donors and pledged continued support while encouraging the family to use funds wisely for long-term care.

The donations won't cure the children overnight, but they've given this struggling family something just as vital as medicine: hope and the knowledge that their community stands with them.