LD26229: Young child suffers from serious illness, parents worry every day about treatment

From the age of 7 months, baby Tran Ngoc Bao An (born in 2022) has started days attached to the hospital. The continuous convulsions of his child caused Mr. Tran Van Thai (born in 1990) and Ms. Dang Thi Linh Em (born in 1996) residing in A6/4B, Tan Nhut commune (Ho Chi Minh City) to panic many times and take their child to Children's Hospital 2.

Through examination and testing, Bao An was diagnosed with epilepsy, SCN1A gene mutation and Dravet syndrome. The baby's health was weak, often had high fever, convulsions and respiratory problems. Fevers and convulsions caused the baby to be hospitalized for emergency treatment many times. There were times when the situation worsened, the family only knew to hug their child and run to the hospital, hoping that doctors would handle it promptly.

Every time my child has a fever, the family is very worried because they are prone to convulsions. One day, while at home, seeing my child convulsing a lot, my husband and I rushed to take my child to the hospital. Upon arrival, the doctor had to intervene to stop the fever and then take blood for testing and continue monitoring," Mr. Thai shared.

Not only epilepsy, according to the family, Bao An also suffered from severe pneumonia, gastritis and sepsis many times. Currently, the baby is being treated at the Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital 2. Due to poor health, the baby has to eat and drink through a tube and needs regular care.

For nearly 4 years, the hospital has almost become a familiar place for Mr. Thai's family. Every time his child is hospitalized, parents have to struggle with money again. Even though Bao An has health insurance, some types of medicine outside the scope of payment still have to be paid for themselves. For a family with unstable income, those incurred expenses become a significant burden. Mr. Thai currently works as a technology motorbike taxi driver, his job depends on the number of trips per day, so his income is unstable. Meanwhile, Ms. Linh Em has to quit her job at home to take care of her child, because Bao An is often sick and hospitalized.

My wife stays at home to take care of the children, so she cannot go to work, I drive a technology motorbike taxi, on days when there are customers I earn a little money, but I also have to worry about many expenses. Living expenses and medicine for the children keep arising continuously, so the family is very difficult," Mr. Thai said.

Mr. and Mrs. Thai still have a young son, baby Tran Quoc Thinh (born 2025). The child is still young, while Ms. Linh Em has to spend most of her time taking care of Bao An, making family life even more difficult. In the early days when the child developed the disease, family, relatives and friends repeatedly joined hands to help. The support funds at that time helped the couple have more conditions to take their child for treatment. But the long journey of treatment has gradually limited the resources of relatives.

When my child first got sick, relatives and friends loved and helped my family a lot. I am very grateful to everyone. But my child's illness is prolonged, I don't dare to ask or ask people for more because everyone has their own life. Both paternal and maternal grandparents are now old and in poor health, so they cannot provide much support," Mr. Thai said choked up.

What makes the father most heartbroken is that his child is still too young but has gone through convulsions and many emergency treatments. Instead of playing like children of the same age, Bao An has to be attached to medicine, hospitals and tests.

My child has a serious illness, I just hope my child will be less sick, have fewer seizures to be healthier. The treatment journey is still long, but my husband and I are still trying. I just hope for more help so that my child can continue to be treated," Mr. Thai shared.

Mr. Tran Van Thai's family is currently very hopeful to receive the care and sharing of philanthropists and readers near and far to have more conditions to care for and treat baby Tran Ngoc Bao An.

All help for life situation LD26229 please send to Tam Long Vang Charity Social Fund - 51 Hang Bo, Hoan Kiem Ward, Hanoi. Account number (STK) 113000000758 at VietinBank Hoan Kiem Branch, Hanoi; Account number: 0021000303088 - at Vietcombank Hanoi Branch; Account number: 12410001122556 - at BIDV Hoan Kiem Branch.

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