Children with cancer enjoy Tet early

The Year of the Snake 2025 is approaching, a journey to explore Ho Chi Minh City by double-decker bus and experience metro line 1 was just carried out by Thuy's Dream program (Tuoi Tre newspaper) on the morning of January 10 for some pediatric cancer patients in Ho Chi Minh City.

Deputy Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union Trinh Thi Hien Tran presents Tet gifts to sick children participating in the program on January 10 - Photo: TTD

The feeling of being loved, cared for, and shared with will be a strong source of motivation for sick children to continue to strive and overcome their illness.

Journalist TRAN GIA BAO

The activity within the framework of the "Tet Sharing" program to care for sick children and disadvantaged students during Tet, organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union and Tuoi Tre newspaper, started yesterday morning.

First time experiences

Temporarily forgetting their pain, the children were all very excited about the trip. For the first time, the children and their relatives had breakfast at Kim Do Hotel right on Nguyen Hue walking street (District 1). Then they boarded a double-decker bus and then took metro train No. 1 from Ben Thanh station to Tan Cang station.

Before boarding the train, the children were given 40 lucky money envelopes (VND12 million) by the Union and Youth Union of Urban Railway Company No. 1 (HURC) along with wishes for a lucky new year. Sitting on the double-decker bus around the center of Ho Chi Minh City, Nguyen Van Viet Nam (10 years old) smiled throughout the trip. This was also a rare occasion for him to leave the confined space of home and hospital.

Ms. Phan Thi Tuyet Nhung (Nam's mother) said that she had actually taken Nam home because the doctor had told her to go home to rest, but when she heard the nurses at the hospital say there was a city tour, the boy insisted on going. "I also wanted him to breathe fresh air and exercise more, so I let him go. Seeing him happy, I was also happy," Ms. Nhung said.

On the metro train from Ben Thanh station to Tan Cang station, the atmosphere was bustling with laughter and attentive eyes looking at the scenery outside through the glass windows. My Anh (14 years old, bone cancer patient at Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital, branch 2) could not hide her excitement when experiencing the metro for the first time. "The train runs very smoothly, the scenery outside is also beautiful, but it stops too early. I feel a bit regretful because I wanted a longer trip," My Anh expressed.

In the same mood, little Nguyen Ngoc Thao was equally excited because it was her first time riding a means of transport that she had only seen on the small screen before. The 12-year-old girl fondled the lucky money envelope in her hand and said: "I can clearly feel the atmosphere of Tet approaching, I'm so happy!".

Although it was the second time he took the metro, Viet Hoang (12 years old) felt happier because this time he had many friends with him. In grade 5, Hoang got sick and had to stop going to school. Now he has the chance to go out with many friends like that. Meanwhile, Ms. Dao Thi Kim No (from Dong Nai ) said that her daughter Anh Thu (6 years old) was discharged from the hospital and her health has improved, so she decided to let her go out to experience new things.

"I've only been in the city to take care of my illness, I've only gotten used to the hospital space and haven't had a chance to explore. I want to take this opportunity to let my child go out and experience the beauty of life instead of just hanging around in the hospital," Ms. No smiled.

Mother and daughter Dao Thi Kim No (Dong Nai) and Phan Ngoc Anh Thu (6 years old) were excited on the double-decker bus exploring Ho Chi Minh City for the first time - Photo: THANH HIEP

More motivation for treatment

At the announcement ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City yesterday morning, the program presented 440 Tet gifts to pediatric cancer patients at the following hospitals: Ho Chi Minh City Blood Transfusion - Hematology, Ho Chi Minh City Children's Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City Children's Hospital 2 and Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital with a total value of 220 million VND.

Talking about the program, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Tuoi Tre Newspaper Tran Gia Bao said that Tet is not only an occasion for family reunions but also a time to express affection, love and responsibility towards the disadvantaged and less fortunate in society.

"Although the gifts are small, they contain a lot of care, love and open hearts from the community as encouragement, soothing the spirit to give you more strength in the fight against the disease," said journalist Gia Bao.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Dung - Deputy Head of Social Work Department (Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital) - expressed that Thuy's Dream program is an extremely meaningful activity for children with cancer through many activities, playgrounds, and gift giving on holidays and Tet.

This year alone, the program brought sick children to offer flowers at the Uncle Ho statue on Nguyen Hue walking street, visit the city center by double-decker bus, and especially experience metro line 1 for the first time.

"These activities have contributed to supporting children with cancer quite a lot in terms of spirit. They can visit, explore, admire the city's new constructions, creating more joy and motivation in the treatment process," Mr. Dung shared.

4 billion VND for "Sharing Tet"

The "Tet Sharing" program will give 4,100 Tet At Ty 2025 gifts to children with cancer and disadvantaged students in flood-affected areas with a total cost of 4 billion VND supported by Viet Thanh Plastic Company and Tuoi Tre newspaper readers across the country.

This is one of the activities of Thuy's Dream program with the desire to bring not only material gifts but also the care and sharing of the community. Through that, we join hands to share with sick children and disadvantaged students when welcoming the new spring approaching.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/benh-nhi-ung-thu-vui-tet-som-20250110232436028.htm