Bring her heartbeat back to life.

For parents, learning that their child has a congenital heart defect is a huge shock. It's not just about worrying about their child's health and life, but also about the immense financial burden of treatment. Yet, a humanitarian and charitable journey continues quietly, helping many young hearts find new life...

Ignite hope

Born in 2012, Nguyen Phong Thai (from Xuan Phong residential area, Bac Nha Trang ward) showed early signs of respiratory problems. His persistent fatigue and pale complexion worried his mother, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngoc. When she took him for a check-up, she was devastated when the doctor diagnosed Thai with congenital heart disease requiring early surgery. “The day I heard the news, I burst into tears right there in the clinic,” Mrs. Ngoc recalled. Her husband and she work as construction laborers, earning an unstable income, and the hundreds of millions of dong needed for surgery were beyond their wildest imagination. As Thai grew older, his heart condition worsened. The family borrowed money from everywhere, even selling part of their land, but still couldn't afford treatment. Just as hope was fading, through the connection of the Provincial Social Protection and Social Work Center, Thai received nearly 100 million dong in support from the VinaCapital Foundation for his treatment.

Nguyen Phong Thai was guided by his teacher in completing the assignment.

Nguyen Hoang Viet (born in 2010, Bac Nha Trang ward) comes from a disadvantaged family. His father works as a hired fisherman, and his mother sells soft drinks on the sidewalk, resulting in an unstable income. As he grew older, Viet became increasingly pale, breathless, and his face turned blue whenever he cried. Examinations revealed he had a severe ventricular septal defect, requiring early surgery to avoid dangerous complications. “When the hospital informed us about the surgery costing hundreds of millions of dong, my husband and I were devastated,” recalled Mrs. Nguyen Thi My Dung (Viet's mother). Out of love for their son, the family borrowed money from everywhere but still couldn't afford the expenses. In their despair, Viet was connected with the VinaCapital Foundation, which provided nearly 100 million dong through the Vietnam Heartbeat Program to fund the surgery. “I am very grateful for the kindness of the doctors and the VinaCapital Foundation for extending their helping hands to my son during his most difficult and critical time,” Mrs. Dung shared.

In the small house of Mrs. Vo Tran Truc Ngan's family (Dien Tho commune), long nights of anxiety once hung in the air. Her daughter, Hoang Vo Thao Nhi (born in 2023), suffered from congenital heart disease. Each labored breath of hers was a constant worry for her parents. Their difficult economic circumstances repeatedly put their dream of taking their daughter for surgery on hold. Just then, the timely attention of the local authorities opened up hope. Nhi's family was guided to connect with the Provincial Children's Protection Fund, mobilizing social resources. Thanks to the generosity of kind-hearted people, over 110 million VND was raised, giving Nhi the opportunity for surgery to reclaim her life...

Give her back her normal life.

In July 2025, Nguyen Phong Thai underwent surgery at the University Medical Center of Ho Chi Minh City. The surgery lasted nearly 5 hours. When the doctor announced that the operation was successful, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Kim Ngoc burst into tears, as if releasing all the worries she had carried for months. "My son's heart has been repaired, and my heart as a mother has been saved once again," Mrs. Ngoc choked out.

Representatives from the Provincial Center for Social Protection and Social Work visited and provided support to Hoang Vo Thao Nhi.

Now, Thai's health has recovered, and he can run, jump, play, and play soccer with his friends in the schoolyard like other children. Currently, Thai is in 8th grade at Nguyen Cong Tru Secondary School. Every day, he rides his bicycle to school and studies diligently. Thai's eyes light up when he talks about his dream: "I will try my best to study well so that I can help people in difficult circumstances in the future." From his revived heartbeat, a beautiful dream has blossomed, spreading the belief that, with compassion and sharing, weak hearts can still rise up and write new chapters of hope.

In June 2025, Nguyen Hoang Viet also underwent heart surgery in Ho Chi Minh City. Recalling the day she took her son to the operating room, Mrs. Nguyen Thi My Dung said: “Every minute that passed was a moment of anxiety for me. When the doctor announced that the surgery was successful, I was overwhelmed with joy, and all my worries were lifted as my son had crossed the line between life and illness.” After the surgery, Viet was given back a complete childhood. The boy who used to be pale and often had difficulty breathing can now run, jump, and play with his friends. The congenital heart disease that forced him to stop studying in the 8th grade due to health reasons is now a thing of the past. Now, every day, Viet helps his mother sell soft drinks and plans to learn a trade to earn an income and help his mother.

For Thao Nhi, the successful surgery not only saved a fragile heart but also rekindled hope for the entire family. After the surgery, Thao Nhi gradually recovered, no longer experiencing the prolonged shortness of breath she had before. "Now, my daughter is much healthier and more active. My family is extremely grateful for the care and support from organizations, philanthropists, and the Provincial Children's Protection Fund that helped my daughter overcome her illness," shared Ms. Vo Tran Truc Ngan.

After undergoing heart surgery, Nguyen Hoang Viet is now healthy and helps his mother sell soft drinks every day.

Ms. Nguyen Dinh Hong Loan, Director of the Provincial Center for Social Protection and Social Work, stated that each year, dozens of children in the province are diagnosed with congenital heart disease. Among them, many are born into poor or near-poor families in remote areas where meals are often insufficient. Due to difficult circumstances, many families lack the means to take their children for examination and treatment. To help these children, for many years, the center has proactively connected with organizations and philanthropists to support surgical costs, assisting an average of 20 to 50 children annually. In the future, the center will continue to proactively connect with organizations, units, and philanthropists to promptly reach out to and support children with congenital heart disease, determined to ensure that no child is left behind.

The journey of helping heal the hearts of children with irregular heartbeats is a meaningful and humane endeavor. Every year, somewhere in the province, there are still little hearts waiting for help. And this humanitarian journey will continue, because each revived heartbeat is not only an achievement of medicine, but also a living testament to the power of compassion.

VAN GIANG

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/xa-hoi/202601/hoi-sinh-nhip-tim-cho-em-e9f5c5e/