Disfigured face, long-term illness, poor family, hoping for help

That is the situation of Mr. Hoang Dinh Minh (42 years old), currently residing in Group 5, Phuoc Son Quarter, Phuoc Binh Ward, Dong Nai Province. "Many nights I was in so much pain that I could hardly breathe. I just wished that I would not wake up tomorrow morning so that my wife and children would suffer less. But then I heard the sound of my children studying, saw my wife working hard day and night..., I struggled, I could not give up" - Mr. Minh choked up, tears rolling down his disfigured face.

On his journey to sell lottery tickets to make a living, whenever the pain became too much to bear, Mr. Minh had to take shelter under the porch or on a stone bench by the roadside. Photo: Thu Hien

Making a living with a deformed face

Suppressing the pain that was burning inside him, Mr. Minh recounted his difficult life. Mr. Minh was originally from Quang Binh province (old), his hard-working wife, Nguyen Thi Lien (36 years old), was from Nghe An province. With the desire to change their poor fate, they left their hometown to go to Binh Duong (old) to make a living as factory workers. Two miserable lives met, became husband and wife, and then had 3 children: Hoang Minh Quan (16 years old), Hoang Minh Quang (12 years old) and Hoang Ngoc Nhu Quynh (10 years old). Thanks to hard work and saving every penny, they were able to buy a small house with the hope of settling down, starting a career, and taking care of their children's education.

Living with others, unstable income, and prolonged illness… put Minh’s children at risk of having to drop out of school. Photo: Thu Hien

However, disaster struck unexpectedly. In 2014, after many facial pains, Minh went to the doctor and was diagnosed with vascular malformation. The disease caused his face to swell, become deformed, and cause constant pain.

Over the years, he underwent multiple surgeries, sold all his assets, and borrowed money from everywhere, but his illness still did not go away. Now, his illness is getting worse, one of his eyes is completely damaged, and the other is gradually fading. Eating, talking, and breathing all become difficult, as he has to have a tracheostomy to breathe.

Despite his illness, Minh did not give up. Every morning, he took a stack of lottery tickets and went around the streets of Phuoc Binh ward to sell them. Despite sweat and tears, he still tried to earn a few tens of thousands of dong to help his wife pay for food, clothing, and school supplies for their children.

"This is the only job I can do, to help ease the helplessness of not being able to protect my wife and children like before. I hope to hold on to life a little longer, to see my children grow up" - Mr. Minh shared.

Unstable income and the risk of children having to drop out of school

The burden of medical expenses, tuition, and living expenses fell on Lien's shoulders. However, she herself was suffering from tricuspid valve regurgitation and white lung damage. Although the doctor advised her to transfer to another hospital for treatment many times, she quietly returned home, put aside her pain to continue making a living, just hoping to have money to take care of her husband and children. She worked as a hired hand at a cashew processing factory, the work was hard, the income was unstable, only about 5-6 million VND/month.

“The amount of money is nothing compared to the cost of medicine, living expenses and the children’s daily education. Our life is getting more and more difficult. During the long nights, I could only silently watch my husband struggle in pain while tears flowed down my face,” said Lien, wiping away her tears.

Ms. Lien often has to work overtime in the factory but still cannot cover the cost of her husband's medical treatment and her children's education. Photo: Thu Hien

Understanding the family's difficult situation early, the three children in the small house were all obedient and understanding, never complaining or asking for anything, other than a simple wish: for their father to suffer less, for their mother to suffer less.

In class, all three brothers are good students and good at studying. After school, Minh Quan takes advantage of time to help peel cashew silk, earning a few tens of thousands of dong to help his mother. The two younger brothers also diligently help with housework, collecting scrap metal to sell to buy notebooks and pens. "If my father is in too much pain, I will accept that I will have to quit school to work for hire, giving the opportunity to study to my two younger siblings" - Minh Quan shared with tears.

After school, the three children go to work, collecting scrap metal to help their mother pay for Minh's father's medicine. Photo: Thu Hien

In the midst of this crisis, they desperately need a helping hand and a heart of sharing from the community. The miracle of kindness will open up opportunities for Mr. Minh to be cured, Ms. Lien to have less hardship, 3 children to continue going to school and this small family will still have a day to welcome peace again.

All contributions please send to the program "Sharing the pain", Publicity and Documentation Department, Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio and Television (DNNRTV) or editor Thu Hien (phone number/Zalo: 0911.21.21.26)

+ Receiving account: 197073599999 - Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, Vietinbank . Please clearly state in the transfer content: Support Hoang Dinh Minh's family.

(The connection and support program is expected to be held at 9:00 a.m. on November 9, 2025, at the temporary shelter of Mr. Minh's family (Group 5, Phuoc Son Quarter, Phuoc Binh Ward, Dong Nai Province).

Thu Hien

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202511/khuon-mat-bien-dang-benh-tat-keo-dai-gia-canh-ngheo-kho-mong-duoc-giup-do-a111d48/