The woman is wholeheartedly dedicated to helping children with cancer.

A mother devoted to cancer patients, whose daughter once died from cancer, quietly cares for young cancer patients at the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital every day, spreading kindness to many others.

Ms. Linh (far left) and other volunteers for the free meal program are preparing vegetables - Photo: PHUONG QUYNH

The day Pham Nguyet Linh (42 years old, from the former Kien Giang province) felt like the world was collapsing when she received the news that her daughter, who had just turned 4 months old, had pancreatic cancer.

Hoping for a last resort, Ms. Linh rushed her child to the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital for treatment. The monthly medical expenses, exceeding 20 million VND (in 2014), were a considerable sum for a kindergarten teacher in the province. She relied on charitable meals daily to save as much as possible.

But no miracle happened when the final surgery failed in 2018. Little Quynh Nhu, her daughter, passed away, going to a place free from the pain of illness. Holding her precious child in her arms on the bus back to her hometown, Ms. Linh's heart was broken.

My father and I deeply appreciate and are grateful for the help from Ms. Nhu. Each meal not only fills our stomachs but also embodies the kindness of generous donors and Ms. Nhu.

Mr. HOANG DUNG (32 years old, from the former Ninh Thuan province), the parent of a child patient, shared:

Setting up a free kitchen to express gratitude to life.

Not long after her child passed away, she and her husband separated due to irreconcilable differences. She felt even more lost and uncertain, not knowing where to turn for support.

"To encourage children who are sick like my own, and also to revisit the place where my daughter and I have shared so many memories, I decided to cook meals for charity. It's also a way to thank those who helped my daughter and me through those difficult times in Saigon," Linh shared.

She began her charitable journey with the money the hospital returned after all expenses were settled. Twice a week, she personally cooks about 50 meals and distributes them to the children at the hospital.

"Every time I go to the hospital to distribute meals, looking back at the bed where my child and I spent so much time together, I can't hold back my tears. It's as if my child is still somewhere out there, and the emotions remain intact," the mother said, her voice choked with emotion.

Initially, she intended to cook until she ran out of money. Unexpectedly, many people learned about her initiative and provided regular support, so her "zero-cost kitchen" has continued for many years.

During the pandemic, a generous benefactor donated enough money to keep the kitchen running for months. Then, another person, seeing that Linh's rented room was always filled with smoke and flames whenever she cooked, offered her a spacious house at a low price, located right at the beginning of the alley, to make it easier for her to cook large quantities of food.

"Saigon people are always tolerant and compassionate. They not only generously help and share with those less fortunate, but also wholeheartedly support others in doing charity work in one way or another," Ms. Linh respectfully stated.

To date, Mother Nhu's Kitchen (called by people after Linh's deceased child) operates five days a week, from Monday to Friday. Each time, it cooks about 500 meals to distribute to anyone in need, not just child cancer patients.

However, Linh revealed that she wasn't very skilled at cooking. But since she started cooking, many people have come to help and teach her. Thanks to that, she can now cook almost any dish, whether vegetarian or non-vegetarian.

Ms. Nguyet Linh and the child patient at the accommodation facility.

A second home for sick children.

Understanding the difficulties parents face in finding accommodation and the burden of long-term living expenses, in July 2023, Ms. Nguyet Linh established a free shelter for child cancer patients near the second facility of the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital.

The building is divided into 25 air-conditioned rooms. The monthly rent alone for this plot of land is over 30 million VND, not including other expenses such as electricity, water, food, and medicine.

"Having had a child with cancer myself, I want the shelter to be not only a place where children can regain their strength, but also a place where parents can find comfort, support, and encouragement from others in similar situations. Everyone, when facing difficulties and setbacks alone for a long time, easily thinks negatively," Linh said, as if talking to herself.

The communal kitchen here is always stocked with rice, noodles, meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, and fruit, all prepared by Ms. Linh for everyone to enjoy. Whenever parents visit from their hometowns, they often bring homegrown produce to supplement the meals.

"In the mornings, families usually wake up early to prepare meals to bring to the hospital to save money. In the evenings, everyone helps out, and the whole family eats together. In the evenings, those who are free participate in making yogurt and flan to raise funds. Everyone here is equal, so we help and support each other like one big family," said Minh Ngoc (27 years old, from Ben Tre ), the parent of a young patient, expressing her gratitude.

Having worked with child cancer patients for a long time, Ms. Nguyet Linh realized that for many reasons, few parents organize birthday parties for their children. So, for more than two years now, she has regularly organized the "Simple Wish" program to celebrate children whose birthdays fall within the month.

For a whole week beforehand, Ms. Linh would meet with each child individually to find out what their dreams were and what gifts they wished for. Then she would mobilize philanthropists to contribute and help make those dreams come true.

The little K warriors are always excited to participate, whether it's their friends' birthdays or their own. Each time, they get to watch performances, sing, play games, eat delicious food, receive their favorite gifts, and get red envelopes with money inside. There are also celebrations for International Children's Day, Mid-Autumn Festival, Christmas, and Lunar New Year held here.

"The kindness of the city's people has uplifted me."

"Saigon has given me the opportunity to meet many generous people. The people of this land have set an example for me in terms of compassion and tolerance. They have helped me learn to live selflessly, to share and support more people in need," Linh affirmed.

According to Ms. Nguyet Linh, she does all this hoping to somehow repay the kindness and compassion of the people of Saigon who sheltered and helped her and her mother during the most difficult and desperate times of their lives.

"Without the contributions and support of philanthropists, and especially the generous and compassionate people of this land, I probably wouldn't have been able to survive until today," Linh said thoughtfully.

Day after day, Ms. Nguyet Linh tirelessly continues her journey of bringing love to children suffering from the same disease as her own child once was. One day, you might see her busy managing affairs at the shelter, and the next day she'll be in Central Vietnam escorting a family of a young cancer patient to the city for treatment. One morning you might see her cooking at the free kitchen, and by afternoon, she'll be in the Mekong Delta, attending the funeral of a recently deceased child with cancer. She also dreams of providing free transportation to take these children back to their hometowns for burial.

"I always try to compensate for my children as much as I can, but with this serious illness, it's hard to say what will happen. They look healthy and happy today, but tomorrow they might be gone…," Linh said, her voice choked with emotion.

"I've realized that the more you give, the more you receive. The day I lost a child to cancer, today hundreds of children call me mother. My family was broken, but now I have a warm and loving home in this beloved city. Therefore, I always love and share with child cancer patients as much as I can, while I still can," Nguyet Linh affirmed.

PHUONG QUYNH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nguoi-phu-nu-het-long-vi-cac-be-ung-thu-20250718233230585.htm