Happy smiles on the opening day of school in the class named Sunflowers
GD&TĐ - A special opening ceremony at the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital brought hope and encouragement to the young "warriors".
Báo Giáo dục và Thời đại•04/09/2025
On September 4th, a special opening ceremony took place at the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital. Without a large schoolyard or a canopy of flags and flowers, nearly 150 students, all child cancer patients, began their new school year together in a classroom named "Sunflower."
The opening ceremony not only signals the beginning of a new journey of learning the alphabet but also serves as a great source of motivation, giving the children the strength to bravely fight against their illnesses. Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Diep Bao Tuan, Director of the hospital, shared that the Sunflower Class, with its students being child patients of various levels, has been maintained for the past 16 years. This is a great source of encouragement for the children to continue their treatment. "We hope that when they return home healthy, they can confidently reintegrate into society and continue attending school, pursuing their pursuit of knowledge," said Dr. Tuan. Having been involved with the class for many years, Ms. Dinh Thi Kim Phan (69 years old) said that this year most of the students are new faces, aged from 5 to 17. She is in charge of students from grade 2 and above. Despite her advanced age and sometimes getting lost on 3-4 bus stops, Ms. Phan remains determined to bring literacy to these underprivileged students. "I usually give assignments that are within their capabilities so that they can easily achieve a perfect score. Seeing them happy when they receive their results is a great source of happiness," Ms. Phan shared. The Sunflower Class at the Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital is not only a place for imparting knowledge of Math and Vietnamese, but also a vivid testament to the spirit of learning and extraordinary resilience. Amidst the painful chemotherapy sessions, the sounds of reading aloud and laughter in this special classroom become invaluable spiritual medicine, instilling in the children and their families the belief in a brighter tomorrow. For these children, the classroom is where dreams are kindled. Vo Hoang Bao Long (on the right, 11 years old, from Can Tho ), who has been receiving treatment for leukemia for 6-7 years, confided: "My only dream is to be healthy and go to school like all my other friends." Long's dream is also the heartfelt wish of countless parents. Ms. Vo Thi Phuong Thuy (31 years old, from Quang Ngai province) has a daughter who was diagnosed with bone cancer last September and had to undergo surgery to amputate her left leg. "She spends more time in the hospital than at home, and her studies have been interrupted. Thanks to this class, she has been able to consolidate her knowledge and feel more confident in her treatment," Ms. Thuy said emotionally. Similarly, Ms. Luu Thi Anh, whose 7-year-old daughter is battling blastoma, said: “We are grateful to the medical team for not only caring about our health but also creating a beneficial learning and playing environment, encouraging the children every day. I hope my daughter and all children can overcome this terrible disease.” Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Loc, Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, presented gifts and scholarships to the children.
Comment (0)