The 'miracle' of a couple who lost their children twice because they both carried the thalassemia gene

Dr. Bui Thi Phuong Hoa, head of scientific research and training department - genetic doctor, consults patients - Photo: BVCC

Twice pregnant, twice painfully separated from her child

Ms. Bui Thi Quyen and Mr. Bui Van Dong ( Hoa Binh ) knew they both carried the thalassemia gene (congenital recessive hemolytic anemia) before getting married.

They were advised by their doctor that each time they became pregnant, there was a 25% chance that the child would have a serious illness, a 50% chance that the child would carry the gene, and only a 25% chance that the child would be completely healthy.

Due to difficult economic conditions (Ms. Quyen is a kindergarten teacher, Mr. Dong is a freelancer), the couple could not think of in vitro fertilization combined with embryo testing. They chose to put their faith in "luck" and get pregnant naturally. But luck did not smile.

The first time, the fetus was diagnosed with a poor prognosis due to severe thalassemia, forcing her to terminate the pregnancy at week 20. During her second pregnancy in 2019, she once again lost her baby at week 21.

Two pregnancies, two painful separations from her children, pushed the small woman into a long-lasting psychological crisis.

Dr. Bui Thi Phuong Hoa, Hanoi Hospital of Andrology and Infertility, said that for couples carrying single-gene diseases such as thalassemia, the IVF method combined with embryo testing (PGT-M) helps screen and select healthy embryos, reducing the risk of having children with the disease.

However, the cost of this method is up to hundreds of millions of dong - a number beyond the means of many couples in rural areas like Mr. and Mrs. Quyen.

"At that time, my teacher's salary was only over 4 million, my husband was an unstable freelancer. Losing two children made both of us almost collapse. Both parents advised me to adopt a child, but my heart always ached with the desire to be pregnant myself, to hear my child cry when he was born..." - Ms. Quyen shared.

The fruit of love and determination

Ms. Quyen's family happily welcomed the birth of their daughter after 7 years of waiting - Photo: NVCC

A glimmer of light appeared when Ms. Quyen accidentally read information about the Golden Week of Nurturing Happiness of the Hanoi Andrology and Infertility Hospital, a program that supports free embryo testing costs for some couples carrying genetic disease genes.

In July 2022, Mr. Dong and Ms. Quyen were overwhelmed when they received the notice that they were one of 20 couples to receive full support for embryo testing costs. "It feels like holding a ticket back to the journey of parenthood, but this time with real hope."

Thanks to IVF, the couple created 12 embryos, of which 5 were determined to be free of the disease gene. In October 2023, a healthy embryo was transferred into Quyen's uterus. Ten days later, the pregnancy test showed two lines and tears fell again, but this time they were tears of happiness.

During the 9 months of pregnancy, Ms. Quyen spent each week in a mixture of joy and excitement. And then in July 2024, baby Gao cried out when she was born.

Happiness bursts out after 7 years of waiting. Ms. Quyen said: "If anyone has ever suffered like me, I just want to tell them one thing: don't give up. There are miracles that don't come by themselves, but science and faith can help us touch that miracle."

More than 10 million Vietnamese people carry the thalassemia gene.

World Thalassemia Day is celebrated on May 8 every year to help people with the disease live healthier, longer and have a better quality of life through sharing knowledge and exchanging information.

According to statistics from the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, there are currently more than 10 million people in Vietnam carrying the thalassemia gene. Every year, thousands of children are born with the disease in a severe form - requiring lifelong blood transfusions, expensive treatment and many disadvantages in quality of life.

Thalassemia is an incurable disease, but preventive measures can be taken to limit the rate of children born with the disease and carrying the disease gene each year, thereby reducing the burden on society, improving the quality of life and the quality of the race.

Read more Back to Topics

WILLOW

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/phep-mau-cua-cap-vo-chong-hai-lan-mat-con-vi-cung-mang-gene-benh-thalassemia-20250507143827556.htm