Father's death has not yet subsided, mother is still in a coma, shouldering the burden of the whole family alone

The small house is subject to demolition orders, with only 2 meters of frontage remaining; no one dares to buy it, and it can't be mortgaged either. For many nights, in that small house, the sighs of Mr. Dat have mingled with the cries of his children.

"Difficulties piled upon hardships, but I couldn't give up. As long as I have my mother, I have a home. Taking care of my younger siblings and my child gives me a reason to live," Dat said, his eyes welling up with tears.

Mrs. Bui Thi Hong, Dat's mother, remains immobile after the accident, surviving on a ventilator and under the care of her son. Photo: Thu Hien

The cozy home crumbled, and turmoil ensued.

Mr. Dat had a simple but hopeful start to life. In 2021, he got married and gave birth to his first daughter, Phan Dang Khanh Ngan (3 years old). The small house was hastily built behind his parents' house, becoming a warm home where Mr. Dat and his wife built their own happiness and helped their parents raise their younger siblings. However, the happiness only lasted for 2 years, and small disagreements in their married life gradually grew. At the end of 2024, the two separated and then divorced. Unable to bear to let his daughter live with her mother in a rented house, he decided to raise her, even though he knew the road ahead was full of hardships.

The sadness had not yet subsided when the storm of life came from another direction. In April 2025, Dat's mother, Mrs. Bui Thi Hong (48 years old), had a serious traffic accident. The fall caused her to suffer a severe brain injury and she had to be rushed to Cho Ray Hospital ( Ho Chi Minh City) for surgery. After many months in a coma, when she woke up, Mrs. Hong was paralyzed in all four limbs, lost consciousness, and had to live entirely on special care at the hospital.

Rain or shine, the young worker never dares to stop working. Because on his shoulders rests the heavy burden of supporting his family. Photo: Thu Hien

In the midst of the crisis, in August 2025, Dat's father, who had suffered from liver disease for a long time, passed away. After his father's death, Dat's younger brother, Phan Van Tien (21 years old), a university student, had to drop out of school to take his place at the hospital to take care of his mother. His youngest sister, Phan Thi Nhu Y (5 years old), was still in kindergarten, too young to understand why their father never returned and their mother never regained consciousness.

"Tien takes care of my mother, but all he knows is buying porridge, giving her a quick wipe-down, and then going to seasonal work to earn money. I have to hire someone to help with my mother's personal hygiene every day, but the cost is too high..." - Dat said, his voice faltering from exhaustion.

I hope to receive more strength.

Mr. Dat is both the economic pillar and the sole support of the whole family. With a seasonal worker's salary, each passing day is a struggle for him to pay for the hospital expenses to keep his mother alive (about 35-40 million VND/month), raise his children, and pay for his younger siblings' school fees. After 6 months, that number has become a huge burden. The initial loan of 300 million VND to treat his mother has run out, Mr. Dat continues to borrow everywhere, from friends, colleagues, and even neighbors.

In a home devoid of a woman's presence, every morning and evening, Mr. Dat single-handedly takes care of both his daughter and his younger sister. Photo: Thu Hien

Amidst those difficult times, the only things left in him were filial piety and a fragile belief that, somewhere, there were still kind hearts ready to lend a helping hand, giving him the strength to continue his journey of supporting his mother, his siblings, and his children in this harsh world.

All contributions should be sent to the "Aspiration for Life" program, Public Relations and Documentation Department, Dong Nai Newspaper, Radio and Television, or to editor Thu Hien (phone/Zalo: 0911.21.21.26).

+ Receiving account: 197073599999 - Nguyen Thi Thu Hien, Vietinbank. Please specify in the transfer details: Support for the family of Mr. Phan Van Dat

(The networking and support program is scheduled to be held at 9:00 AM on October 21, 2025, at the home of Mr. Phan Van Dat (Group 3, Binh Thien residential area, Binh Phuoc ward, Dong Nai province).

Thu Hien

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202510/tang-cha-chua-nguoi-me-van-hon-me-mot-minh-oan-vai-ganh-ca-gia-dinh-4610db0/