Cardiac patient

This case was referred to us by Dr Trieu from Da Nang Hospital. He called us couple times to ask our help for this case. He said that the lady come to hospital many times because of shortness of breath and unconsciousness. But after that she just go home and back to work continuously. They are too poor to think about a surgery. I did home visit on Sunday. It was  very difficult for me to find her house which is in a slum area,  near Danang beach.

The old house they rent to live

Her family’s small house in An Hai Dong ward (Da Nang) was unfortunately destroyed by a storm. She and her husband borrowed from banks to rebuild. However, about a year later, while selling food to earn money for her family, she was badly burned by boiling water. She sold the house to get money for treatment and repay bank. Since then they have to rent a small house in the slums to live. There are 6 people live there and they pay 1,2 million dong($70) per month for that house. Their life has become more and more difficult.  However, they still try to give their children an education at school.                                                                       
In 2010, she developed pancreatitis and was also   diagnosed with congenital heart disease and told she needed surgery soon. But surgery cost tens of million of dong($1000s) and with little income just enough for everyday life, she can not think about a surgery. Although seriously ill, but she has always worked hard to earn money for her family any way she can:  selling tickets, collecting bottles for sale...

We met her when she was working near her house

 Her husband worked as porters in rice plants, an unstable job. Furthermore he is not healthy to be able to do heavy work. Her oldest daughter has been separated and bring 2 kids returned to live with her. She has to take care of 2 grandchildren are also frequently get sick. That day when we speak, she looked very tired. 

After home visit, we decided to support her remaining amount is 10 million for surgery (surgery of her cost 37.5 million, 20 million insurance payment, and they had 7,5m).

After surgery, when we went to visit her at the hospital, she looked much better and very happy. She said from now on she is healthy and working hard to care for her family.  

She is happy after surgery