Le Thi Danh
Danh was referred to us by Dr Trieu at the Da Nang Hospital who was called us many times to ask for our help. Dr Trieu said that Danh visited the hospital many times with shortness of breath and unconsciousness, but after leaving hospital she would go home and back to working continuously.
Danh's family was too poor to be able to seriously think about a surgery. When I did a home visit, it was very difficult to find her house in a very poor area near Da Nang beach.
The family’s small house was destroyed by a storm a few years ago. Danh and her husband borrowed from the bank to rebuild it. A year later, she was badly scalded by boiling water while selling food and had to sell the house to get money for treatment and to repay bank. Since then they have been renting their small house in the slums, which costs 1.2 million dong ($70) per month. Even though life has become more and more difficult, they were still determined that their children go to school and get an education.
In 2010, Danh developed pancreatitis and was also diagnosed with congenital heart disease and told she needed surgery. Surgery cost tens of millions of dong ($1,000s) and with just enough income for everyday life, surgery was a luxury they couldn't afford. Danh continued to work hard to earn money for her family any way she could: selling lottery tickets, collecting bottles for sale.
Danh's family was too poor to be able to seriously think about a surgery. When I did a home visit, it was very difficult to find her house in a very poor area near Da Nang beach.
The family’s small house was destroyed by a storm a few years ago. Danh and her husband borrowed from the bank to rebuild it. A year later, she was badly scalded by boiling water while selling food and had to sell the house to get money for treatment and to repay bank. Since then they have been renting their small house in the slums, which costs 1.2 million dong ($70) per month. Even though life has become more and more difficult, they were still determined that their children go to school and get an education.
In 2010, Danh developed pancreatitis and was also diagnosed with congenital heart disease and told she needed surgery. Surgery cost tens of millions of dong ($1,000s) and with just enough income for everyday life, surgery was a luxury they couldn't afford. Danh continued to work hard to earn money for her family any way she could: selling lottery tickets, collecting bottles for sale.
On the day we met, she looked very tired. After the home visit, VNHIP decided to support her surgery. The surgery cost 37.5 million, their health insurance paid 20 million, the family was able to raise 7.5 million and VNHIP was able to donate the remaining 10 million (500 USD).
When I visited Danh in the hospital after her surgery, she looked much better. She is now healthy and very happy to be back at work and able to care for her family.
When I visited Danh in the hospital after her surgery, she looked much better. She is now healthy and very happy to be back at work and able to care for her family.