Bringing Mid-Autumn Love to Children with Cancer in Hanoi

Mang trung thu yêu thương đến bệnh nhi ung thư tại Hà Nội - Ảnh 1. — Representative of Tuoi Tre newspaper in Hanoi gives gifts to children with cancer - Photo: DUONG LIEU

Present at the social work room of K Hospital (Tan Trieu facility, Hanoi), little Nguyen Thuy Nga (11 years old, from Hai Duong) sat upright waiting for the uncles and aunts to call her name.

"I have brain cancer and have had nearly two rounds of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. In just a few days I will be able to go home for a few days, then I will start the third round," Nga said.

Giving 160 Mid-Autumn gifts to children with cancer in Hanoi

Receiving the Mid-Autumn gift from Thuy's Dream program, Nga fondled the books in the gift. This year, Nga was supposed to be in 6th grade, studying at a new school, with new friends and new teachers. However, due to a serious illness, she had to put her dream of going to school on hold.

"I can't use this book this year, I'm saving it for next year. If I get better, I'll go to school and have new books," Nga said happily.

At the National Children's Hospital, on the 8th floor - where children with cancer are fighting their illness every day - they are also decorated with fruit trays and lanterns. Doctors and nurses hope that the children will have a warm Mid-Autumn Festival, giving them more motivation.

Taking care of his 6-year-old son in the cancer department, Mr. Huan shared that although his house is only more than 10km from the hospital, this year his family cannot celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival like every year.

Mr. Huan recounted that 3 months ago, he saw his son had swollen lymph nodes in his neck and forehead, so he took him to the doctor. After examining many hospitals, doctors at the National Children's Hospital diagnosed him with lymphoma (a type of blood cancer when lymph nodes grow out of control - PV).

Since then, Mr. Huan has accompanied his son to begin chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Mang trung thu yêu thương đến bệnh nhi ung thư tại Hà Nội - Ảnh 2. — Mr. Huan holds a book in the gift that Tuoi Tre newspaper just gave him, hoping that his child will soon go to school - Photo: DUONG LIEU

Holding the gift from Tuoi Tre newspaper in his hand, Mr. Huan expressed his thanks to the program. He choked up as he said that his child was supposed to be in first grade this year, but unfortunately, he fell ill. "I will save this book for my child, maybe next year he can go to school with his friends," Mr. Huan said.

Also being treated at the National Children's Hospital, Vu Cong Tuan (11 years old, residing in Quang Ninh province), still having his arms full of IV needles, his hair only slightly thinning due to chemotherapy and radiation, happily opened the gift the newspaper had just given him.

Seeing her son happy to receive his favorite foods, Tuan's mother teased him: "Like it, all your favorite foods."

When asked about his wishes for this year's Mid-Autumn Festival, Tuan said: "I don't like anything, and I don't need to go anywhere. Right now, I just want to go home," then looked at his mother.

The simple dream of young cancer patients is simply to return home and go to school like other children their age...

Mang trung thu yêu thương đến bệnh nhi ung thư tại Hà Nội - Ảnh 3. — Representative of Tuoi Tre newspaper in Hanoi gives gifts to children with cancer - Photo: DUONG LIEU

This year, Thuy's Dream program gave a total of 160 gifts to children with cancer in Hanoi. Of these, 60 gifts were given to K Hospital (Tan Trieu facility) and 100 gifts were given to children at the National Children's Hospital. Each gift was worth 500,000 VND, including milk, candy, moon cakes... and 200,000 VND in cash.

Although the gifts do not have much material value, they bring warmth and spiritual encouragement to the "little warriors" on the arduous treatment journey ahead.