“The whole sky seems to fall down when I am diagnosed with cancer. My greatest concern at that time is that who will care for my little daughter with autism in the coming time” Le Thi Diem, 48, residing in Da Nang’s Hai Chau District confided.

A mother with liver cancer is taking care of her youngest daughter with autism.

In 2019, Mrs. Diem was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in her liver needed urgent removal after a periodic health checkup at a private clinic in the city.

After a successful surgical removal of the tumor which cost more than VND100 million, she could not go to the hospital for regular health check-ups owing to the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It seemed as if her life had returned to normal, but on November 14, 2022, during a health checkup at the Ho Chi Minh City-based Cho Ray Hospital, Mrs. Diem was really desperate at being diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma.

But worse, Mrs. Diem’s daughter was diagnosed with autism at an early age. The little girl is non-verbal and communicates with actions. Therefore, Mrs. Diem worried about the challenges her daughter will face. Children with autism often require high support and high intensive intervention.

Looking at her young daughter with dark circles under her tired eyes, Mrs. Diem sobs "I just hope my daughter gets active support from the community in the future if I do not live in this world anymore”.

Currently, all costs for treating Mrs. Diem’s illness and taking care of her mentally unstable daughter are now solely dependent on her husband, Mr. Bui Van Tuan. Mr. Tuan now works as a lathe with a precarious income.

Up to now, the family of Mrs. Diem is very poor and is struggle with huge hospital fees. Therefore, she is in need of financial assistance to cover her treatment costs and take care of her daughter.

Mrs. Thi Thi Hai, Chairwoman of the Hai Chau Ward 2 chapter of the municipal Women's Union, said that the current situation of Mrs. Diem's family is very difficult. Her unit has been working very hard to call for banks to give Mrs. Diem loans at preferential interest rates in order to treat her illness as well as to take care of her children.

The family of Mrs. Diem is desperately in need of financial assistance. Donations can be sent to Mrs Diem's address 20 Doan Thi Diem Street, Hai Chau 2 Ward, Hai Chau District (Phone: 0906558273). Cash can also be sent directly to the Da Nang branch of VPBank using account number 0906558273 - Le Thi Diem.

Reporting by CHANH LAM - Translating by M.DUNG