Little Như Ý currently lives in Lập Đức Village, Tân Lập, Little Như Ý was born into extremely difficult circumstances. In 2023, her mother, Na, was involved in a serious traffic accident while unknowingly pregnant with her. Na suffered a traumatic brain injury and had to undergo skull surgery. The accident left her paralyzed on one side, and soon after, her husband abandoned her. Na had to return to her hometown to live with her mother for support. Due to the necessity of taking antibiotics throughout her pregnancy to survive, Như Ý was born with developmental challenges, unlike other children.
Though Như Ý appears to be a sweet and pretty little girl, she struggles with her learning. She often forgets what she is taught and needs extra guidance. Her teachers try hard to help her progress to the next grade, but she is not academically strong. Như Ý is slow in her development, has speech difficulties, and struggles to communicate her thoughts. In 2022, the Thiện Chí Center sent staff to teach her for a time, but the responsibility has since been passed to her parents and school.
Currently, Như Ý's family is facing significant financial difficulties. They have been part of an economic development loan program since 2016, initially borrowing 5,000,000 VND to raise 100 chickens. Now, after eight years, they’ve borrowed 10,000,000 VND to care for 200 dragon fruit poles (rented at 12,000,000 VND per year). Despite their efforts, the fluctuating price of dragon fruit means the family only manages to get by.
Như Ý's grandmother, Mrs. Thể, works in a dragon fruit farm, earning around 150,000 VND per day for 20 days a month. However, she recently had an accident and tore the ligaments in her left knee. Doctors recommended surgery in Saigon, which would cost around 40,000,000 VND, but she cannot afford it and has left it untreated. Since Na’s accident, she has experienced mental instability, and during weather changes, she becomes almost delirious. Na has seizures three to four times a month, but the family cannot afford medical care or medication. Although Na receives a disability allowance from the government of about 540,000 VND per month, it is far from enough.
With such limited income supporting four people, Mrs. Thể fears for her family’s future, especially as her health deteriorates. She still hasn’t been able to repay the 40 million VND bank loan from 2013, which was used for Na’s skull surgery. Mrs. Thể worries that she may have to pull Như Ý out of school. She hopes that kind-hearted benefactors might offer a scholarship of 300,000 VND per month to help Như Ý continue her education.
