Phuong Nam's family was once considered one of the poorest in their community, yet happiness filled their home as they faced every hardship together. Nam’s parents, though exhausted from work, always showed love and support for one another and tirelessly dedicated themselves to raising their two children. Nam’s father worked in construction, while her mother collected recyclable materials; together, they worked relentlessly to provide a better future for their children. With support from local authorities and the Thien Chi Center, Nam’s family was given a warm 50m² home in 2017, valued at around 120 million VND.
However, that short-lived happiness ended abruptly in 2018 when Nam’s father was tragically killed in a traffic accident while returning from work late one evening. This tremendous loss left Nam's mother and her two children struggling in ways they had never anticipated. At the time, Nam had just turned 19 and was in her second year at Ho Chi Minh City Banking University, while her younger brother Nghia was only 17, a senior in high school. The weight of the family’s survival now fell entirely on Nam’s mother.
After her husband’s death, Nam saw her mother working tirelessly each day: collecting recyclable materials and taking on any odd job to make enough for her two children to stay in school. Despite the unstable income—some days bringing in only a few tens of thousands of dong—Nam’s mother persisted so that her children would not have to give up their education.
Thanks to her mother’s hard work, Nam completed her four years at the Banking University of Ho Chi Minh City but has not yet received her diploma due to outstanding coursework. Her younger brother Nghia also completed his studies at the University of Economics in Da Nang, yet is unable to graduate due to a missing English credit.
The pressure of finding a job without a degree and the financial burden on her mother led Phuong Nam into depression. Her condition has worsened to the point that she can no longer control her actions. Recently, Nam has been having frequent outbursts, harming herself and endangering others. Given the severity of her situation, Nam’s mother had no choice but to admit her to Bien Hoa Psychiatric Hospital.
Phuong Nam, once a beautiful and well-behaved girl, is now in a constant struggle with illness, wavering between moments of clarity and confusion. With her mother now focused on Nam’s care at the hospital, she has had to pause her work, leaving Nam’s elderly grandmother alone at home. Nam's treatment costs have become overwhelming, and her family’s situation has grown more desperate.
Nam’s mother hopes to receive assistance from kind-hearted benefactors, giving Nam a chance for comprehensive treatment and a path back to her former self.
