Continuing the Journey of Benevolence

Hanoi these days is hot and sweaty. The A3 Department of Surgery (Central Children's Hospital) was unusually crowded with mothers and fathers carrying backpacks, bags in their hands, and carrying lazy children from the airport, train station, or bus station.

They traveled thousands of kilometers here to participate in the program "Genital reconstruction for unfortunate children", to give their children the opportunity to grow up.

Doctor Roberto discussed with the patient's family before entering the operating room, surrounded by volunteers  the Asia Injury Prevention Fund - Photo: Tu Trung
This was the second medical examination and surgery of Thien Nhan Journey in Vietnam. Her mother Doan Hai Phong  Hai Phong happily said that her son's low urinary tract condition has improved by more than 50% after the first surgery: "Hopefully after this time he will be completely normal before going to school" .

Unlike Phong, who still carelessly plays with the ball, Mai Dang Khoa (23 years old, HCMC), the oldest patient to receive treatment, seriously and thoughtfully answered each person who asked: “Dr. Roberto operated on me for the first time in the first phase (November 2011 - NV), but it was the fifth time I operated. The result this time can only be said: too happy, too happy. If I can have another operation, I'll be even happier."

Sitting next to listening to adults' stories, Hai Trieu's eyes  Ho Chi Minh City lit up. Having studied in 2nd grade, Hai Trieu knew her difference well and whispered: "I don't dare to go to the bathroom with my friends. Every time I change in class, I hide under the teacher's desk."
Lots of hope...

The stories that are still hidden in the depths of the pain of the fathers and mothers who come here suddenly have the opportunity to express, share and seem less painful. More than 80 families quickly became "family members" before Thien Nhan's godfather, Greig Craft, thoughtfully opened up: "From today, we are a family, let's share together to make the family happy. There is one hope for the children. First of all, those who are nearby, let's help those who are far away, each effort will shorten our journey."

Sitting below, many mothers shed tears. Tuan's simple mother (HCMC) said that she borrowed  all the houses in her family, 1 million VND each to get nearly 10 million VND in the morning of receiving the program's invitation for medical examination: "Buy" The train ticket was not in time, the mother and daughter had to go by plane, so it was over 3 million VND. Go to the hospital, find a room for 100,000 VND/day, very happy. I slept for one night, I checked out in the morning, maybe the doctor will send me to the hospital right away. At night, I dreamed that my child could have a normal life, I was indescribably happy, but in the morning I woke up still the same…”. Sitting next to his mother, Tuan turned away, hiding his face in his arms.
Music Night on Thien Nhan Journey

Outside the clinic, another group of volunteers is working hard to organize a music night to raise money for this second surgery. Music night - exchange Thien Nhan Journey will be held at 8 pm on June 23 at the Military Theater of Ho Chi Minh City.

The program will be broadcast live on HTV1 and replayed on HTV9, and will be broadcast live and streamed on Tuoi Tre Online (tuoitre.vn).

Singers accepted to accompany the program: Cam Van, Dam Vinh Hung, Hien Thuc, Thuy Tien - guitar The Vinh, Thanh Hang - Thanh Ha, Duong Trieu Vu - guitar Kieu Anh Tuan, Thai Thanh Hiep, MC Phuong Thao
Tuan had a congenital spinal hernia, five times seven times surgery only recovered his legs to walk and swish. 19 years old, 19 years old Tuan could not control his urination. Needless to say, everyone understands the mother's hardships, the boy's heartache. The mother and daughter, Tran Thao Nhi, who lived in Binh Duong, also arrived in time and brought the backpack into the waiting room.

Stroking her daughter's cheek, Nhi's mother choked: "She's just in grade 4, but her illness has made her sad and depressed. Playing with friends but having to run back to change, being teased by her daughter to say a boring sentence that made her mother cry ...".

The story between the new members of the "Thien Nhan family" kept stirring, anxious like that, as if to make up for the many days of worry and many nights of crying silently. Personal feelings no longer have to wait long.

And a heart...
There are many red shirt volunteers who are students of British University Vietnam who are dedicated to scheduling and taking care of children, coaxing grandchildren, performing tricks to keep hyperactive children. Every time the door of the urology clinic opened, a father took his child out, a mother hugged him in, everyone looked up to ask questions.

Someone changed his worried look with a bright smile like Mr. Ngo Bao Luong in Buon Ma Thuot City (Dak Lak) after the doctor ed that his child would develop completely normally after two years, no intervention needed. medical card. Some people have to shed a few more tears like Tran Thao Nhi's mother and daughter when the doctor told her to schedule an appointment for a deep anesthetic examination before deciding on a treatment regim
But above all, the peace of mind, confidence, determination to go to the end of the journey of "paying people for your life" is boldly imprinted on the faces of parents, deeply imprinted in the hand holding their child when walking out the door. Only when entering the clinic will you understand how that peace of mind has been formed, when in front of you is Doctor Roberto De Castro - the world's leading urologist. He smiled and stretched out his hand to meet each child, patiently, gently, and meticulously examining him.

The lively discussions to find a treatment between Dr. Roberto and the Vietnamese doctors of the Children's Institute sometimes lasted up to 30 minutes. Most parents do not understand English, especially English full of medical terms, but they know the doctor is talking about their child's case, is spending time with their child.

Besides, Mai Anh, Na Huong, Nguyet Anh took turns translating each doctor's opinion, analyzing and explaining each word in detail, answering each question until there were no more questions. Outside, everyone said that Dr. Roberto said this, Dr. Anh, and Dr. Huong said that. No one thought that Na Huong and Ngoc Anh were employees of the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation and Mai Anh was "just a person. mother” as she often introduces herself.
"Today the whole association has become a "doctor of storks", not only me anymore" - Mai Anh said with a smile. It is the result of several months of hard work by all of the fund's people in researching, translating medical records, letters, and exchanges between doctors and patients. Even Mr. Greig Craft during the few days of medical examination no longer appeared as the chairman of the Asian Injury Prevention Fund or Thien Nhan's godfather, he also put on gloves, carried the patient, and shone the light for the doctor. Dr. Roberto examined the patient, discussed the route and treatment regimen of each case and always affirmed: "No matter how difficult it is, we will try our best to go with you to the end of this road".
There is no salary, on the contrary, you have to pay out of pocket. No time, have to cut down on family time. The only reward is the hope that tomorrow will return healthy and happy young people to the society, so many people who share such a heart of volunteering may not be able to overcome difficulties, especially Financial difficulties are piling up on the program organizers. But "just go and you will come" - Mai Anh and Greig said, like the first days they both started with Thien Nhan on the journey to find themselves around the world.

The medical examination  the morning continued until 14:30, the afternoon examination started at 3 pm and ended at 20 pm. But the doctors are still smiling, the volunteers are still dedicated.

The journey of volunteers continues...
26 more babies have their genitals reconstructed

At the press conference on June 12 about the 2nd Benevolent Journey in Vietnam, the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation said that after the first examination, 26 children were selected for genital reconstruction surgery in Vietnam. next two weeks at the National Children's Hospital. These are 26 babies with genital defects due to birth or accident, Italian doctor Roberto De Castro and Vietnamese-American female doctor Tue Dinh will continue to perform the surgeries themselves.

According to Ms. Tran Mai Anh - foster mother of "lead soldier" Thien Nhan and one of the two program initiators, on this occasion the doctors will examine 80 new patients and re-examine 17 children who have had successful surgery. , operated on 26 children, including five children with complete genital reconstruction. During the first surgery of the program (November 2011), 120 children were consulted, examined and treated.