Grandson Hoang Dung, born in 2015, is the only child of Mr. Ton Thang Dung (born in 1984) and his sister, Hoang Thi Thuy Linh (born in 1984), residing in Diem Tan TDP, Duc Ninh Dong Ward, Dong Hoi City, Quang Binh province. When visiting little Hoang Dung in mid-September, despite knowing about her deformity, we were still shocked and saddened by the hardships that this 3-year-old girl had to endure.
Hoang Dung’s face is severely deformed, with no bridge on her nose, a distorted forehead, and wide, protruding eyes that are spaced far apart compared to other normal children.
Yet, despite her deformity, little Hoang Dung surprises everyone with her agility and cleverness. Although unable to attend school, she is taught by her mother and has developed skills in dancing and singing. She aspires to go to school like other children.
The innocent questions of a 3-year-old child such as “When will I go to school?” and “Mom, why don’t other kids play with me?” have brought tears to the young mother and relatives countless times.
“She’s very clever. When children come to play, they run away in fear upon seeing her. The children in the village don’t understand her condition, so they call her a “devil face,” making us adults feel sorry for her,” sadly remarked a neighbor of Hoang Dung.
Due to her facial deformity, Hoang Dung cannot go to school or make friends, as every child who sees her runs away in fear.
Feeling helpless due to the high cost of treatment, Hoang Dung’s parents, Lih and her husband, have accumulated debts from all over in hopes of giving their child a normal face and bright eyes. However, Dung has only undergone surgery to correct the protruding front part of her face.
The prognosis for her eyes is complicated, with corneal perforation that, if left untreated, could lead to permanent blindness. Additionally, her eyes cannot close and open properly, which, if left untreated, could cause further damage. Domestic hospitals are not capable of performing surgery due to the high risk of complications.
Lih and her husband have always wanted to treat their child, but the cost is beyond their means. Through research, advice, and support from a foreign organization, they are cherishing the hope of taking their child to Singapore for corneal surgery to save her eyes. However, the cost of this surgery amounts to 2 billion VND.
Due to challenging circumstances, their main income relies on Mr. Dung’s aluminum and glass business, so the realization of this plan remains uncertain. Despite the difficulties, Mr. Dung and Ms. Lih continue to make efforts, constantly hoping and wishing for a miracle to come to their poor child.
Perhaps, only the benevolence and love of the community can bring that miracle to Hoang Dung. In order for her to keep her eyes, further facial reconstruction surgery is required, giving her a chance to attend school and no longer feel guilty about her life.
