Patient Info: Vu Thai Hung

Vu Thai Hung, three and a half years old, is the only child of Mr. Vu Van Thanh and Mrs. Tran Thi Thao, both are professors at the University of Transport and Communications, Ha Noi, Vietnam. On April 21st, 2006, Hung was hospitalized at Central Children Hospital of Ha Noi, Vietnam and diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (M3).

Following doctors’ advice, Hung was admitted to National University Hospital (NUH) in Singapore on May 9th, 2005. The doctors here gave an optimistic outlook of 80% success rate. The cost, however, was estimated over 100,000SGD for a treatment period of five years. Hung would have to go through four chemotherapy treatments during the first six months, followed by a continuous treatment for two years and a monitoring period during the third year. A conclusion of treatment can only be made after the fifth year.

Little Hung has overcome his most threatening stage after the initial three months, including a severe lung infection taking place in June, and has now completed his third chemotherapy treatment. He is now in good condition except for body fatigues which causes loss of appetite.

During their first days in Singapore, foreign to the language and culture, the couple faced tremendous difficulties. Mr. Thanh spent an hour commuting between NUH and Kallang area just to find a money exchange service, whereas one was available only 20 minutes away from the hospital. The three lived in a temporary cabin offered by the hospital for foreigners, among many other patients’ families. Little Hung often called the place as “nauseous house” from the smell of plastic padding on the walls. He was also not used to the food and could not eat well initially. Communicating with the doctors and nurses was also a huge challenge for Mr. Thanh and his wife.

Little Hung is adorable from the first contact, intelligent and mischievous. At the age of three, he can write and add numbers of up to 100. In fact, Hung can spend a whole day with paper and a pen, when he is not in pain.

Hoang Oanh and Mai Trang were the first to contact Mr. Thanh and Mrs. Thao. After a weekend, Mai Trang and Viet Tung found a convenient apartment not far from the hospital for the family to stay. Hai Ninh helped extending their visas and Mai Trang opened for the family a bank account which later would be used to receive donation. GFO members also provided help in cleaning up the apartment, assisted the family in using local public transport system, translating and interpreting etc. and kept frequent contact with the family.

Little Hung and his parents have now settled and adapted to their new home away from home here in Singapore.

More information on Vu Thai Hung can be found at www.vuthaihung.net