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The gala raises nearly VND 10 billion to continue supporting children with congenital heart defects from disadvantaged backgrounds. |
From a cyanotic child to “Lighting up dreams” stage
One of the most touching stories at this year’s gala was that of Luong Tien Dat, an 11-year-old Thai ethnic boy from Pac Ta commune, Lai Chau province.
His family is extremely disadvantaged, with an annual income of only VND 20-25 million. His father has to work away from home, leaving his mother to care for the children.
Dat was diagnosed with severe congenital heart disease when he was only four months old. Frequently cyanotic with swollen limbs, he was unable to play under the sun or take part in physical activities.
His mother took him to major hospitals in Hanoi in search of treatment. Despite borrowing money and selling almost all of the family’s assets, they still could not afford the cost of surgery.
When Dat was six, through the connection of the Tam Long Viet Fund and the “Heart for Kids” program, he was transferred to Hospital E for his first heart surgery, with the financial support of VND 120 million.
His condition relapsed in 2023, and the program once again provided nearly VND 100 million to support his second surgery.
Now a sixth grader, Dat is healthy and can run and play football with his friends.
At the gala, Doctor Nguyen Bang Viet of the Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery Department under the Cardiovascular Center of Hospital E in Ha Noi said the medical team was extremely happy to see Dat in good health after accompanying him since 2019.
According to the doctor, seeing children like Dat regain their health gives the medical team additional motivation to continue helping disadvantaged children with congenital heart disease return to normal lives.
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Over its 18-year journey, the “Hearts for Kids” program has also received strong support from a wide range of businesses, organizations and individuals both in Viet Nam and abroad. |
18 years of giving children chances to live healthy lives
Dat is among nearly 8,000 children who have received support from the “Heart for Kids” program over the past 18 years.
Launched in 2008, the program is a joint initiative of the Tam Long Viet Fund and Viettel, with the participation of leading medical facilities, including the National Children’s Hospital, Hospital E, University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City, and Ha Noi Heart Hospital.
Over the course of its 18-year journey, the program has mobilized VND 254 billion from numerous domestic and foreign enterprises, organizations, and individuals.
It has organized 125 free cardiovascular screening campaigns for more than 190,000 children and supported nearly 8,000 surgeries and medical interventions at seven cardiovascular centers and hospitals nationwide.
The program is one of the most prominent and longest-running corporate social responsibility initiatives launched by a Vietnamese enterprise.
This year, the program introduced an online registration and application-tracking channel through the Viettel Tammi app and the Tam Long Viet Fund’s website (tamlongviet.vtv.vn), making it easier for families in remote and isolated areas to access the program.
Speaking at the event, Nguyen Thi Thanh, Vice President of the National Assembly, noted that while many children simply dream of studying and playing, children with congenital heart disease often have a more basic wish: to be healthy enough to go to school.
She emphasized that every successful surgery not only helps children overcome their illness but also opens up opportunities for a brighter future.
Through the “Heart for Kids” program, the Vice President of the National Assembly affirmed that caring for and protecting children is a shared responsibility of the State and the entire society.
She said that every child, regardless of their circumstances, deserves access to healthcare and education, opportunities for comprehensive development, and the chance to pursue their dreams.
Donations pledged at the gala totaled nearly VND 10 billion.
Entering its 19th year, the “Heart for Kids” program will continue expanding its screening activities and improving its digital platform, with the aim of making fund use more effective and helping save more children’s lives.
Translated by Minh Anh