Hành trình giành lại sự sống cho em bé mắc tim bẩm sinh từ 5 tháng tuổi | VTV24

Key Concepts

• Congenital Heart Disease (CHD): A structural abnormality of the heart present at birth.
• Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD): A hole in the wall (septum) separating the two lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart.
• Heart for Children Program (Trái tim cho em): A charitable initiative providing financial and medical support for children with congenital heart defects.
• Post-operative Care: The critical period of recovery involving frequent medical monitoring, medication, and follow-up appointments.

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1. Case Overview: The Story of Pham Tien Sang

The narrative centers on the family of Mr. and Mrs. Pham Van Trung from Go village, Hai Anh commune, Ninh Binh province. Their fifth child, Pham Tien Sang, was born with a congenital heart condition that went undetected during prenatal ultrasounds. Initially, the only visible issue at birth was a leg deformity. It was not until the child was 4.5 to 5 months old—when he exhibited developmental delays and respiratory distress—that a severe Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) was diagnosed at Hai Hau Hospital.

2. Financial and Logistical Challenges

The family faced an overwhelming financial burden, with surgery costs estimated at 200 million VND. Given their lack of stable employment and the needs of a large family (six children and multiple grandchildren), this amount was insurmountable. Beyond the surgery, the family struggled with the logistical costs of traveling from their rural home to the central hospital in the city and the ongoing expenses of long-term medication.

3. The Intervention Process

The family’s path to treatment involved several critical steps:

• Initial Diagnosis: Identification of VSD at a local hospital, followed by a referral to a central facility.
• Application for Aid: After spending nearly a month at the Central Pediatric Hospital, the family applied to the Heart for Children program.
• Approval and Surgery: The application was accepted, and the surgery was scheduled when the child was 9 months old.
• Collaborative Support: Funding and support were provided by a coalition of organizations, including the Heart for Children program, the Vietnamese Charity Fund, Vietnam Television (VTV), and the Military Telecommunications Group (Viettel).

4. Post-Surgery Recovery and Long-term Management

The recovery process was described as a rigorous, multi-stage journey:

• Immediate Post-Op: The child required an extended hospital stay of nearly two months.
• Follow-up Schedule: Initially, check-ups were frequent (every 10 days). As the child’s condition stabilized, the interval between appointments was gradually extended to one month, then two months, and currently, six months.
• Ongoing Burden: Despite the successful surgery, the family continues to face the financial strain of recurring check-ups and long-term medication, which remain a significant challenge.

5. Key Perspectives and Impact

The family emphasizes that the surgery did more than fix a physical defect; it restored hope to the entire household. Mr. Trung expressed profound gratitude toward the benefactors, noting that the support acted as a "lifeline" during their most uncertain times. The narrative highlights a broader social message: the importance of collective action in ensuring that children with congenital heart disease receive the life-saving care they need.

6. Synthesis and Conclusion

The case of Pham Tien Sang illustrates the critical gap between medical necessity and financial accessibility for families in rural Vietnam. The successful outcome was contingent upon the intervention of charitable programs that bridge this gap. The primary takeaway is that while surgical intervention is the immediate solution to a heart defect, the long-term survival and quality of life for these children depend on sustained support, consistent medical follow-ups, and the continued generosity of the community to ensure that "no more heartbeats miss their chance with life."