A Sick Widow and Her Three Young Children: ""Their Father Is Gone, Please Show Us Compassion!""
Her husband passed away from a brain tumor. Seven years later, Mrs. Lan – an impoverished woman from Minh Coi, Ha Hoa, Phu Tho province – tragically found herself battling a malignant blood disease. Their dilapidated wooden house is the only shelter for five people. When the rainy and stormy season arrives, all they can do is huddle together, praying their roof doesn't collapse.
Her three young children cling to their mother in fear every day, worried that if they let go, she might leave them forever. As for the mother, despite her waning strength, she still fights to live every day, unable to bear the thought of leaving her well-behaved, bright children who are doing well in school.
""I know my illness is very serious,"" Mrs. Lan said, her voice choked with emotion, ""but whenever I think of my children, I try to live one more day, even if it's just to hold them in my arms...""
For many years, she has single-handedly shouldered the burden, from picking threads for hire early in the morning to catching crabs and frogs at night to feed her children and care for her elderly, frail mother-in-law. But her illness is increasingly wearing her down. With no money for medicine and old debts still unpaid, all she can do is swallow her tears and plead for a little compassion from everyone – a miracle, so her three young children might still have a chance to grow up.
