Young cancer patients in Vietnam share dreams of becoming doctors and police officers

In a hospital corridor lined with beds, 10-year-old Lê Bích Chi undergoes chemotherapy for leukemia, her small frame battling the aggressive disease. Despite the grueling treatment, she manages a smile, a testament to the spirit that many describe as incredibly strong. Chi's simple wish, written in a letter, is to recover, return to school, and become a doctor, equipped with her own set of school supplies. Her journey began eight months ago when leg pain led to a diagnosis that shattered her mother's world. Lan, Chi's mother, a single parent who makes a living collecting scrap, has seen her economic situation deteriorate as she cares for her daughter.

Supported by family, doctors, and benefactors, Chi finds strength in her determination. She shares toys with younger patients to ease their fear during treatments and engages in drawing, math, and crafts at the hospital. Her handwritten letter, penned with a needle still in her arm, expresses her love for her mother and her resolve not to cry to alleviate her mother's worries. "I miss my mother who has overcome difficulties with me, so I have to try," she wrote. Her resilience is a beacon of hope, demonstrating a profound maturity beyond her years.

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I wish to recover quickly and return to school, I wish to become a doctor and have a set of school supplies.

Similarly, 10-year-old Nguyễn Văn Tú, from Ho Chi Minh City, is fighting osteosarcoma in his left femur. He has undergone limb-sparing surgery and chemotherapy. Tú, an only child whose father is a construction worker and mother is a homemaker, dreams of becoming a police officer to protect people. He cherishes the English lessons he receives at the hospital, finding joy in learning. The "Ước mơ của Thúy" (Thúy's Dream) program aims to fulfill these children's wishes, providing them with much-needed support. Doctors emphasize the importance of such community programs, as the long treatment journeys require extensive resources and often necessitate separating children from their communities.

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I want to have a lot of health, defeat the disease, and study hard so I can become a police officer. At the hospital, the nurses also teach me English, which I really like.