The journey to restore Minh Dien and Bao Han’s heartbeats

Minh Dien was born into a near-poor family and had already undergone two major heart surgeries at just 5 and 15 months old. With his parents working away from home, his mother had to put her job on hold to care for him full-time, placing an even greater financial strain on the family. Yet his journey to healing was far from over. Episodes of cyanosis continued to occur, and even a short walk could leave him exhausted and needing to stop and rest. That was when doctors recommended a third cardiac intervention.

Meanwhile, Bao Han was born weighing just 2.3 kg and diagnosed with a ventricular septal defect (VSD). She grew up in a makeshift home with her father, whose income from casual labor was unstable. At one point, her family had no choice but to take her home because they could not afford the treatment she needed. Fortunately, a new ray of hope emerged when both children received timely support to undergo their crucial heart surgeries, thanks to the support of Victoria Healthcare through Heartbeat Vietnam.

On September 11, Victoria Healthcare visited Tam Duc Heart Hospital to meet Minh Dien and Bao Han and learn more about their journeys.

Since 2013, Victoria Healthcare has partnered with Heartbeat Vietnam, helping bring life-saving heart surgery within reach of children with congenital heart disease from disadvantaged families. Heartbeat Vietnam is deeply grateful to Victoria Healthcare for its longstanding commitment, giving children not only timely access to treatment, but also the hope of returning to school, playing freely, and growing up with healthier hearts.

As we look ahead to World Heart Day on September 29, the stories of Minh Dien and Bao Han hold even greater meaning for the program team. Their journeys reflect a shared commitment between Heartbeat Vietnam and Victoria Healthcare to protect children with congenital heart disease and help give them a brighter future.