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| Doctors perform reconstructive plastic surgery for a pediatric patient at Hue Dental Hospital |
A quiet miracle
At the end of July 2025, B.T.D. (9 years old, of Muong ethnic, from Kon Tum, now part of Quang Ngai Province), who suffers from severe HbE/Beta-Thalassemia, was discharged from Hue Central Hospital in the immense joy of his family and the medical team. After many years of having regular blood transfusions, he has entered a new chapter of life thanks to an allogeneic bone marrow transplant from his older brother, performed on May 19, 2025. After just 17 days, D.’s white blood cell and platelet counts recovered well - an outcome that reflects the extraordinary efforts of the transplant team.
That miracle came through the collective support of benefactors, connected by Hue Central Hospital. For impoverished families, Thalassemia drains them both physically and financially. Stem cell transplantation becomes the only chance for a cure, yet the cost far exceeds their ability to afford it.
“I never imagined that my child would be able to receive a bone marrow transplant. Our family’s situation is extremely difficult. Thanks to the hospital’s connections, my child received full financial support - nearly 500 million VND. Now he is healthy again and able to return to school like his friends. Our family is deeply grateful,” said Ms. Luong Thi Hop, D.’s mother, emotionally.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Hoa, MD., PhD., Deputy Head of the Department of Pediatric Oncology - Hematology - Bone Marrow Transplantation, said that many disadvantaged pediatric patients receive partial to full financial support. “Providing 500 million VND in support for D.’s case was not easy, but we always strive to mobilize resources so that these children have a chance to live.”
Not only bone marrow transplants, but in 2025, more than 150 underprivileged patients received financial support for liver transplants, stem cell transplants, cancer treatment, and other procedures. The Hope Foundation, established and operated by VnExpress Online Newspaper and FPT Group, alone has provided more than 2 billion VND in support.
According to MSc. Tran Le Bao Tram, Head of the Department of Social Work and Customer Care at Hue Central Hospital, in just two years (2024–2025), the hospital has mobilized nearly 30 billion VND along with thousands of meals and essential supplies to support underprivileged patients. “Every patient under 18 undergoing organ transplantation or stem cell transplantation receives at least 100 million VND in support. For children with life-threatening illnesses, once their financial hardship is verified through documentation, we will seek funding ranging from 20 to 100 million VND,” Ms. Tram said.
The hospital has also recently signed an agreement with Techcombank and the Healing Waves Foundation to provide an additional 100 million VND in support for each pediatric cancer patient, starting in 2026. These contributions are not just financial assistance—they represent the belief that “No one is left behind.”
The smile returns
In addition to children with life-threatening illnesses, in recent years, hundreds of children with maxillofacial deformities have also received support through humanitarian surgical programs organized by Hue Dental Hospital and ReSurge International (USA).
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| Prof. William J. McClure, Head of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit at ReSurge International, visited and encouraged L.V.T.A. after the successful completion of reconstructive surgery |
On November 17, 2025, Ms. Le Thi Huyen (from Quang Tri) brought her 12-year-old son, L.V.T.A., to Hue for his third surgery. He was born with a cleft palate and a ventricular septal defect, making his treatment prolonged and complex. All expenses were fully sponsored by ReSurge International.
“Our family works in farming - we would never have been able to find more than 100 million VND for our child’s surgery without this program,” Ms. Huyen said, her eyes filled with tears as she saw her son’s face change noticeably after each operation.
Thanks to the partnership program between Hue Dental Hospital and ReSurge International, around 150 children from the Central and Central Highlands regions receive free surgeries each year, with many procedures costing between 50 and 100 million VND in actual expenses.
Dr. Le Thua Trung Hau, MD, PhD, Head of the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive – Maxillofacial Surgery at Hue Odonto-Stomatology Hospital, shared: “Since 2012, we have been a partner of ReSurge. In addition to providing free surgeries at the hospital, we also organize outreach teams to perform surgeries for children from birth to 18 years old in the Central and Central Highlands regions, aiming to restore their complete smiles. Furthermore, the program integrates training for young doctors both domestically and internationally. Nearly half of the program’s value lies in training—that is the sustainability the program brings.”
During Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Week 2025 (which concluded on November 20), the team carried out 19 complex surgeries. Each case was a story of its own - a newly restored smile. At the end of the hospital corridor that day, many radiant faces were discharged, like blossoms blooming early for the Lunar New Year.
Prof. William J. McClure, Head of the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit at ReSurge International, shared: “The most meaningful thing for us each time we come to Hue is seeing the children’s smiles return. We hope that Hue will become a training center for the Central and Central Highlands region, mastering surgical techniques and continuing to bring smiles to these children.”
Amid the bustle and hustle of life, these “zero-cost surgeries” have become a beacon of compassion - a source of hope that gives underprivileged children the chance to live and pursue their dreams. Each story is a miracle, and every healing journey is accompanied by solidarity and shared compassion. In that shared joy, hundreds of children have had their smiles restored, and many families have found renewed hope.