Bui Duc Minh is just 3 years old but he has suffered from blood cancer for almost one year.

Bui Duc Minh, also called as Tit by his pet name, is the 3-year–old son of Trung and Thuy who are lecturers at the National Economics University (NEU) in Hanoi, Vietnam. He has been detected to suffer blood shortage since October 2007. Though the Central Children’s Hospital (CCH) in Vietnam has conducted a wide range of tests during the four months to February 2008, the specific cause of his lack of blood remained unclear. His condition became worse in early March this year when he had a prolonged fever. The CCH tested his blood. It was found that he suffers Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML).

There is no cure for this type of cancer in Vietnam, doctors at the hospital said. Thus, sending him to Singapore for treatment is the best way to save his life because AML progresses rapidly and is typically fatal if left untreated. Nonetheless, the disease is potentially curable for little sufferers despite that a lot of money and effort are required.

When Trung and Thuy decided to take him to Singapore for special treatment in March 2008, the amount of white blood cells in his body had already reached 95% of his blood. His life seemed to be leaving him.

The only treatment that can improve Minh’s life costs 200,000SGD, is beyond Trung and Truy’s financial capabilities.

Minh is a currently in Singapore’s National University Hospital. The Hospital’s Needy Patients’ Programme called “BMT 4 Kids”* (Blood and Marrow Transplant for Kids) is a charity programme that helps ill children who have cancer, blood and genetic diseases with their medical treatment and costs. It also aims to raise awareness and funds for the Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) programme.

* Please note that excess of funds donated for dedicated patients may also go to other kids (local and foreign) in similar situations. Such donations towards foreign beneficiaries are not tax exemptible according to Singapore tax regulations.

Enquiries may be directed to Xiaohui at email: xiaohui_lim@nuh.com.sg or tel: (65) 6772 5945. If you wish to help Minh and other kids like him, please visit the NUH Patientcare Charity Fund’s online donation portal. Click here to donate.

* Please email your full name and contact details to xiaohui_lim@nuh.com.sg so that we can contact you if we need to verify any information. Important: indicate your donation towards helping Minh if you would like to support him.