{"id":2271,"date":"2020-05-29T12:34:08","date_gmt":"2020-05-29T04:34:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=2271"},"modified":"2020-09-14T22:34:36","modified_gmt":"2020-09-14T14:34:36","slug":"free-food-for-cancer-patients","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/free-food-for-cancer-patients\/","title":{"rendered":"Cancer Survivor Couple Hand Out Free Food To Other Cancer Patients Daily For The Past 6 Years"},"content":{"rendered":"

A selfless couple who are cancer survivors themselves<\/h2>\n
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As cancer patients endure medical treatment, emotional struggles, as well as financial burdens, it can be hard for them to stay upbeat and continue to connect with others in society.<\/p>\n

However, this was not the case for Mdm. Ph\u01b0\u01a1ng Dao and Mr. Thanh C\u01b0\u1eddng, a couple who owned a restaurant in Saigon and while both battling cancer themselves.<\/p>\n

Determined to not let their sicknesses get in their way of living normal lives and helping people, they have been unfailingly handing out free food packs to cancer patients in Ho Chi Minh City Oncological Hospital for the past 6 years. <\/strong><\/p>\n

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The husband\u2019s promise with a friend who died of cancer<\/h3>\n
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\"hand
\nThe couple preparing lunches for cancer patients
\n<\/em>Image adapted from: <\/em>\u1ea8m th\u1ef1c v\u00e0 Du l\u1ecbch<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

A gang member for many years,<\/strong> the husband, C\u01b0\u1eddng, experienced life as he knew it changing forever when he witnessed his best friend dying of cancer. Hoping to help his friend get reborn in a better realm according to a Buddhist belief, he promised to hand out free food packs to patients battling with cancer for 49 days.<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, as the period of 49 days elapsed, he realized that there were too many people who needed help<\/strong> and decided to continue helping them until today. For C\u01b0\u1eddng, helping the people in need – together with his wife – is also a way for him to pay it forward. <\/strong><\/p>\n

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The couple are cancer survivors themselves<\/h3>\n
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Now, the couple tirelessly handing out free food packs is a common sight <\/strong>to the patients of Ho Chi Minh City Oncological Hospital.<\/p>\n

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\nMr. Thanh C\u01b0\u1eddng (left) and Mdm. Ph\u01b0\u01a1ng Dao (right)<\/em>
\nImage credit: <\/em>Tu\u1ed5i tr\u1ebb & X\u00e3 h\u1ed9i<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Not many know that behind their facade of happy faces and seemingly endless energy, this couple who\u2019s been married for over 30 years with 3 sons together is also going through their own battles.<\/strong><\/p>\n

2 years ago, Dao was diagnosed with lung cancer.<\/strong> Even though she knows many friends who passed away after only 3 to 6 months of treatment, incredibly, her own cancer cells did not spread beyond her lungs and she recovered after lung tumor removal surgery.<\/strong><\/p>\n

After her fortunate victory against cancer for Dao, her husband was also diagnosed with lung cancer. <\/strong>Luckily, fortune smiled on the couple again as C\u01b0\u1eddng also went through cancer treatment and recovered within only 3 months.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mother has been battling cancer for the past 17 years. My other family members, including my wife, were also diagnosed with cancer. Fortunately, we were able to overcome this heartbreaking turn of events together as a family,\u201d <\/strong>C\u01b0\u1eddng said.<\/p>\n

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\nC\u01b0\u1eddng, Dao, and their volunteers handing out free food packs to cancer patients
\n<\/em>Image adapted from: <\/em>Saigon Travel<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

C\u01b0\u1eddng recalled how his sickness was challenging: \u201cDuring my cancer treatment, I couldn\u2019t go shopping for groceries or cook so I gave my wife money to buy milk and banh mi <\/em>to hand out to the patients 4 days a week.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThey had been expecting to see us and waiting for us to hand out food for the past 6 years.<\/strong> They\u2019d be devastated if we stopped doing that for just one day. No matter how hard it is, I\u2019ll try my very best to help them. Nothing makes me happier than operating my restaurant, handing out free food to those in need, and watching my children grow up. I hope that I will always stay healthy so that I can help more people.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"handThe dishes C\u01b0\u1eddng prepares every day for the patients
\n<\/em>Image adapted from: <\/em>Saigon Travel<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Besides handing out free food to cancer patients, Dao and C\u01b0\u1eddng also serve free food to those in need in their own restaurant<\/strong> from Monday to Thursday from 3PM.<\/p>\n

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\nA sign at Ba Cu restaurant that says \u201cA free portion of rice with meat. Available from 3PM from Monday to Thursday. All you need to do is to get in the queue.\u201d
\n<\/em>Image adapted from:<\/em> Saigon Travel<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

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The couple\u2019s unwavering dedication to the needy<\/h3>\n
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From cooking to cleaning to taking medicine, a cancer patient always needs physical assistance and emotional support. Taking care of other cancer patients while having cancer themselves couldn\u2019t have been easy for this couple, as the task would be a challenge even for healthy people.<\/p>\n

However, cancer didn\u2019t deter this selfless and brave couple from doing what they deemed right. Instead of caving in to fear, they rose to the occasion and have become a great pillar of support <\/strong>for those facing the same challenges.To join C\u01b0\u1eddng and Dao in their endeavors to help more cancer patients in Saigon<\/strong>, you can patronise their restaurant and donate groceries or money.<\/p>\n

Address:<\/span> <\/strong>271 N\u01a1 Trang Long, Ward 12, B\u00ecnh Th\u1ea1nh District
\nOpening hours:<\/strong><\/span> Mon-Fri, 9AM-4PM
\nTelephone:<\/strong> <\/span>091 961 8210<\/p>\n

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