{"id":6116,"date":"2021-03-29T11:53:14","date_gmt":"2021-03-29T03:53:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/?p=6116"},"modified":"2021-03-29T11:53:14","modified_gmt":"2021-03-29T03:53:14","slug":"saigon-man-best-friend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesmartlocal.com\/vietnam\/saigon-man-best-friend\/","title":{"rendered":"71-Year-Old Saigon Man With Cancer Cares For Best Friend With Mental Illness, Supporting Him By Doing Odd Jobs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saigon man with cancer takes care of friend with memory loss<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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“Till death do us part” is a famous vow about commitment throughout all the trials of life that we often hear newlywed couples exchange with each other. While this verse is usually about romantic love, it is also beautifully manifested in the story of Mr \u0110\u00ecnh Long and Mr L\u01b0\u01a1ng Hu\u1ef3nh Th\u00e1i, two 71-year-old friends in Saigon who have been together in sickness and in health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For these two friends, their mutual devotion has far surpassed friendship and blossomed into a special kind of kinship. Despite battling stomach cancer himself, Mr Long is still working hard every day so that he can provide for Mr Th\u00e1i, his friend suffering from memory loss.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Their friendship has lasted for 6 decades<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\"Saigon
\nMr Th\u00e1i (left) and Mr Long (right)<\/em>
\nImage credit: <\/span>Thanh Nien<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The friendship between Mr Long and Mr Th\u00e1i began 6 decades ago, when they both were in 7th grade in a junior high school in Saigon. Little did either of them know that their friendship would go on for another 6 decades.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

About 10 years ago, Mr Th\u00e1i had an accident in which his leg was broken. Because neither of them was married, Mr Long decided to move in with Mr Th\u00e1i in a rented flat to take care of him. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>In 2019, Mr Th\u00e1i suffered severe memory loss after a gallbladder removal surgery.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Saigon
\nImage credit: Thanh Nien<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Because he can\u2019t remember anyone, he spends most of his time on his bed watching TV and rarely speaks to anyone. The only memory he has left at this point is his best friend, Mr Long.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Saigon
\nMr Long taking care of his friend<\/em>
\nImage credit: <\/span>Thanh Nien<\/span><\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

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Mr Long struggles to provide for his friend despite suffering from cancer<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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\"Saigon
\nImage credit: Thanh Nien<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Even though Mr Long is battling stomach cancer himself, he is still juggling odd jobs to provide for his friend and himself. Having cancer sounds like a death sentence to many people, but it doesn\u2019t stop Mr Long from making a living since his friend is not able to care for himself. Due to his commitment to his friend and his financial situation, cancer treatment is off the table.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

From shipping delivery to working in iron factories to giving motorbike rides, Mr Long does everything to put food on the table while he still can.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Th\u00e1i saw me working hard, he said that he would look for a job as a security guard so that we could share our financial burden. However, he broke his arm in an accident. Poor him.\u201d Mr Long said.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Saigon
\nImage credit: Thanh Nien<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

On days when his pockets are empty, Mr Long wanders around the city to find places that offer free meals<\/a> so he can bring some food home for Mr Th\u00e1i. There were days when he even starved himself to save food for his friend.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI did think about leaving him behind, but I couldn\u2019t. He\u2019s a very gullible person, so he was cheated of his money many times. If he\u2019s on his own on the roads, he\u2019ll get lost. Once he got lost and burst into tears when he saw me. I think our fates are intertwined as our parents share the same death anniversaries,\u201d Mr Long shared with <\/span>Thanh Nien<\/span><\/a> in an emotional tone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Saigon man with cancer takes care of friend<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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It’s a privilege to have a true friend with whom we can share the hardships of life and celebrate small joys.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though life has dealt Mr Th\u00e1i hard blows, it has also blessed him with a precious friend who comforts and cherishes him in sickness and in health.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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