Tha, aged 22

Tha is 22 years old. She lives in a remote area far from the town with her mother and 4 sisters. Her father passed away when she was a little girl. They live in a very small brick house, which is not enough to protect them from rain and the sun. The family own  a pig and a bike. Tha has a congenital cardiac condition. Many years ago, she was prepared to go to America to have surgery but the American doctor who read her medical documents advised that as she had a severe heart disease she could not have a surgery at that time.

Tha has been very fatigued for a long time and she could not continue her studying so she has just now finished grade 11. She worries how she will manage if her mother dies. She would like to learn to become a tailor so she can support herself in the future, and help support her family. But her mother has not enough money to pay to a sewing teacher or even to buy an electric bicycle for Tha to go to a tailor’s house. It is very difficult for Tha. Her family is poorest one in Dai Quang commune.

Unfortunately, Tha lives in Quang Nam province where most men marry in order to have children. According to local custom, children are the next generation to worship their ancestors. Tha cannot become pregnant because of her severe heart disease. Therefore she does not dare to fall in love although she is a gorgeous young woman. She also does not want to hurt other people's feelings.

Her Doctor prescribed Sildenafil medication to control her severe pulmonary arterial hypertension.  It takes 1000.000 VND($50) per month for her to buy medication.

The issue of economic difficulties pile up for her family more and more so that they do not know how to earn enough money to buy her medication.