More than 170 teachers and students representing their respective counterparts from Hanoi Amsterdam High School, along with several parents, devoted time as well as presenting mooncakes, clothes, toys, money,… to more than 70 patients contracting life-threatening diseases. Futhermore, teachers and students alike symphathised with the the kids who suffered from grievously agonizing pain, especially for 6 children with special backgrounds (among whom one had lost both mother and father and lived with her grandparents). Many couldn’t hide their tears rolling down when they heard the patients’ heart-rending stories, which led them to make donations on the spot for children in serious needs.

An Amser shared her emotion in tears: “I’m touched by how unfair life is to these innocent children”. “I want to do everything I can to help these children. I want to share everything I have with them. I wish there would be a miracle!”, another student expressed his feelings.

 Beside bringing gifts to  the children, the delegation raised 14 million dong to support medical expenses for these young patients. Although this trip was almost filled with tears, peals of laughters were also let out in the afternoon. It ‘s because the students had prepared a Mid-Autumn event for the sick children many interesting games and performances in advance, which helped to bring smiles to those lovely faces.

 Dr. Bui Ngoc Lan, who was in charge of Cancer Department in the National Hospital of Pediatrics, was moved by the thoughtfulness of Hanoi-Amsterdam’s representatives. She shared that children in the hospital had to overcome a lot of issues and that most of the families are poor , while their children had incurable sickness  that even just a single day of life was so precious to them. The hospital itself also has to deal with many difficulties: hospital  rooms are often crowded with patients, who must share the same beds with three to four people. In addition to the doctors’ efforts, support from the community to the hospital  is vitally important. Dr Lan expressed her appreciation to delegates of Hanoi-Amsterdam and thanked them all for lightening up the young patients’  world.

 After the visit, Mrs. Dinh Thi Thien Nga commented: “The visit to the National Hospital of Pediatrics helps our  students to realize how valuable life is , and how they could help others with difficulties. I hope there will be more trips like this for students to gain more life experiences, as they will need these skills and values to become responsible citizens in the  future.”.

Translator: Nguyen Phuong Thao (A2 11-14)