Due to suffering from “fire disease”, since childhood, brothers Kiên and Công have had to soak in water all day long. Recently, these two “mermen” from Đồng Nai have been able to live almost normally, still attending school like their friends, although they occasionally need to go to the restroom to splash water on themselves.
“Bald Boy’s Mother” is the nickname given to Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Thúy by neighbors since she gave birth to her third son, who has a completely bald, shiny head and does not know how to speak or chew.
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| Brothers Kiên – Công self-studying at home (Photo: TTO) |
At just 15 days old, Nguyễn Duy Kiên was taken from one hospital to another because he cried incessantly since birth. After some time, Thúy began to understand what her son wanted: Every time Kiên cried, she would wet a towel and wrap it around him, and he would become quiet. From the day he learned to walk unsteadily, Kiên would seek out basins of water or puddles to immerse himself in. He survived but remained thin and shriveled like a dried gourd, crying incessantly throughout the day. A few years later, Thúy gave birth to another “merman”, Nguyễn Duy Công. Doctors shook their heads, indicating that both children suffered from “fire disease” (a constant feeling of heat as if being burned) due to exposure to Agent Orange.
Although they have grown up, Kiên and Công still need to use baby bottles due to their lack of teeth. Gradually, feeling embarrassed, they reduced their bottle use and learned to swallow soft rice and… go to school!
Stepping out of the “fishbowl”
Just back from school, “merman” Nguyễn Duy Kiên hurriedly ran to the yard to plunge his head into a water barrel, soaking himself from head to toe before entering the house. The 9th-grade student at Nguyễn Công Trứ School (Biên Hòa, Đồng Nai) stated that his favorite subject is mathematics. Despite the torment of his illness, Kiên still carries his school bag to class every day. His teachers and classmates have gradually become accustomed to the fact that Kiên occasionally rushes to the restroom to splash water on himself.
Homeroom teacher Đinh Đức Chánh mentioned that Kiên’s academic performance is on par with his peers, though he can be a bit stubborn and often teases his friends when he feels hot. “At that time, I just needed to find a way for him to interact with water immediately for him to feel normal again,” Mr. Chánh said.
In addition to excelling at math, Kiên also loves drawing and knows how to take photographs: “I learned photography during a summer course organized by the school. I hope to have a camera when I grow up to help my parents a little.”
As for “my mermaid” Nguyễn Duy Công, who is in the second grade at Chu Văn An School, he also enjoys and excels at math. His teacher noted that Công performs well in class, but he has never come to school in clean clothes. The clothes of the two brothers are often stained and muddy due to the red dirt mixed with water. Their frail bodies carry backpacks weighing over 10 kg filled with books and two large water bottles to spray on themselves whenever they get too hot. The two “mermen” have often startled everyone when the “fire” within them flares up; at such times, they also suffer from nosebleeds that leave their clothes soaked.
Despite the hardships, the two brothers feel their desire to “come ashore” is becoming a reality…
