Due to suffering from “fire disease,” brothers Kiên and Công have had to stay submerged in water all day since they were young. Recently, these “mermaids” from Đồng Nai have been able to live almost normally, still attending school like their peers, although they occasionally need to dash to the restroom to douse themselves with water.
“Bald-headed mother” is the nickname the neighbors gave to Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Thúy since she gave birth to her son with a completely bald head, shiny and unable to speak or chew.
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| Brothers Kiên and Công self-studying at home (Photo: TTO) |
At just 15 days old, Nguyễn Duy Kiên was taken from one clinic to another because he cried incessantly since birth. Over time, Thúy began to understand what her son wanted: Every time Kiên cried, wrapping a damp towel around him made him quiet down. As soon as he learned to walk unsteadily, Kiên would seek out any basin or puddle to immerse himself in. Although he survived, he remained frail and emaciated like a dried gourd, crying persistently throughout the day. A few years later, Thúy gave birth to another “mermaid,” Nguyễn Duy Công. The doctors shook their heads, explaining that both children suffered from “fire disease” (constantly feeling hot as if burned by fire) due to exposure to Agent Orange.
Although they have grown, Kiên and Công still rely on bottles because they have no teeth. Gradually, feeling embarrassed, the two boys reduced their bottle feeding and began learning to swallow soft rice… and go to school!
Breaking free from the “fishbowl”
After returning from school, “mermaid” Nguyễn Duy Kiên hurried to the yard to plunge his head into a water jar and soak himself from head to toe before entering the house. The 9th-grade student at Nguyễn Công Trứ School (Biên Hòa, Đồng Nai) shared that his favorite subject is math. Despite being tormented by his cruel illness, Kiên still carries his books to school every day. His teachers and classmates have gradually become accustomed to him occasionally rushing to the restroom to splash water on himself.
His homeroom teacher, Đinh Đức Chánh, noted that Kiên performs just as well as his peers, though he can be a bit stubborn and often teases his friends whenever he feels overheated. “At that time, I just needed to find a way to help him come into contact with water immediately for him to feel normal again,” said Mr. Chánh.
In addition to excelling in math, Kiên also loves drawing and has learned photography: “I learned photography during summer school. I hope to have a camera when I grow up to help my parents a bit.”
Meanwhile, “my mermaid” Nguyễn Duy Công, who is in the 2nd grade at Chu Văn An School, also enjoys and excels in math. His teacher mentioned that Công does well in school but has never arrived wearing clean clothes. The brothers’ clothes are often stained and muddy from the red earth mixed with water. Their frail bodies have to carry backpacks weighing over 10 kg filled with books and two large bottles of water to spray on themselves whenever it gets too hot. The two “mermaids” have often startled everyone when the “fire” within them flared up; at that moment, blood would also drip from their noses, soaking them completely.
Despite the hardships, the two brothers feel that their dream of “reaching the shore” is becoming a reality…
