On the morning of 8 January 2026, the auditorium at FV Hospital was filled with warmth during the event “Lighting up Our World with Love”. The programme welcomed 10 young “little warriors” and their families, who have bravely fought and continue to face, the challenge of protecting their children’s sight. All of the children are being treated for retinoblastoma.

The white reflections once seen in the children’s eyes were an early and troubling sign, marking the beginning of a difficult journey to preserve their vision and protect their quality of life. During the gathering, the atmosphere grew particularly moving as families listened to the stories shared by the parents of N.N. and A.H. Having faced and overcome significant medical challenges, these children now move forward with innocence and hope, supported by the deep care of the community.

The children prepared and performed a dance for the event.

For many parents at the event, the journey began with months of fear and uncertainty, often without a clear source of support. “When we prepared to bring our child to FV, our family had very little hope left. At that time, my only wish was that my child could see their parents’ faces and see the road ahead,” shared Ms Hoang Anh, mother of N.N.

From their first steps at FV Hospital, carrying fragile hopes, the families of N.N., A.H. and eight other children gradually came to see the doctors, nurses and wider medical team, together with the coordinators of The Children of Vietnam Charitable Fund, as trusted partners and an extended family on their journey.

There are still challenges ahead, but today’s happiness already feels like a miracle for many parents.

Taking part in the event as the children’s treating physician, Dr Huynh Huu Danh, Specialist Level 1, shared: “Retinoblastoma is a challenging disease to treat, and outcomes are not always as expected. Fortunately, at FV, we have helped many children preserve their sight. We are deeply grateful that these families did not give up hope and chose to walk this journey with us, alongside their children.”

Together with his colleagues, Dr Danh not only provided effective treatment but also offered steady encouragement to the children and their families. The thoughtful support from The Children of Vietnam Charitable Fund coordinators in arranging treatment schedules, along with the attentive care shown by nurses at FV Hospital at every visit, has become a lasting and meaningful part of many families’ journeys.

Dr Danh personally prepared gifts for the children.

Medical advances have brought real progress through intra-arterial chemotherapy, helping to shrink tumours and create opportunities to preserve vision. At the same time, emotional support grounded in understanding and compassion remains a vital strength, helping families navigate their most difficult days.

On behalf of the organising committee, Ms Le Lan Khanh, Director of The Children of Vietnam Charitable Fund, expressed her sincere appreciation to donors whose support has helped ease the financial burden on families. She also thanked the surgeons and medical specialists at FV Hospital, who have worked alongside the Foundation across hundreds of treatments in many specialties, helping restore hope and bring smiles back to children’s lives.

Ms Lan Khanh is like a member of the family to N.N.

“Lighting up Our World with Love” is more than a single gathering or a moment of gratitude. It reflects a long-term commitment by FV Hospital and The Children of Vietnam Charitable Fund to protect children’s sight and secure their futures. Each preserved moment of clear vision represents the careful balance between medical progress and human compassion, creating outcomes that truly change lives.

Retinoblastoma is a malignant eye cancer that most commonly affects children under five years old. Without timely treatment, it can lead to permanent vision loss and may be life-threatening if the tumour spreads to the brain. Early warning signs may include crossed eyes, persistent redness, or the “cat’s eye” effect, where the pupil reflects white light in photos or under direct light.

FV Hospital is a pioneer in applying intra-arterial chemotherapy (IAC) to preserve the eye instead of removing it. Using this technique, doctors guide a very small catheter from the femoral artery to deliver chemotherapy directly into the artery supplying the eye tumour. This targeted approach focuses treatment on cancer cells, achieves control rates of up to 90%, reduces systemic side effects, and increases the chance of preserving vision for young patients.