VietNamNet Bridge – At the age of 44, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, 44, in Trung Ha village, Cam Kim commune of Hoi An city, Quang Nam province, has had up to 16 years of sleeplessness because of a bizarre disease.

Mr. Hung and his daughter. Photo: Tin Tuc

"I’ve had nearly 6,000 sleepless nights. I work very hard during the day, but when night comes, lying down to sleep, my eyes cannot close. Sometimes I’m only craving for a good sleep, even though I can die after that," Hung said.

In the afternoon of a day in late April, we got into a small ferry to go from Bach Dang Wharf to the other side of the Hoai River, the land of Cam Kim commune.

As part of the city known for tourism, Cam Kim commune is a very poor island. On the boat trip, we overheard the story of Nguyen Van Hung.

We arrived at Hung’s house on a rainy day. It was hard for Hung to drag his feet around the house to seeking pots or jags to catch rainwater falling from the leaking roof.

The charity house built by local community for Hung 11 years ago was severely degraded. Hung’s eldest daughter named Nguyen Thi Cam Trinh, 21 years old, was naïve. She only smiled all day, seeing her father, seeing visitors and seeing the rain.

At the age of 44, he had not slept in 16 years by an odd disease, which tortured him every hour. His first daughter was unfortunately silly. His pain was relieved when the second daughter, Nguyen Thi Cam Trang, was born healthy.

His wife - Pham Thi Anh – worked at a local market while Hung was a building worker.

16 years ago, he began feel extraordinary manifestations in his body but he was too poor and did not have money to go to hospital. Poor people in the rural often go to hospital when they are bedridden. That day also came for Hung. His lost sense of movement and suffered from unbearable pain inside. The family took him to the hospital of Hoi An for treatment.

Doctors said that he got nervous tension and insomnia because of overwork. Returning home, Hung tried to recuperate but he was unable to sleep. After a long time, his condition was not relieved and he could not move or walk. Fortunately, after a successful surgery at the Da Nang hospital, he could walk again, although it was very difficult. His hands could not hold heavy objects but he could do some housework.

After the surgery, Hung was in debt. Everyday he stayed at home to wait for his wife and daughter. At night, the illness tortured him. Whenever he closes the eyes, he will feel severe pains in the bones and muscles.

The biggest wish of Hung is having a good sleep, even then he could die.

Tien Phong