Nguyen Thi Hong Thao and Nguyen Thi Hong Hieu are twin girls in a family of three children.
Their older sister is just four years old. They live in theirgrandmother’s house of about 40 m2.
The main source of income for the whole family comes from the father working as a farmer while
their mother stays at home to take care of the three children. In the harvest off season, the
father has to work as a hired laborer to earn a bit of extra money to support the family.

The family first recognized the symptoms of their little girls when they were 15 months old at
an outreach clinic in the district hospital. The family then had to take the long and costly
trip to Da Nanang hospital to check up on their condition.

While there, the hospital found that Hong Hieu had Ventricular Septal Defect, for
which the surgery costs 46,000,000 VND (roughly $2,245 USD) while Hong Thao had Ventricular
Septal Defect (a large hole) and Double Outlet Right Ventricle for which the surgery costs
35,000,000 VND (roughly $1,710). Since their visit, the family has not returned to the hospital
for any check- up or treatment because of the family’s financial situation. Hong Thao and Hong
Hieu are now two and a half years old but they are constantly sick and tired because of their heart
disease.

The conditions produce a debilitating impact on their lives that is evident when their lips, hands
and feet often become purple.

Although the doctors advised Hong Thao and Hong Hieu to have surgery soon, they
cannot afford the cost of surgery for these two precious little girls. Covering the cost for one child’s
surgery, let alone two, is impossible. The only hope for this family and these children is to find enough
money to support two surgeries to save their little daughters so that the twins can live normal lives. There
was some money available for part of Hong Thao’s surgery, but we had to find more funding to cover the
rest of her and Hong Hieu’s surgeries.

When we told longtime Heartbeat Vietnam donor and cheerleader, the fabulous Ms. Jeannie Mai from
the Style Network’s “How Do I Look” makeover show, about Hong Thao and Hong Hieu’s plight,
Jeannie immediately sprang into action. She put out a call to action to all of her friends and fans
on her blog and Facebook page, and within just a couple of weeks we raised enough for both girls’
surgeries! The girls were admitted to the hospital in Da Nang (central Vietnam) in September and
received their lifesaving operations at the end of the month.

(Don’t judge me at 1:55…it’s a lot harder than it looks people!)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-b5OR_JYe8[/youtube]

My mom one upped that phrase in Vietnam on Feb 27, 2010.

The whole idea was mine to start. I wanted to ride it. I said I would do it. I was the one who carried the helmet, twittered to the world it was goin down, and brought the friends and family to watch.
Then I saw it in real life-and yes. I backed down.
I’ll just stick to shaking what my mama gave me.

I can’t believe it. I’m back in LA, flew thru Customs (with 6 illegal electric mosquito swatters NOT confiscated), and my fingers twittering with excitement to tell you all about the last 2 weeks. With the sketchy internet..and ok, the fact that I leap outta bed in the AM to head out into the humid air and enjoy the city till wee hours into the night, there was never enough time to blog! So bear with me as I relive my favorite moments to catch you all up- starting with my Heartbeat Vietnam visits.

Two unforgettable visits took place within the first few days I got to Vietnam. I set out with the team of volunteer doctors and nurses to Khoa Nhi hospital that was about 2 hours outside of Ho Chi Minh. There I was able to actually see and meet the dozens of families who travel from all the surrounding small towns and provinces to get their children the medical attention made available on these two days. It was heartwrenching to see how many ways kids could be suffering with weak hearts. I’ve never really known many people with this condition, but after this particular day I could immediately see the physical signs of a child suffering from a congenital heart. Most were very thin and pale in complexion, and all had a frail, exhausted way about them. Here are a couple adorable boys who took a second to share some smiles with me.

I had the opportunity to be with these children as they received their full check ups, and spent time with the parents understanding what life is like to raise a child under these conditions.

Doctors shared that children suffering with congenital heart disease oftentimes cannot attend school due to their lack of energy, and the parents I spoke with shared their extreme appreciation for Heartbeat Vietnam to provide their children the attention and care they need. If you would like to support Heartbeat Vietnam, please visit my Razoo donation page here. Remember, ANY amount you give is double by Vinacapital Foundation, so every dollar counts.
I’m so happy to be back and can’t wait to share more of my exciting Vietnam adventures with you. I have SO much to tell you with stories about the delicious food I yummed over, my exciting adventures with my mum Oleeevia, fantastic updates with the prayer box while I was gone, sensational up and coming designers I met in Thailand and Saigon, inspirational convos with my dear friend Dave Gibbons and his dope dudes, and most of all- ahh, I missed you guys! We also have to catch up about the fabulous recent How Do I Look episode with Halle Berry.. ugh so do check back tomorrow for more. HEART YOU!