Hospital warm military-civilian relationship

Share each dish

At dawn, mist hung over the tall trees in the hospital grounds, the coughing sounds of the patients grew longer as the weather turned colder. Sitting in front of the inpatient treatment room, we could feel the heavy hearts of those who were fighting against incurable diseases to regain their lives. Although the rooms here were clean and airy, the patients still tossed and turned, finding it difficult to sleep. Before dawn, they got up early and tiptoed to open the door to look into the distance.

Soldiers maintain order at Military Hospital 175. Photo: THANH CHINH

In front of each inpatient room, there is a table and chair set up for patients to sit and chat to relieve their boredom when they are away from home. Those who wake up early will make a pot of hot tea, and patients in other rooms will also come to chat and sip a cup of tea to warm their stomachs. Many patients come here for inpatient treatment, sometimes for nearly 2 months, so everyone misses home terribly and considers each other as brothers in the same situation. Every morning, they ask about each other's health, as if to give them more strength to overcome the terrible disease together. Among the many patients here, I asked and met a fellow countryman from An Giang who is also being treated as an inpatient. The remaining patients are from all over the provinces and cities of the Mekong Delta, Dong Nai, the Central region, and there are even patients from the Kingdom of Cambodia who come here for treatment.

During a week at Military Hospital 175 taking care of relatives, we felt the warm atmosphere of humanity. In addition to sharing a cup of tea to warm the heart every morning, patients also support each other with a bowl of rice, hot porridge or fruit. Living with Mr. C, a patient in Can Tho City, every morning his wife usually cooks a pot of minced meat porridge, and on more diligent days, she cooks eel porridge, fish porridge... for her husband to eat. Every day she cooks extra to share with patients who live alone and have no one to take care of them. Mr. B (65 years old), from An Giang, is being treated for colon cancer and lives alone in the room next door because his children work far away and only come to take care of him in the evening. Mr. C's wife scoops him a bowl of hot porridge. Sitting and slurping, he feels very warmed by the love and character of the people of the West.

Always be taken care of

On each table in front of the inpatient treatment room, there are always cakes and fruits brought by relatives regularly. Whether the patient is in the same room or in a different room, if they need to, they can come and get food freely. Because, for them, everyone who comes here is seriously ill, sharing a bowl of rice, a bowl of porridge, and fruit is sharing a little bit of affection for the days of fighting the disease. Although food and drinks are displayed on the table, it seems that the patients rarely eat. During this time, the doctors have prescribed them with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and taking medicine continuously, so their bodies show many symptoms such as fatigue, bitter mouth, loss of appetite, etc. Some people have just finished chemotherapy and their bodies are hot and feverish, lying around, looking very pitiful. The patients who come here for treatment often have in common hair loss, baldness, and signs of premature aging.

Many people in the same treatment room even promised to try to overcome the serious illness to visit each other's families. The patients were treated very attentively by the doctors and nurses. The day I met Dr. Thang, he pushed the medicine cart into each room to ask questions and kindly encourage the patients. Dr. Thang shared that the patients who come to this cancer hospital are often very sick, fighting for their lives every day, so the doctors and nurses always listen, support and treat them to give them more motivation to overcome the pain of illness.

One midweek morning, I sat in front of the room looking at the tall star trees. The mist was hazy, we heard the rustling footsteps of patients passing by, making the scene here gloomy and sad. Suddenly, from somewhere, someone sang “Vietnam, oh Vietnam/The mountain where I fell/Burning up/The color of red flowers in the distant forest…” in the song “Color of Red Flowers”. The lyrics seemed to clear away the thin layer of mist in a corner of the sky. Following the singing, I walked down the stairs, unexpectedly meeting a doctor wearing a white blouse singing loudly in front of many cancer patients lined up there.

I was engrossed in listening to the doctor sing, then amazed by the unique social activities at this oncology hospital. When the singing ended, the applause of the patients was very lively. Gifts such as cakes, milk, instant noodles, bread, sardines, eggs, bananas, etc. were given by the volunteer group to each patient and their relatives. Meeting me, Dr. Tran Van Thanh (65 years old), who is working at the Social Work Department of Military Hospital 175, expressed that during the week, the volunteer group serves food, drinks, fruits, etc. to patients for 3 days including Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. The funding is mobilized from benefactors and charity support centers in Ho Chi Minh City, etc.

“This volunteer group also mobilizes support from pagodas and philanthropists for patients. There are homeless patients without relatives, when they die, the volunteer group also takes care of the funeral. Recently, we mobilized 600 million VND for the golden hour fund to help patients who do not have money for treatment. With this volunteer work, Military Hospital 175 wants to share and give more motivation for cancer patients to feel secure in their treatment, overcome their illness and return to their families,” said Dr. Thanh.

As the afternoon sun faded, many patients strolled around the hospital grounds to breathe the fresh air. Soldiers riding bicycles back and forth to maintain order created a warm and safe atmosphere in the military hospital.

Military Hospital 175 was established on May 26, 1975, with an area of 21 hectares, nearly 60 departments, offices and agencies, with over 2,000 medical and service staff. The hospital has a large, airy campus, with a team of experienced doctors and nurses in Ho Chi Minh City.

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