The hospital is filled with warmth and camaraderie between the military and the people.

In Ho Chi Minh City, during the chilly days, crowds of people rush about, but inside the Oncology and Nuclear Medicine Institute, part of Military Hospital 175, it is peaceful and filled with warmth and human kindness. Every day, patients here share a little kindness and encourage each other to overcome their serious illnesses.

Sharing each dish with each other.

At dawn, a hazy mist hung over the tall trees in the hospital grounds, and the hacking coughs of the patients grew longer as the weather turned colder. Sitting outside the inpatient treatment room, we could sense the heavy hearts of those battling incurable diseases to reclaim their lives. Despite the clean and airy rooms, the patients tossed and turned, finding it difficult to sleep. Before dawn, they would quietly open their doors and gaze into the distance.

The soldiers maintain order at Military Hospital 175. Photo: THANH CHINH

In front of each inpatient room, there are tables and chairs where patients can sit and chat to ease their loneliness while far from home. Those who wake up early brew a pot of hot tea, and patients from other rooms also come to chat and sip tea to warm their stomachs. Many patients here stay for nearly two months for inpatient treatment, so everyone misses home terribly and treats each other like brothers and sisters in the same predicament. Every morning, they ask about each other's health, as if giving each other strength to overcome the terrible disease. Among the many patients here, I met a fellow An Giang province also receiving inpatient treatment. The remaining patients come from all over the provinces and cities of the Mekong Delta, Dong Nai, Central Vietnam, and even some patients from the Kingdom of Cambodia who come here for treatment.

During our week at Military Hospital 175 caring for a relative, we felt the warm atmosphere of human kindness. Besides sharing a cup of tea to warm our hearts each morning, patients also helped each other with hot rice, porridge, or fruit. Sharing a room with Mr. C, a patient from Can Tho City, his wife usually cooked a pot of minced meat porridge every morning; on more diligent days, she would cook eel porridge or fish porridge for him. She always cooked extra to share with patients who were alone and had no one to care for them. Mr. B (65 years old), from An Giang province, was being treated for colon cancer and was alone in the next room because his children worked far away and only came to care for him in the evenings. Mr. C's wife served him a bowl of hot porridge. He sat there slurping, feeling deeply touched by the kindness and genuine nature of the people from the Mekong Delta.

Always receiving attentive care.

On each table in front of the inpatient treatment rooms, there are always cakes and fruits brought regularly by relatives. Whether patients are in the same room or different rooms, they can freely take what they need. For them, everyone who comes here is seriously ill, and sharing a bowl of rice, porridge, or fruit is a way of showing affection and support during their battle with disease. Although food and drinks are laid out on the tables, the patients seem to eat very little. During this time, doctors are implementing treatment plans involving chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and medication, causing many symptoms such as fatigue, a bitter taste in the mouth, and loss of appetite. Some patients, after receiving chemotherapy, suffer from high fevers and lie listlessly, a truly pitiful sight. Patients receiving treatment here often share common traits: hair loss, baldness, and signs of premature aging.

Many patients sharing the same treatment room promised to try their best to overcome their serious illness so they could visit their families. The patients received very dedicated care from the doctors and nurses. When I met Dr. Thang, he pushed his medicine cart into each room, asking about the patients' well-being and offering kind encouragement. Dr. Thang shared that the patients admitted to this oncology hospital are often very seriously ill, fighting for their lives every day. Therefore, the doctors and nurses always listen, support, and treat them to give them the motivation to overcome the pain of their illness.

One weekday morning, I sat outside the ward, gazing at the towering star trees. The mist drifted lazily, and the shuffling footsteps of patients added to the somber atmosphere. Suddenly, someone began singing, “Vietnam, oh Vietnam! / The mountain where you fell / Burns brightly / The red flowers in the distant forest…” from the song “The Red Flower.” The lyrics seemed to dispel the thin mist in that corner of the sky. Following the sound, I descended the stairs and unexpectedly encountered a doctor in a white lab coat singing loudly to many cancer patients lined up there.

I was captivated by the doctor's singing, then amazed by the unique social activities at this cancer hospital. As soon as the singing ended, the patients' applause was enthusiastic. Gifts such as cakes, milk, instant noodles, bread, sardines, eggs, bananas… were distributed by the volunteer group to each patient and their caregiver. Dr. Tran Van Thanh (65 years old), who works at the Social Work Department of Military Hospital 175, explained that the volunteer group provides food, drinks, and fruit to patients three days a week: Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday. The funding comes from benefactors and charity centers in Ho Chi Minh City…

“This volunteer group also mobilizes support from temples and philanthropists for patients. Some patients are homeless and have no relatives; when they pass away, the volunteer group even takes care of their funeral arrangements. Recently, we raised 600 million VND for the 'golden hour' fund to provide emergency care for patients who cannot afford treatment. Through this charitable work, Military Hospital 175 wants to share and provide encouragement so that cancer patients can feel secure in their treatment, overcome the disease, and return to their families,” said Dr. Thanh.

As the afternoon sun faded, many patients strolled through the hospital grounds, breathing in the fresh air. Soldiers riding bicycles back and forth, maintaining order, added to the warm and safe atmosphere of the military hospital.

Military Hospital 175 was established on May 26, 1975, covering an area of ​​21 hectares, with nearly 60 departments, wards, and agencies, and over 2,000 medical and support staff. The hospital has a spacious and airy campus, with a team of experienced doctors and medical professionals from Ho Chi Minh City.

THANH CHINH

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/benh-vien-am-tinh-quan-dan-a469213.html