A short story in the Red Journey (Part 2): To leave one more life behind

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - Not noisy, not brilliant, the blood donation journey of thousands of people is still as quiet as a stream flowing in the middle of life. There, each drop of blood is a sharing, each donation is a humanitarian act and behind that are millions of small but extremely warm stories. Stories like that - simple but full of humanity have been and are contributing to writing the humanitarian journey called "donating blood to save people", illuminating beautiful living values ​​in the community.

"Every drop of blood given - A life remains", I feel my life is more meaningful and happy when I know that from the drop of blood I give, I have prolonged life, lit up hope and added strength to many patients on their journey to fight against disease. This is also the "heart's command" that has urged me on my journey of donating blood and platelets over the years". Those are the shares of student Do Dong Dai, nursing college class K24D, Thanh Hoa Medical College - a typical example in the voluntary blood donation movement.

Do Dong Dai (far left) participates in voluntary blood donation.

Like many other blood donors, Dai was worried about his health when he donated blood for the first time at school. However, the enthusiastic advice from the medical team and doctors who took blood and his better health after the first blood donation motivated Dai to become a volunteer and an active propagandist in voluntary blood donation activities.

Donating blood demonstrates one's responsibility to the community and society. That is what motivated me to take action and participate in voluntary blood donation right from the beginning as a student at Thanh Hoa Medical College...

With a deep understanding of the meaning of voluntary blood donation, Dai enthusiastically added: "Every day, every hour, at medical facilities in Thanh Hoa province as well as throughout the country, there are always emergency cases or patients being treated for serious illnesses who need urgent blood transfusions. Meanwhile, the amount of blood reserves is not enough to provide timely. When giving a small part of your blood, you have lit a fire, bringing hope to patients in urgent need of blood. Blood donation is also a meaningful activity, imbued with humanity, demonstrating the morality of "loving" others like you love yourself". At the same time, it demonstrates your responsibility to the community and society. That is what motivated me to act, to participate in voluntary blood donation right since I first started as a student at Thanh Hoa Medical College. Every year, whenever the school or other units in the province launch a blood donation campaign, I participate. Not only that, but when patients need platelets, I am also times donate. In a year, I donate blood about 15 times ready and donate platelets many times."

"Every time I donate blood, I feel my life is more meaningful. The drops of blood I donate help bring life to patients in need of blood," Dai affirmed.

Do Dong Dai (right photo) , during a voluntary blood donation.

Recalling an unforgettable memory in his blood donation journey, Dai shared that it was in June 2025 when he promptly helped an old woman in urgent need of platelets. "At that time, in the early afternoon, I and some classmates were doing an internship at Ngoc Lac General Hospital when we suddenly received a call from the Hematology - Blood Transfusion Center of Thanh Hoa General Hospital informing us that there was a patient in urgent need of platelets. Dai immediately accepted and asked for permission from the medical team and doctors at his internship department to ride a motorbike to help the patient. After more than 1 hour, Dai arrived at the platelet donation location, but luckily he was still able to donate in time to save the patient. patient's life.

"After that, I was very surprised to receive thanks from the old lady's family. I felt happy and touched because I had done something useful for life."

Along with donating blood, Dai also actively participates in many voluntary blood donation clubs in the province such as Thanh Hoa Red Drops Club, Thanh Hoa Red Heart Club... At the same time, Dai also regularly propagates to club members, as well as family members and the community about the meaning of blood donation and encourages everyone to participate. Dai's noble actions have been convincing, making many people see the noble act of donating blood to save lives. Thanks to that, Dai has mobilized about 500 people to donate blood.

For many years of continuous participation in the voluntary blood donation movement, Dai has received many certificates of merit from various levels, sectors, and awards for his outstanding achievements in voluntary blood donation and in promoting and mobilizing voluntary blood donation.

For Dai, "blood can wait for the sick, but the sick cannot wait for blood", which is what motivates the student to be more active in voluntary blood donation and activities to spread the movement widely.

From a small initiative, Red Journey has now become the largest blood donation campaign in the country, a mainstay of the health system during peak blood shortage seasons, a gathering place for kind hearts from all over the country.

Prof. Dr. Tran Van Thuan, Deputy Minister of Health , Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation, affirmed: "The Red Journey is not just a blood donation campaign. It is a journey of faith, love, and community responsibility. There, every citizen, whether old or young, in urban or rural areas, can become a part of the noble mission of saving lives."

In 2024 alone, more than 1.7 million units of blood were received nationally, of which over 98% were from voluntary blood donors.

Nguyen Dat

—

Lesson 3: “Life source” from strangers

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/cau-chuyen-nho-trong-hanh-trinh-do-bai-2-de-them-mot-cuoc-doi-o-lai-253937.htm