Nguyen Thi Quynh Mai during a blood donation.
Without a forum or honors, Nguyen Thi Quynh Mai (born in 1992) in Hac Thanh ward - a girl with a rare blood type O Rh-, has chosen a quiet but meaningful way of life: Donating precious drops of blood to save people. For Mai, donating blood is not just a gesture, but a part of life, a way for her to repay life and give hope to those who are thirsting to live.
From the moment of life and death...
When she learned that she had the rare blood type O Rh-, Quynh Mai was in a critical situation: pregnant with her first child, her water suddenly broke and she had to be rushed to the emergency room. The whole family was confused because no one in her family had the same blood type as her. The hospital had no blood reserves. Those near-death moments became unforgettable memories. “I didn’t know anything, I just saw my husband had to sign a guarantee. It wasn’t until the doctor told me the truth that I realized I was standing between life and death,” Mai said.
Overcoming the surgery without blood transfusion, only with protein and fluids, Mai was lucky to stay alive and welcome her baby into the world. However, the recovery was long, and her physical condition weakened. It was that life-and-death experience that made her realize that if one day someone needed a rare drop of blood like her, she could not ignore it.
If my blood was needed and not available, I will not let others fall into that situation again.
18 months later, when her first child was weaned, Mai quietly donated blood - without a certificate, without anyone knowing, with only one wish: "If I ever need blood but don't have it, I won't let anyone else fall into that situation again."
The moment she saw her blood flowing into the IV, Mai remembered the worried eyes of her relatives and told herself: "I am stronger now."
The first time she went to the hospital as a blood donor, Mai was both trembling and emotional. The familiar white corridors and the smell of antiseptics had now become the starting point for her journey of silent dedication. The moment she saw her blood flowing into the IV, she suddenly remembered the worried eyes of her relatives back then, and told herself: "Now I am stronger". From someone who once hoped to be saved, Quynh Mai became someone who brought hope to others. It was this change of position that urged her to continue her journey of giving, not because anyone forced her, not because anyone recognized her, but simply as a promise to herself. And from there, her journey of dedication began.
...to the times of quiet giving
Since 2016, Quynh Mai has donated blood more than 12 times, including 3 times in emergency situations for critically ill patients. Not regularly, not counting the number of times, as long as someone needs it, she is ready to go. Sometimes it is in the middle of the night, sometimes in the middle of work, because "at that time, people cannot wait any longer".
Even though she doesn’t wear a white coat, Quynh Mai is still a silent “rescuer” in life-and-death moments. Without a title or a medical profession, but with her own experiences on the border between life and death, and with her boundless compassion, she has become a source of hope for strange patients - people who may never know her name, but are still saved by those silent drops of blood.
I was surprised and happy that my blood helped someone. I don't know who the recipient is, but if anyone needs it, I'm always ready - Mai said, her voice as light as the wind, but as deep as a prayer...
Once, a patient named Minh Anh woke up after surgery, saw the blood bag with the donor's name on it, and called to thank her. The unexpected call in the middle of a late afternoon made Mai choke up. She did not expect that the drops of blood she silently donated could help a stranger overcome death. "I was surprised and happy that my blood helped someone. I don't know who the recipient is, but as long as someone needs it, I am always ready," Mai said, her voice as light as the wind, but as deep as a prayer. Every time she was asked, "How long will I donate blood?", Mai only answered briefly: "As long as I have enough strength, I will continue to donate."
Mai’s O Rh- blood type accounts for less than 0.04% of the Vietnamese population. For patients with blood disorders, postpartum hemorrhage, or newborns in need of emergency blood transfusions, this is a “golden life source”. Therefore, the hospital carefully keeps her information. “My blood is not donated to the general public, but it will be a lifesaver in special cases. That’s what the doctor told me,” Mai shared, and she deeply understood that she had become a special reserve, prioritized for call when the blood bank was in short supply.
Mai is also a bridge between patients and the community of people with rare blood types - when the Thanh Hoa Rare Blood Type Club (Rh-) was established.
Not only does Mai donate blood, she is also a bridge between patients and the community of people with rare blood types. When the Thanh Hoa Rare Blood Type Club (Rh-) was established, Mai was one of the active members. From more than 20 people at the beginning, the club now has over 60 members. Mai constantly calls for, shares, and encourages people to have a correct understanding of blood donation, especially in remote areas where prejudice is still prevalent.
But after all, what makes Mai happiest is not the number of times she donates blood, but the stories behind each unit of blood. Some people have recovered, some people have sent thanks that she has never met, some nights she comes home late, exhausted but her heart is light because she knows she has just done something meaningful. Each urgent call is a time when her heart is awakened, reminded that life sometimes only needs a small action to continue. And in that silent journey, Mai still listens every day, every day responds to the call of kindness, without needing anyone to know, without expecting to be recognized, just knowing that: Someone is alive, because a drop of blood was shared.
Contribution requires no strings attached. All it takes is a willing heart and a helping hand.
Amidst the daily hustle and bustle, Mai's journey of dedication is like a cool, quiet, gentle but never-ending stream. And she, in her own way, has spread the most beautiful message: Dedication requires no conditions. All you need is a heart that knows how to move and a hand that is ready to reach out when others need it!
People with the rare blood type O Rht- (O Rh negative) are very rare in the population, accounting for only about 0.4–0.5%. They can donate blood to almost anyone (if considering the ABO system alone), but can only receive blood from people with the same blood type O Rh-. Therefore, every drop of their blood is extremely precious, especially in emergencies, organ transplants or emergency blood transfusions. |
Tran Hang
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Lesson 6: The whole family donates blood
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/cau-chuyen-nho-trong-hanh-trinh-do-bai-5-mot-giot-mau-mot-loi-nguyen-cho-su-song-253978.htm
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