Celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year) in the hospital.

The Lunar New Year is a time for families to gather around the reunion dinner table, exchanging wishes for peace and happiness.

However, in hospitals, doctors and nurses still stand by patients' bedsides day and night, putting aside their personal lives to care for and protect their lives. There, Tet is not just a moment of transition between the old and new year, but also a journey of preserving hope.

Sharing joys and sorrows with patients.

At the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Dong Nai Children's Hospital, the atmosphere during the Lunar New Year holiday remains as tense as ever. Premature babies and critically ill children require close monitoring of every breath and vital sign. Nurse Le Thi Tuyet has worked at the hospital for 29 years, and in those same 29 years, she has never once been able to celebrate the Lunar New Year fully with her family. Far from home and her parents, she has become accustomed to spending New Year's Eve surrounded by incubators and ventilators.

Leaders of the Dong Nai Provincial Red Cross Society present Tet gifts to underprivileged child patients receiving treatment at Dong Nai Children's Hospital. Photo: Hanh Dung

Ms. Tuyet shared: "During Tet (Lunar New Year), the number of pediatric patients admitted to the hospital usually increases, mostly with serious cases, so medical staff cannot afford to be complacent. It's impossible to say we're happy, but everyone encourages each other for the sake of the patients, so that the children have a better chance of getting well. For me and many colleagues, the joy of the New Year isn't fireworks or a lavish feast, but when a child overcomes a critical condition and returns home to their parents' arms."

Meanwhile, at the Emergency Department of Dong Nai General Hospital, the atmosphere during the Tet holiday is even more hectic. On average, the department receives 150-200 emergency cases each day. During the Tet holiday, the number of emergency cases due to traffic accidents, domestic accidents, etc., may increase compared to normal days.

Ms. Thi Tuyet Nhung, Head Nurse of the Emergency Department at Dong Nai General Hospital, said: "Everyone wants to celebrate New Year's Eve with their family, but having chosen the medical profession, we must be responsible to our patients. We are always ready to be on duty 24/7. In addition to the on-site team, the hospital also deploys reinforcements to respond to any unexpected incidents."

Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, from the Endocrinology Department of Dong Nai General Hospital, shared: "Throughout my six years working at the hospital, I've been on duty for 1-2 days during Tet every year. For me, the greatest joy is seeing patients recover and be discharged to go home and celebrate Tet with their families."

While caring for a relative at the Endocrinology Department of Dong Nai General Hospital, Mr. Pham Van Tuan (residing in Tan Trieu ward, Dong Nai province) confided: "No one wants to spend Tet (Lunar New Year) in the hospital. But if you're sick, you have to get treatment. During Tet, I only hope that the doctors and nurses will always be attentive, encouraging, and caring so that patients can recover quickly and return home to reunite with their families."

So that everyone can celebrate Tet.

Understanding the feelings of patients who have to stay in the hospital during the first days of the new year, many hospitals in the province have organized warm New Year's celebrations. Before Tet, those who are in good health will be considered for early discharge to return home. For patients who are forced to stay for treatment, the hospitals organize gift-giving, lucky money envelopes, distribute traditional Tet cakes (banh chung and banh tet), and hold New Year's Eve celebrations right at the hospital. These gifts, though not of great material value, contain immense sharing and encouragement.

Tet (Lunar New Year) in the hospital passes quietly, without dazzling fireworks, measured by the recovery of patients, by the smiles when a patient is out of danger, and by the moments of reunion when patients are ready to return home. And it is the silent sacrifice of the medical staff that creates a warm spring amidst the white corridors, where life is always prioritized.

Ms. Ha Thi Hoan (residing in Phuoc Tan ward), whose child has been receiving treatment for 10 years in the Intensive Care and Toxicology Unit of Dong Nai Children's Hospital, emotionally shared: "For many years, my family has always received the care and attention of the hospital and the community. Every year-end, my child receives gifts, and at the beginning of the new year, they receive lucky money. My family is very grateful to the doctors, nurses, and benefactors who have accompanied the children."

To create a festive atmosphere in hospitals during the Lunar New Year season, many hospitals decorate their on-call rooms with apricot and peach blossom branches, and hang New Year's greeting cards in front of patients' rooms. These simple New Year's wishes exchanged between doctors and patients help alleviate some of the suffering of patients and the homesickness of healthcare workers.

For those wearing white coats, celebrating Tet (Lunar New Year) with patients is not only a professional duty but also a command from the heart. They accept putting aside their personal lives to uphold their medical oath and fulfill the teaching, "A good doctor is like a loving mother."

Hanh Dung

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/202602/don-tet-o-benh-vien-46c5ebe/