Heart transplant patient at University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City eats porridge by himself

According to information from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City (UMPH), the first heart transplant patient at this hospital can stand up straight and talk to people.

Joy is hard to describe in words

MSc. Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, Head of the Cardiovascular Surgery Anesthesia and Resuscitation Unit, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City - the person in charge of the post-operative care team, shared with joy: "Before the surgery, Mr. H. was a patient with severe heart failure, both ventricles were weak. After receiving the priceless gift of a new, healthy heart, he recovered faster than expected. Compared to a normal heart surgery, this recovery is equivalent to a minor heart surgery. As one of hundreds of people participating in the heart transplant journey, now, when witnessing the patient's first steps of recovery, progressing faster than the goals we set each day, the joy is hard to describe in words."

MSc.-MD Tran Thi Thanh Thuy examines a patient

Photo: BVCC

Mr. H. was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2021, when the contractile function of the heart muscle was only 18%. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and inadequate diagnostic conditions at the local hospital, he was unable to go for a check-up and access accurate diagnostic tools. From July 2023, when his shortness of breath became increasingly severe, he went to the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City. Here, cardiologists not only clearly determined his condition but also discovered that he had Rh-negative blood - a rare blood type.

One week after the journey of the heart 'beating outside the chest': The patient ate a whole bowl of porridge by himself

After the treatment, Mr. H.'s breathing difficulty improved, his faith and hope in life were also strengthened, and he registered on the heart transplant waiting list. Surprisingly, at 12 noon on August 24, he and his family received a notice to prepare for hospitalization for a heart transplant. "As soon as we received the call, the family immediately bought flight tickets. Even luckier, the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City was very attentive, even the necessary tests for my husband were performed right in the ambulance when taking him from the airport to the hospital. I know the biggest difficulty is finding a suitable heart, the rest we rely entirely on the doctors. We are truly so lucky, so loved," Mr. H.'s wife emotionally shared.

Doctor Thuy talks with Mr. H.

Photo: BVCC

The story spreads many meaningful things

Mr. H.'s heart was received from a 32-year-old man in Hanoi , a story that has deeply moved the community. "The noble meaning of donation is always engraved not only by the recipient, but also spreads the belief and strong desire to live to many other people with serious heart diseases. We are a note in the symphony called the cross-Vietnam heart transplant journey that many people have listened to. I would like to send a message to the donor and his family that his heart has been cherished throughout the journey, is safe, beats strongly in the new chest and fulfills the wish to help a person live on", Dr. Thuy emotionally shared.

After the first few days of needing special care from doctors and nurses, on the second day after the surgery, Mr. H. was able to sit up and stand on his own. On the fifth day, he was able to stand up straight, eat porridge and talk to people. "Mr. H. has a good appetite, says he wants to eat a lot of things, feels healthy, can jog, and is ready to go home," said Dr. Thuy about the patient who had just undergone this special surgery.

Currently, Mr. LAH is still receiving post-operative care at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City and is waiting for the day of discharge. "What else can I say other than thank you" is the answer and smile of the person who just overcame death, making millions of hearts following this journey beat with happiness.

Mr. N.D.T. (32 years old) had a serious traffic accident and was taken to the emergency room at Dong Anh General Hospital, then transferred to Xanh Pon General Hospital (Hanoi), but due to severe injuries, Mr. T. did not survive and was diagnosed with brain death. In a moment of pain and difficulty, his family decided to donate his organs to save the lives of others.

In addition to the heart transplanted to a patient at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. T.'s two kidneys were transplanted to two patients at the same time at the Xanh Pon General Hospital, his liver was transplanted to a patient at the Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, and his corneas were transplanted to a patient at the 108 Central Military Hospital.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nguoi-benh-duoc-ghep-tim-tai-benh-vien-dai-hoc-y-duoc-tphcm-da-tu-an-chao-18524083116062664.htm