'Pediatrics - a journey of love and challenges' by Dr. Le Thi Hanh

With eyes that always shine with warmth whenever talking about children, Dr. Le Thi Hanh - Pediatrics Department, Nghi Son General Hospital, Thanh Hoa - shares her journey to the profession with an uncalculated love, mixed with many challenges that only those who are truly passionate can persevere to continue.

Dr. Le Thi Hanh examines pediatric patients at the Pediatrics Department, always being meticulous and patient in every gesture.

PV: What made you decide to choose Pediatrics – a field that is considered to have a lot of pressure and challenges?

Dr. Le Thi Hanh: Since childhood, I have dreamed of becoming a doctor, even though I knew that this profession is hard and sometimes I don't have time for my family. But it is the image of children - innocent, pure, vulnerable - that has nurtured my passion. Among the myriad of specialties, I was attracted to Pediatrics, which requires not only knowledge but also special delicacy and sensitivity.

Children cannot tell all their illnesses. Every cry, smile, and frown is a "clue". Every time I examine a patient, it is like I am embarking on an investigation. I love Sherlock Holmes stories, so when I work, I often joke that I am a "detective". But unlike detectives, doctors do not have much time; any wrong judgment can lead to serious consequences. Therefore, I always remind young doctors: in this profession, being alert is a must.

Dr. Le Thi Hanh always receives trust and love from patients and their families thanks to her dedication in care and treatment.

PV: During your career, what is the most memorable pressure or situation for a doctor?

Dr. Le Thi Hanh: The most difficult thing is that children cannot express their symptoms. If the doctor lacks experience or observation, it is easy to miss important signs. I still remember a case that happened in the morning at the clinic.

A 3-year-old child was brought in by his mother because of a cough and runny nose. He waited too long, and when it was his turn to be examined, he was fast asleep – right at his nap time. I did a general examination, but he was still asleep. When I examined his throat, he just cried "oa oa" and then fell asleep right away. For someone unfamiliar with young children, this might be normal. But that reaction startled me. Because when children are awakened, they usually wake up completely or become violently upset. The fact that he immediately went back to sleep was an abnormal sign – possibly a coma.

I immediately thought of the possibility of poisoning. The baby had no fever and was progressing rapidly. I asked the mother about her diet and at the same time smelled her mouth and hands. There was a very strong smell of indigo oil coming from her mouth, while her hands were completely free of the smell – indicating that the baby had opened the bottle very skillfully.

The baby’s mother insisted that there was no indigo oil in the house. But I still decided to treat it as an essential oil poisoning. A while later, the family called home and discovered an open bottle of indigo oil under the bed, empty. It turned out that the grandmother had brought it over and forgotten about it.

If I had believed the family's words at that time, the baby might not have been saved in time. I often tell this story to medical students to remind them that doctors must be independent observers, not "fooled" by any source of information. Children are not miniature adults; diagnosing them requires knowledge, understanding and professional intuition.

Dr. Le Thi Hanh always proactively supports and accompanies children in difficult circumstances during the treatment process.

Reporter: It is known that you have participated in many courses and professional training programs. What did those experiences bring you?

Dr. Le Thi Hanh: I am very lucky to work in an environment where the leadership always creates conditions for me to study and access new knowledge. The training courses I attend are very practical, helping me to form a scientific and logical mindset, work systematically and know how to look up documents when encountering rare or never-before-seen diseases.

Thanks to that, I am more confident when facing difficult cases and can support my colleagues better. Besides improving my expertise, these courses also help the hospital's medical team access new techniques, effectively applying them to treatment so that patients can benefit the most.

With nearly 20 years of working in the medical field, Dr. Hanh has always kept a fire in her career that has never been extinguished. In every story, every moment of reminiscence, the image of a doctor with heart, vision, full of responsibility and also full of love always appears.

"Being a pediatrician means choosing to be both a doctor and a temporary mother to children," she smiled gently, but her eyes shone with the seriousness typical of an experienced physician.

With her in-depth knowledge, dedication and spirit of continuous learning, Dr. Le Thi Hanh is contributing to building Nghi Son General Hospital into a more reliable, closer and humane medical address for local people.

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Ruby

Source: https://suckhoedoisong.vn/nhi-khoa-hanh-trinh-yeu-thuong-va-thu-thach-cua-bs-cki-le-thi-hanh-169251204062848415.htm