Silently giving love

Mr. Bui Thanh Phuc (on the right) during a blood donation at Thanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital.

With 65 blood donations, including 40 platelet donations, technician Bui Thanh Phuc from the Diagnostic Imaging Department of Thanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital is one of the active "key figures" in the voluntary blood donation movement. Phuc was born in 1992 and began participating in voluntary blood donation in 2011 while he was a first-year student at Thanh Hoa Medical College.

Recounting the circumstances that led him to decide to donate blood at the age of 18, Phuc said: “Seeing my parents donate blood many times, I greatly admired them, so I always told myself to take care of my health and, when I reached a certain age, I would participate in blood donation activities. Therefore, in my first year of university, during the blood donation program organized by the Provincial Red Cross Society, I expressed my wish and received support from my parents. For me, donating blood is not just about giving, but also about receiving so much in return: health and the joy of contributing to saving the lives of patients who need blood.”

For Phuc, "blood can wait for patients, but patients cannot wait for blood," so he tirelessly and silently dedicates himself to blood donation work day and night. Whenever he receives information, he arranges his schedule to donate blood. And since joining the province's blood donation activities, he has never turned off his phone, always keeping it switched on to receive information about patients in need of blood.

Fourteen years of participating in blood donation activities have left Bui Thanh Phuc with many unforgettable emotions and stories, and June 25, 2025, after he finished his shift at the hospital, is one of the most memorable moments. It was 10:30 PM, and after receiving a call from a doctor at the Hematology and Blood Transfusion Center (Thanh Hoa Provincial General Hospital) about a patient with glaucoma needing an urgent platelet transfusion, he quickly went to the center to donate platelets and didn't return home until after 2 AM. He understood that the patient was in critical condition; even a slight delay could have resulted in blindness.

"Although it hurt my hands and took more time than regular blood donation, I felt relieved knowing that the patient was out of danger. I didn't do it expecting the patient to thank me, but I hope that my small act will encourage more people to join hands in this meaningful activity," Phuc added.

Sharing the same sentiment of readily donating blood, Ms. Trinh Vi Ngoc Anh, a receptionist at the Logistics Department of Phuong Thanh Resort, Thanh Hoa Provincial Police, confided: “As long as I have my health, I will continue to donate blood to save lives. Each time I donate, I feel very proud and happy because I have done a good deed by helping patients overcome critical situations.” Therefore, from her first blood donation in 2011, when she was a first-year student at Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism, she has donated blood 33 times. Besides her own participation, she actively encourages her relatives and friends to join the blood donation movement.

To ensure her health and the quality of her blood for future donations, Ngoc Anh always pays attention to maintaining a balanced lifestyle and exercising regularly to improve her health. Whenever she receives information from the hospital or the Thanh Hoa Provincial Blood Donation Promotion Club, she readily donates blood, regardless of the difficulties. Recalling an unforgettable experience, she still remembers a story from a few years ago. When she received information from Thanh Hoa Children's Hospital about a child patient urgently needing blood, she took a taxi to the hospital to donate. However, upon arrival, she was informed that the patient's prognosis was poor, and she returned home with sadness. Halfway there, she received a phone call from the hospital saying the patient's condition had improved significantly and they urgently needed blood. Without hesitation, she returned and donated blood, helping the patient fight for their life.

The stories of Thanh Phuc and Ngoc Anh, who are blood donors, are just two of many exemplary examples in the province's blood donation movement. For them, receiving a drop of blood is a noble act of kindness, regardless of sun, rain, or late nights, readily setting off to donate. These beautiful acts of kindness from these "living blood banks" inspire and unite people, spreading positivity in life with the spirit of prioritizing the lives and health of patients.

Text and photos: Trung Hieu

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/tham-lang-trao-yeu-thuong-256176.htm