People who bring about miracles

(Baonghean)“There were times when I felt my life was completely hopeless. Less than a month after my mother passed away, my husband suffered a stroke. He fell ill while I was in Hanoi caring for his sister, who was being treated for a serious illness. I had just lost my mother and was now facing the painful reality that I might lose my husband as well. I thought only a miracle could save him. And that miracle happened thanks to the doctors and nurses at Nghe An Friendship General Hospital.”

A surgical procedure at Nghe An Friendship General Hospital (Photo: Hoang Yen)

These were the heartfelt words of Ms. Nguyen Thi Ly from Block 5, Hong Son Ward (Vinh City), as she spoke about her husband's condition after his treatment at the Nghe An Friendship General Hospital. Throughout the story, Ms. Ly couldn't hide her tears of emotion after all the hardships her family had endured.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ly and her husband, Mr. Tran Van Tuan, are self-employed workers in Vinh City. Their peaceful life was suddenly disrupted by a series of misfortunes. Her mother fell ill and passed away unexpectedly. While everyone experiences birth, aging, sickness, and death, losing a mother is a profound and devastating loss. Less than a week after her mother's death, Mr. Tran Van Tuan's sister fell ill with a terminal disease requiring immediate medical attention. Before her tears for her mother had even dried, Ms. Ly packed her bags and went to Hanoi to care for her sister in place of her husband. No sooner had she arrived than she received devastating news: her husband had suddenly suffered a stroke. Who would have thought that Mr. Tuan, normally so strong, so big, and so cheerful, could be reduced to a mere leaf after a morning headache? Ms. Ly returned from Hanoi and was heartbroken to see her husband. The continuous string of misfortunes had left her frail and vulnerable, losing all faith in life.

At Nghe An Friendship General Hospital, Mr. Tuan was transferred from the emergency room to the Neurology Department for intensive treatment. Doctors determined that Mr. Tran Van Tuan had suffered a stroke with hemorrhage in the right cerebellar hemisphere. Seeing the doctors continuously examining, monitoring, and consulting on Mr. Tuan's case, Ms. Ly and her family understood that their loved one was in a very serious condition. According to the doctors, while there are many cases of stroke with cerebral hemorrhage, the risk of death is higher in cases with cerebellar hemorrhage and damage.

Through CT scanning, doctors found that the bleeding area in Mr. Tran Van Tuan's body had spread to approximately 5 cm.²Without timely intervention, if the bleeding cannot be stopped, there is a high probability that the hemorrhagic area will compress the brain, causing the patient to completely lose consciousness and reflexes, fall into a deep coma, and die. Monitoring Mr. Tran Van Tuan's condition, even the doctors and leading neurologists couldn't hide their tension and anxiety. Ms. Ly said that at that time, all the pressure seemed to be on the doctors. Meanwhile, traditional surgical methods had proven ineffective, and no one knew exactly what would happen on the operating table. "Hearing the doctors say that there was only a 1 in 10 chance of survival, the family prepared themselves mentally," Ms. Ly recounted.

On the third day of treatment at the provincial hospital, Mr. Tuan's condition showed no signs of improvement, but more importantly, according to the doctors, it hadn't worsened either. This could be considered a glimmer of hope, a fragile thread for everyone to cling to. "While there's still hope, we'll keep trying," patient Tran Van Tuan was transferred from the Neurology Department to the Intensive Care and Toxicology Unit. The doctors focused on monitoring and consulting. "It's possible to intervene. It's possible to save him," – that's what Ms. Nguyen Thi Ly heard from Specialist Doctor Vu Ngoc Lan, Head of the Intensive Care and Toxicology Unit.

Dr. Vu Ngoc Lan, Head of the Intensive Care and Anti-Aggression Department at Nghe An Friendship General Hospital, examines a patient (Photo: Hoang Yen).

So, there was hope for a miracle. However, it wasn't easy for the doctors; the possibility of the patient's damaged cerebral blood vessels unexpectedly rupturing again was a reality they had to consider. Before surgery, Mr. Tran Van Tuan received intensive treatment to stabilize his blood pressure, prevent blood clotting, and boost his immune system. Ms. Ly was advised by the doctors that her husband would not undergo conventional brain surgery but would instead have a small hole drilled in the cerebellum at the site of the hemorrhage. From there, the doctors would drain the blood clot and "clean" the damaged area. However, the prognosis depended on many factors, one of which was the patient's willpower and determination, and also on the whims of fate. Before Mr. Tran Van Tuan went into surgery, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ly, with tears in her eyes, told her husband: "If you still love me and want to see our children grow up, then be strong and persevere. Never give up."

Seeing the frail body and unsteady gait of Ms. Nguyen Thi Ly, no one could help but feel pity. Thinking about her husband's inability to fight against and overcome his fate, she felt as if the world was collapsing around her. After more than two hours of surgery for Mr. Tuan, the doctor announced that the operation was successful. The operating room hallway erupted with cheers from nearly 30 of Mr. Tuan's relatives. Ms. Ly herself almost fainted. The surgery was successful, but the course of the illness depends on intensive treatment and post-operative care.

Nghe An Friendship General Hospital is a leading institution in applying high technology to examination and treatment (Photo: Hoang Yen)

Ms. Ly said that she had been examined and treated at many hospitals, but this was the first time she had felt the enthusiasm and dedication of the medical team. “Honestly, because I was worried about my husband, I asked this and that, constantly bothering the doctors day and night, but they never scolded or spoke harshly to me. In the days after the surgery, the care staff and nurses even directly fed the patient and directly cleaned him, including brushing his teeth and changing his diapers. Even now, I don't know what to say to thank them, the people who brought a miracle to my family,” Ms. Nguyen Thi Ly said emotionally.

After two weeks of treatment at Nghe An Friendship General Hospital, Mr. Tran Van Tuan was discharged. Now, just over a month since his serious illness, Mr. Tran Van Tuan can sit up, talk, and take care of his personal hygiene independently. Remarkably, he has not suffered any of the after-effects often experienced by other stroke patients. That is truly miraculous. Regarding his case, Mr. Tuan simply said: "I am very grateful."

Quoc Son