Healer with heart

From personal pain

NursingNursing was not Ha's initial choice. She wanted to become a literature teacher, but following her family's wishes, she chose to study nursing. Gradually, that choice became her lifelong mission.

Ms. Hoang Thi Ngan Ha (2nd from left) at the Congress of Nghe An Provincial Nursing Association for the term 2022-2027. Photo: Diep Thanh

Before starting her nursing career, Ms. Ha was a mother whose journey of raising her child was full of pain. Her first son suffered from a serious illness that could not be cured. During the 7 years, 3 months and 4 days with her child, she never lost hope, never allowed herself to stop trying to seek treatment with her child in all hospitals from central to local levels, fighting for her child's life every day, every hour.

Throughout that journey, more than anyone else, she understood the pain of fainting at a conclusion, understood the panic every time her child had a bad turn, understood the sleepless nights to soothe her child's pain, the pain when her child cried because she couldn't go to school, understood the tears she swallowed when she saw her child smile, when she was cuddled by her child...

After her first son died, her loss and anxiety did not stop. In the following years, when her later children were born healthy and safe, she continued to take care of her husband, parents and grandchildren, from one hospital to another.

Ms. Ha gives gifts to patients in difficult circumstances. Photo: NVCC

Not only the pain of having a sick relative in the hospital, Ms. Ha also deeply understands the hardships of the poor. Recalling those days, she choked up: “The period when my husband went to school and my child was sick was probably the most difficult period for my family. My meager salary was used to pay for my husband’s tuition and medicine for my child. There were times when I went to the hospital to take care of my child, I saw sticky rice worth only 1,000 VND but did not dare to buy it, my father-in-law passed away and I did not have a single penny to pay for the funeral…”

Finally, the filial piety of a daughter, the responsibility of a wife, and the love of a mother helped her to regain her spirit and steadfastly go through difficult times. She brought all those unforgettable experiences into her work and carried out her mission of caring for patients with all her heart.

Don't be afraid to ask

Born and raised in Quy Hop, she and her husband chose to stay and work in their hometown - at the Medical Center.Quy Hop district.

Nearly 30 years ago, Quy Hop was a poor district with low education and extremely deprived people. In her memory, those were the years with simple clinics with medical equipment sterilized by boiling over and over again, bicycles carrying people to the emergency room on stretchers, babies born without diapers, nurses had to tear off gauze to wrap them temporarily...

To have funds to support patients, Ms. Ha and her colleagues do not hesitate to ask for donations from sponsors and benefactors. Photo: NVCC

“Even now, when people’s lives have improved, those who come to the District Health Center for examination are often people in very difficult circumstances. They do not have the conditions to go to higher-level hospitals, do not have money to travel, pay hospital fees… Because of difficulties, their knowledge and skills are also limited, requiring a lot of guidance and support from the medical team and doctors,” Ms. Ha added.

Recalling the difficult days, Ms. Ha said: “There was a period when children had diarrhea and died from dehydration so much that I was haunted, scared, and felt helpless watching children die right in my arms… Fortunately, besides sadness, there was always joy. When I first started working for 3 years, I had a joy that I still cannot forget. A 7-month-old baby lived 28km from the medical center. When I was brought to the center, his skin was purple from severe pneumonia, and we thought he would not survive. As soon as we received the patient, we kept him warm, used our mouths to suck out his nasal secretions, and burned dry leaves to warm him… The next morning, he was out of danger and was saved. That was the first time in my life that I felt the boundless happiness of the medical profession - the happiness of saving a patient's life.”

Mid-Autumn Festival program organized by Quy Hop District Medical Center for pediatric patients. Photo: NVCC

After 28 years of working as a nurse, never receiving any thank you money from a patient, never being misunderstood by a patient, Ms. Ha is happy with the immeasurable values ​​she receives from her profession.

In addition to the joy of saving patients, she is also happy because of the simple, genuine feelings that people have for her. That is the old lady with a chronic illness who accepts her as her daughter and saves everything delicious to bring to her, the song that the patient sings for the sisters in the hair washing program for patients, the words of thanks and admiration when the patient eats the bowl of charity porridge that the sisters give. The joy is also the smiles of the sick children when they receive a gift of a warm coat before Tet, someone is happy with a piece of bread from the center's free bakery...

To have more joy like that, Ms. Ha and her colleagues constantly learn and devote themselves to their work. For the past 5 years, in the role of Head of Nursing Department ofMedical CenterIn Quy Hop district, Ms. Ha has applied many good and creative ways to improve the qualifications of young nurses, improve the environment, and enhance the quality of patient care.

To improve her skills, Ms. Ha appreciates every opportunity to learn. To have funds for volunteer activities, Ms. Ha herself is not afraid to be a “beggar” for many years, familiar with businesses in the area.

“There were times when I was misunderstood and judged, but if I do the right thing, sooner or later people will understand. Many people are afraid to do this job, but I think, I am asking for my patients, not for myself, so why be shy?” said Ms. Ha.

The activity of shampooing patients' hair is maintained regularly by nurses at Quy Hop District Medical Center. Photo: NVCC

“Somewhere there are stillNursingI am not confident about my job but I am proud of this choice. Doctors are the ones who prescribe treatment with high expertise but nurses are the ones who are closest to the patients. They not only treat diseases with knowledge but also heal with their hearts, confide in them, understand them and help them have a healthier, more wholesome life.

Diep Thanh