In recent months, Da Nang has witnessed thousands of patients confirmed with COVID-19 and nearly 70 cases of death in the serious outbreak of this fatal pandemic. Their journeys to the world afterlife are more peaceful thanks to the gestures of kindness and humanity of medical staff. They are trained in medical expertise to examine and treat patients, but in a difficult situation due to the pandemic, they are the bridge as well as the last relative beside patients when their family members are quarantined or inaccessible because of COVID-19 prevention and control regulations.

Medical staff transfer COVID-19 patients to Da Nang Lung Hospital for treatment. Photo: LE HUNG

Undesirable calls

One of the last days of August was bleaker than ever when a patient residing in Son Tra District breathed his last after two weeks fighting with COVID-19 at Da Nang Lung Hospital. The choked sobs echoed in the phone was the first thing Ms. Phan Thi Thu Hoai, Head of Administrative Department, Da Nang Lung Hospital heard when calling to inform the patient's family.

Having made and heard thousands of phone calls related to COVID-19 patients’ problems but these calls were the most difficult for her since no one can feel the pain of the loss of their loved one no matter how hard-hearted a person is.

“They were shocked and deeply hurt when heard the unwanted news and kept asking why. They still don't seem to believe this traumatic loss is real. The only thing staff in the hospital can do at such those moments is encouraging and sharing the pain with them as well as guiding works related to funeral procedures," said Ms Hoai.

In another instance, a COVID-19 patient passed away but 4 members of the whole family are all in a designated quarantine facility. Therefore, all funeral arrangements for this patient was conducted by medical staff at Da Nang Lung Hospital on behalf of family members, ensuring strict adherence to COVID-19 prevention and control procedures of the Ministry of Health.

The heartbreaking sound resounding in the funeral home's campus located in the corner of the hospital is the sound of prayers emanating from an old radio- the sound signalling a loss of one’s life. Medical staff and funeral team assist the patient with encoffining and then take to An Phuoc Vien Cremation Center for cremation according to proper etiquette and meet the requirements of pandemic prevention and control. Most importantly, the patient's memento is an old watch and a necklace that is carefully packed by medical staff and handed over with the patient's ashes to relatives.

“For those who serve funerals in the fight against the pandemic, perhaps the distance of transporting patients from Da Nang Lung Hospital to An Phuoc Vien Crematorium is the longest owing to the fact that they try to drive as slowly as they can to bring the last moment getting closer to their loved one for patient's relatives prior to the time of separation, " said Hoai.

For the time being, nearly 70 deaths from COVID-19 have all left silent marks in the hearts of medical staff in Da Nang. COVID-19 patients and their families could only meet and admonish each other in sobs via internet calls organized by medical staff.

Medical staff at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Da Nang Lung Hospital, not only bear the pressure of treating, maintaining life every second, every minute for patients with severe prognosis but also bear the pressure of responsibility calls to connect with COVID-19 patients’ relatives to inform the progress of their health status. Anyone who has worked in the medical industry can understand the feeling once a patient's heart stops beating due to COVID-19, the medical staff's heart is broken one more time, despite their best efforts to save their patients.

Perform acts of humanities

In actual fact, Da Nang Lung Hospital’s medical staff are real soldiers in the fight against COVID-19, the battle for patients' lives. " Actually, this pandemic resurgence has been completely complicated, even young patients without underlying disease’s health status still progressed rapidly and severely. Therefore, we have to monitor their health closely to timely handle,” said Doctor Le Thanh Phuc, Director of Da Nang Lung Hospital.

The difficulties and disadvantages of medical staff in this battle cannot be describable. They are trained in medical expertise to cure diseases and save lives, but when the devastating pandemic takes many lives, their thoughtfulness and devotion in funeral arrangements raging from preparing costumes, coffins, incense lamps to bathing for the deceased is proof that they do it from their humanity, from their warm heart and compassion.

"The most heartbreaking is when witnessing patients' families crying in pain due to their great loss. We still can't hold back the tears no matter how strong we are," said Dr Phuc.

Da Nang Lung Hospital is still steadfastly fighting to provide the best treatment for COVID-19 patients, to prevent and control the pandemic. There are patients’ cheerful eyes when resiliently overcoming Covid-19 but there are also sad and tearful eyes when receiving their loved ones back when their hearts have stopped beating.

Having witnessed so many losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, medical staff have only one hope for patients, which is "If they are lucky enough to stride out the front door of the hospital, they must be live happily. If someone, unfortunately, has to be on hearse when going out through the back gate, the deceased and their loved ones have to be comforted and reassured," said Doctor Phuc.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG - LE HUNG- Translating by T.VY