Hospital unit offers TLC to terminally ill patients
Print Edition
IN the new palliative care ward at Gumei Hospital, Hu Yuanhua celebrated his 55th birthday 82 days early.
Hu, the first patient when the hospital opened the care unit in June, was diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer in 2006. His condition is considered critical.
“So we decided to hold a birthday party for him ahead of time, just in case,” said Wang Yaoming, director of the hospital. “We wanted to give him a surprise.”
A three-tiered cake was sent to the ward, and Hu was presented with a bouquet of flowers. Hu’s wife and daughter were on hand to help him blow out the candles.
“He hasn’t been able to speak for a long time because of his illness,” said Hu’s wife. “But he actually managed to say a few words at the party. We were all amazed.”
Wang said Hu receives morphine to ease his pain. After surgery in 2006, he underwent 30 courses of radiotherapy, but the treatment didn’t arrest the disease.
“His condition can worsen rapidly at any time,” Wang said. “That he’s still alive is a small miracle. Our job is to make the last days of his life as comfortable as possible and ease the burden on his family.”
Shanghai’s government has said it will add more than 1,000 beds to palliative care services this year.
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