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March 31, 2020

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One last life-saving dash, then it’s home

By Ke Jiayun | 00:00 UTC+8 March 31, 2020 | Print Edition

although they were preparing to go home, a team from Shanghai’s Renji Hospital had one last desperate mission before they could take their scrubs off.

Zha Qiongfang and her colleagues working at the Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan, the city hardest hit by the novel coronavirus in Hubei Province, were told before the weekend that they should hand over to local doctors and return to Shanghai.

They have been busy recording patients’ information and conditions for the handover, as well as reporting the number of coronavirus disease patients, how many could be discharged soon and how many would have to stay.

For the latter, if issues other than the disease were stopping their recovery, the team would work out a solution, in conjunction with the hospital.

“Our medical group will try our best to never leave any problems for others,” Zha said, echoing the words of her group’s leader.

The final critical transfer

One challenge they faced was the transfer of the last critical patient.

“It’s the speed that determines life or death,” Zha said.

A team of medical workers — one leading the way, one taking care of the mask, two moving the bed from the front and another two from the back, one checking the patient, one carrying the patient’s personal items — rushed to the new ward. “After we went downstairs, we started to run.

“It was a dash of life and race with the virus,” Zha said.

They soon got to the intensive care unit in another building with a new medical team waiting there.

“When we returned to our ward and took off our protective clothing, we found all of our clothes were soaked with sweat. Our team leader, who worked the night shift and didn’t have time to have breakfast, and other doctors with a heart problem, both looked green in the face.”

On Sunday, with all the handover work done, Zha completed her work report and had time to relax.

“I took a walk downstairs after lunch and saw two firemen helping with our luggage which needed to be delivered back to Shanghai. We all appreciate the help their fire brigade gave to us.”

Later in the afternoon, each Shanghainese medical worker received a certificate from the hospital.

“During the fight with the coronavirus, you armed yourselves with protective clothing and set out on a difficult path,” it said.

“You were never afraid of sacrifice and always willing to dedicate yourselves, which fully shows the great spirit of medical workers. In gratitude for your special contribution, we award you the title of Jinyintan Hospital’s honored worker.”

“At that moment, I felt I become a real Wuhanese,” Zha said.

Metro


 

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