The painful wounds have not healed yet!

Comrade Truong Van Binh, Deputy Director of the center, sadly shared: “In recent years, with the attention of leaders at all levels and the whole society, the material and spiritual life of wounded and sick soldiers at the center has improved a lot. The care and treatment work of the center's staff is also less difficult and arduous than before. However, because this is a treatment center for severely wounded and sick soldiers, the rate of loss of labor capacity is mostly 81% or more, most of them are injured in the spine, so the physical pain is still very great. Especially during erratic weather, changing seasons, a few days ago, the pain came back and tormented them continuously, making even experienced people grimace. Looking at the soldiers, at that time, we could not hold back our tears.”

The wounded and sick soldiers were moved to attend the gift giving ceremony.

Mr. Binh further revealed that Thuan Thanh War Invalids Nursing Center (under the Department of Meritorious People, Ministry of Home Affairs ) is the unit that takes care of and treats the most seriously wounded and sick soldiers, with the highest rate of severe injuries. After more than 60 years of construction and development, the center has received, managed, cared for, treated, and rehabilitated more than 1,000 seriously wounded and sick soldiers injured on battlefields and in their hometowns in almost all provinces across the country.

Representatives of the Military Youth Union presented gifts to the center and wounded and sick soldiers being treated here.

After a period of convalescence and treatment, many wounded and sick soldiers had their wounds stabilized, partially recovered their health and working functions, and wished to return to their families for convalescence. The remaining soldiers, due to severe injuries, difficult family circumstances, and being single, stayed to live and receive treatment at the center.

Currently, the unit is managing, nurturing, treating and implementing policies for 84 seriously wounded and sick soldiers of level 1/4 (labor loss rate from 81% to 100%), of which, 50 were wounded during the resistance war against America.

Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Quang Huy, Head of the Army Youth Union, presented gifts and encouraged seriously wounded soldiers.

Learning more, I learned that at the center, 90% of the patients were injured in the spinal area, causing hemiplegia, having to move around in wheelchairs and rocking chairs; many patients suffered from combined injuries such as amputated arms, amputated legs, damaged eyes, etc. Due to the sequelae of spinal injuries, many patients had muscle atrophy in the lower half of their bodies, lost sensation, and were unable to function independently, having to depend completely on the support of the center's staff. Due to the effects of injuries, many patients suffered from diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney failure, hepatitis B, C, urinary tract infections, back ulcers, etc.

Some patients still have shrapnel and marbles in their spines and heads, so every time the weather changes, the old wounds cause excruciating pain, causing convulsions, affecting their meals and sleep. Some patients, due to severe injuries, large ulcers, and weak strength, cannot get out of the car and go outside, and must lie in bed all year round and need 24/7 care and help from relatives or staff...

Resolute spirit of Uncle Ho's soldiers!

After brief speeches during the gift-giving ceremony, at the central hall, where almost all the wounded and sick soldiers who were living and receiving treatment were gathered, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Quang Huy, Head of the Committee, and Colonel Nguyen Van Ninh, Deputy Head of the Military Youth Committee, approached the wheelchairs and rocking chairs, and went to each soldier's seat to visit, talk, encourage, and give meaningful gifts. Although still suffering from the pain caused by their wounds, when meeting the officers representing the youth of the Army today, the wounded and sick soldiers tried to endure the pain, enthusiastically responded to the conversation, and expressed their special appreciation and respect.

Mr. Le Duc Luan, Head of the Council of Wounded and Sick Soldiers, on behalf of the wounded and sick soldiers, spoke to express his respect for the gratitude of the Army's youth.

Mr. Tran Danh Phuc, 70 years old, a 1/4-class disabled veteran, from Que Vo ward, Bac Ninh province, has been attached to the center for nearly 50 years, currently living with his wife, after receiving gifts from the Army Youth Committee, he held the hand of Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Quang Huy and confided: "On this occasion, we received many delegations to visit and give gifts. But, seeing the delegation of the Army youth, I was filled with indescribable emotions, because it reminded me of the days when young men fought on the battlefield with a fiery, seething spirit. That was the most beautiful time of my life!"

Representing the wounded and sick soldiers living and being treated at the center, speaking at the gift-giving ceremony, sitting on a wheelchair, with the determined eyes of a former anti-aircraft artillery soldier, Mr. Le Duc Luan, 72 years old, Head of the Wounded and Sick Soldiers Council, could not hide his emotion: “We sincerely thank the gratitude of the next generation for the previous generation of soldiers who were unfortunately wounded and had to be treated here. In response to this sincere care and gratitude, we will try to treat and recuperate, overcome the pain of illness and physical pain, and try to live long to witness more achievements and development of the country and the heroic Vietnam People's Army.”

Military Youth Union officers visited, gave gifts and encouraged wounded soldier Pham Xuan Van at his room.

After the firm handshakes, greetings, and exchanges of affection in the hall, we went to the rooms of some seriously wounded soldiers, who were in poor health and unable to move, to encourage and give gifts. When we arrived at the private room of Mr. Pham Xuan Van, 78 years old, from Hai Phong City, a 1/4 wounded soldier, with 91% loss of working capacity, lying facing inward, when he saw the group, he immediately tried to straighten his body to turn around and sit up. Seeing that, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Quang Huy and Colonel Nguyen Van Ninh immediately ran over and asked him to lie still so as not to affect his wound.

Due to pain and poor health, Uncle Van could barely speak, mainly expressing his emotions through his eyes and tight handshakes. Uncle Vu Thi Hien, 77 years old, his wife who has been with him since they were young, the couple joined the army together, sadly said: “He was injured in Khe Sanh, during the resistance war against the US. He has been here for more than 40 years. The weather has changed these past few days, so the pain has been excruciating. When he saw the group coming, he was very excited, trying to hold back the pain to talk to the Army youth group.”

Uncle Nguyen Van The held hands tightly and advised the cadres of the Army Youth Union to always maintain and promote the noble qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers in the new period.

Arriving at the room of Mr. Nguyen Van The, from Nam Dinh, 81 years old, a 1/4-class disabled veteran, with 91% loss of working capacity, living alone here for 40 years, we were truly surprised by the optimistic spirit of the soldier who had participated in the Mau Than Campaign, and with his comrades attacked Hue City in 1968. After listening to him tell his battle stories in a voice that was sometimes deep, sometimes clear and concise, a cadre in the group jokingly asked: "Your voice is so warm, you must have sung very well before you were wounded, right?". Hearing that, he smiled, signaled to get in the rhythm and then sang the song "Sing Forever the Military March" with a heroic and enthusiastic voice like the time when he was reliving his youth on the battlefield. After a while, perhaps due to the pain recurring, seeing his face slightly wrinkled, Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Quang Huy immediately signaled for the cadres in the group to stop clapping and singing along so that he could stop.

In an emotional moment, he held the hands of the Army Youth Union officers tightly and advised: "You are still young, you must try harder to build the Army and the country to become stronger, more beautiful and rich!". In response to his advice, all the members of the delegation said "Yes!" with tearful voices...!!!

Article and photos: VAN CHIEN

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/phong-su-dieu-tra/phong-su/rung-rung-ve-lai-thuan-thanh-838762