Lighting up hope for spinal cord paralysis patients

From sudden accident to arduous recovery journey

Storm No. 3 in 2024 and its circulation made landfall in the North with a terrifying level of destruction, damaging many houses, including the simple house of Mr. Lam A Tuyen's family. Thanks to the State's policy of supporting the removal of temporary houses, this year, he borrowed more money to build a more solid home for his family. But when that dream was still unfinished, an unexpected disaster struck. While building the house, Mr. Tuyen unfortunately slipped and fell, a large ladder crushed him, breaking his L2 vertebrae and seriously injuring his spinal cord.

His relatives rushed him to the emergency room, then he was transferred to Viet Duc Hospital for surgery. The doctor's conclusion was a big shock to him and his family: he was paralyzed in both lower limbs. At the age of not yet thirty, with the burden of his family still on his shoulders, he felt like the whole world had collapsed. In the first days after the surgery, he was almost helpless, falling into despair. At night, in the hospital room, he quietly turned his face to the wall, tears wetting his pillow, trying to hide his collapse in front of his wife.

Ms. Lam Thi Duyen became her husband's support during his rehabilitation journey.

Ms. Lam Thi Duyen - his wife who was working as a hired hand in Bac Ninh at that time, hurriedly returned. From that moment, she became her husband's "legs", his companion in his difficult journey. The unfinished house had to be left behind, family life entered a challenging turn.

Doctor Kim Anh - Deputy Head of Surgery Department directly treated Mr. Tuyen.

Not giving up, Mr. Tuyen chose to face it. He went to the Provincial Traditional Medicine Hospital for rehabilitation, put his trust in the medical team and hoped that one day he would be able to stand up. At that time, Mr. Tuyen was hospitalized with complete loss of mobility in both lower limbs, accompanied by sphincter disorders, incontinence, and had to have a catheter inserted.

Acupuncture helps clear the meridians and increase blood circulation.

Directly treating him is Dr. Pham Thi Kim Anh - Deputy Head of the Department of Surgery - Obstetrics - Five Senses. With many years of experience, she has developed a treatment regimen combining modern medicine and traditional medicine: acupuncture, electrotherapy, infrared radiation, and specialized rehabilitation exercises.

During his treatment days at the Provincial Traditional Medicine Hospital, Mr. Tuyen persevered in exercising with a technician for about an hour every day. His wife was also given detailed instructions on how to support him, from turning his body to massaging and basic exercises. In particular, he was also given the use of knee and calf exercise equipment - a new method at the hospital, specifically for patients with lower limb paralysis.

Anh Tuyen practices rehabilitation with support machines.

After a month of perseverance, positive signs began to appear. Mr. Tuyen was able to remove the catheter, his legs gradually regained feeling, and could even bend and stretch slightly. For a patient with spinal paralysis, that was a miracle.

Dr. Kim Anh shared: The hope of recovery for patients with spinal cord paralysis is usually very small. Mr. Tuyen's initial results were successful, bringing joy to the entire medical team.

From the moment his legs showed signs of recovery, Mr. Tuyen felt like he had been given more strength. Every day, he redoubled his efforts, practicing not only for himself, but also for his elderly parents, his young wife and two children who were waiting for him.

The doctor's love - the flame that keeps the faith

If he had relied solely on his willpower, Tuyen’s path would have been much more difficult, because behind him was a family that was already poor, and now burdened even more after the incident. Understanding that situation, the doctors and nurses in the hospital not only devoted themselves to treating him with their expertise but also regularly visited, encouraged, and shared with sincere feelings.

Through the connection of Dr. Le Hai Van - Deputy Head of Planning Department, Head of Social Work - Communications Team of Provincial Traditional Medicine Hospital, many doctors and nurses contributed money so that they could have more full meals and a little more nutrition during the recovery process.

Ms. Duyen was deeply moved and carefully wrote down each name and each amount of money on a piece of paper. She choked up and said: “I don’t want to forget anyone’s gratitude. My family will carry that gratitude with them for the rest of our lives.”

Ms. Duyen recorded each name that supported her family.

It was the care of the doctors and nurses that helped Mr. Tuyen not feel alone. He understood that, besides his family, there were also doctors who silently accompanied and supported him on every step of his way back to life.

In the eyes of young patient Lam A Tuyen today, there is no longer the melancholy of the first day of hospitalization, but a look of determination. Although there is still a long way to go, faith has been rekindled. Every day, every rehabilitation exercise, every small feeling returning to the legs is a victory.

Mr. Tuyen's story is not only a personal journey, but also a testament to the noble meaning of the medical profession. Because in addition to medical skills, the doctors here also impart strength, inspire faith, and instill in the hearts of patients a strong will to live.

On the road to recovery, humanity and medical ethics have together continued to write the story of hope. And in the glimmer of light at the end of the journey, Mr. Tuyen believes that one day he will stand up, return to be the support for his family, and continue to build the unfinished dream in the mountains and forests of Ban Lien.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/thap-hy-vong-cho-benh-nhan-liet-tuy-post883714.html