Zhong Nanshan: Guardian of Life

Chapter 25 Courage and Responsibility

From mid-January to mid-February of [-], the cause of SARS was unknown, but the epidemic spread unstoppably.Zhong Nanshan put forward his own views on cooperation at the beginning of the epidemic.First, to deal with atypical pneumonia, epidemiology, first of all, close cooperation between etiology and clinical aspects is required. Only in this way can we truly find its pathogen.The second is international cooperation. This disease is a fatal disease for human beings. Only by integrating the excellent scientific and technological achievements of various countries, pooling wisdom and efforts, and jointly tackling key problems can we solve the problem at an early date.

In order to find the "SARS" pathogen as soon as possible and contain the epidemic, Zhong Nanshan was under pressure from all sides and turned his attention to the University of Hong Kong for cooperation.The level of medical testing technology in Hong Kong is relatively high, and the University of Hong Kong has two microbiology professors he trusts who are also his students.Zhong Nanshan signed an agreement with the two students, and there was one clause in the agreement: If any party found a pathogen, it must pass through the Ministry of Health and obtain the consent of the Ministry of Health before releasing it.In order to find the pathogen as soon as possible, Zhong Nanshan took the virus sample from the patient and handed it to two students, and the exchange and cooperation between him and the students began.This is not only a cooperation between him and the students, but also a good start for the cooperation between the Mainland and Hong Kong to overcome SARS.

Zhong Nanshan has been fighting hard on the front line against SARS for more than a month.He developed a high fever, then began to cough, and lung x-rays showed inflammation.Zhong Nanshan couldn't hold on any longer and had to be hospitalized.Where to go for treatment?Zhong Nanshan knows the importance of stabilizing the morale of the army.I am the focus of the fight against "SARS". The cause of "SARS" is unknown, and the public's panic about "SARS" is spreading rapidly like a haze. spread like wildfire.Stability overwhelms everything, and Zhong Nanshan cannot let himself fall down in front of his patients and his team.If you go to other hospitals, you are a suspected patient of "SARS", which will also bring panic to other hospitals.Zhong Nanshan, the doctor who worked hard day and night to treat "SARS" patients and treated countless critically ill patients with his love and superb medical skills, when he fell ill, he couldn't find a suitable hospital for treatment!

Zhong Nanshan decided to go home for treatment.When Zhong Nanshan was most difficult, home was always the place where he felt most at ease.Zhong Nanshan came home, tired and weak.As soon as he stepped into the house, his heart immediately calmed down.His wife, Li Shaofen, has already arranged everything. There are nails nailed to the door frame of the house, which can be used to hang hanging bottles.His wife asked him to change all his clothes and rest in peace after taking a shower.Every day when he was recuperating at home, his wife took good care of him and blocked all external disturbances for him, allowing him to recuperate with peace of mind.Even though he might have the dangerous "SARS", Li Shaofen was never afraid, or showed the slightest dislike for him.Li Shaofen never turns back for his love and tolerance.She hides behind his flowers and spotlights, but stands up when he is weakest and most helpless.

Fortunately, only antibiotics were used for treatment, and after five days, the shadow of Zhong Nanshan's lungs disappeared.What he got was not "SARS", but ordinary pneumonia.Zhong Nanshan, who was extremely weak, rested for another three days under Li Shaofen's insistence.On the ninth day, Zhong Nanshan appeared at the Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Diseases.

He was so weak that he could barely hold things in his hands, but here he was, standing in front of his colleagues, his patients.There are so many patients, patients who can't speak, lying on the hospital bed, telling Zhong Nanshan with their eyes: I am at ease when you are here; I can live if you are here!Yes, as long as he stands there, the people around him seem to have hope and confidence; as long as he stands there, the patient's heart is at ease.Such an undeniable gaze, such an undeniable trust!This is Zhong Nanshan's motivation for self-sacrifice, dedication, and unremitting improvement in the medical cause, and this is the source of motivation for him to engage in medical career.

At this time, there were more and more confirmed patients in the Pearl River Delta area, and it was obvious that family aggregation and hospital aggregation infection appeared.The news of the discovery of a highly contagious epidemic in Guangdong has not only been tracked and reported by major media across the country, but also rumors spread through various non-governmental channels.The public is paying close attention to the epidemic in panic, and various speculations are flooding in.Rumors started from Guangzhou, spread to the Pearl River Delta, and then spread to Fujian, Jiangxi, Hainan, Guangxi, Hong Kong and other places, and even the northern cities were also affected.Citizens of Guangzhou began to snap up white vinegar, Radix Banlangen, and all the medicines to prevent colds, and this frenzy of buying even swept areas outside Guangdong.

In order to appease the hearts of the people, on February [-], the Guangdong Provincial Department of Health organized a press conference to publicly announce the "SARS" epidemic and the treatment of patients.Zhong Nanshan was ordered to explain.Facing the eyes of the people of the whole country and the whole world, Zhong Nanshan resolutely and firmly said:

"'SARS' is not terrible, it can be prevented and cured."

The words of the academician are as good as they say, and the expression of the academician's determination and sincerity is convincing.People don't know that in order to come to the conclusion of "not terrible, preventable, and curable", Zhong Nanshan has led a team to fight against the disease for more than 40 days. The name "Zhong Nanshan" has since then not only represented him personally, but has also become a symbol of the courage and confidence of the people of the whole country in fighting against "SARS".

(End of this chapter)