Luo Yanling holds a patient’s hand and tries to pacify him. Luo is nurse-in-charge of the Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital and is one of the Chinese mainland medical specialists that currently take care of COVID-19 patients at the AsiaWorld-Expo community treatment facility in Hong Kong. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Nurse Luo Yanling has dealt with numerous needs of patients. This time, she received a special request — a 91-year-old COVID-19 patient wanted to take a photo with her to serve as a reminder of the amazing care she had received.
Luo is among the hundreds of Chinese mainland medical workers who have helped Hong Kong overcome its worst wave of the pandemic outbreak. During the past month, they have worked at the AsiaWorld-Expo community treatment facility to take care of COVID-19 patients, most of whom are elderly.
My son is very proud of my role in Hong Kong’s anti-pandemic fight.
Luo Yanling, nurse-in-charge of the Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital
During one morning shift, Luo nursed an elderly Hong Kong patient and reminded her to take her medicines. The woman noticed the name tag on Luo’s protective suit and after a brief conversation learned that Luo comes from Guangzhou, which is also her hometown.
While holding Luo’s hand, the patient recalled her childhood memories in Guangzhou. She invited Luo to have dim sum with her in Guangzhou once the pandemic ends and cross-border travel resumes.
She also took a photo with Luo, and with Luo’s help sent it to her two daughters. The woman told them not to worry about her as the nurses are looking after her.
Luo Yanling feeds an elderly, bedridden COVID-19 patient. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
Luo’s eyes grew tearful at that moment. She said that if her mother was infected and taken to hospital, she would also be worried.
Nurse-in-charge Luo has served for 18 years in the cardiology department of the Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital and treated many elderly patients. The wealth of experience she gained during that time helped her to deal with some of the more serious situations at the isolation facility.
One day an elderly patient suddenly felt an acute chest pain. Luo immediately checked the patient’s vital signs and contacted the nearby North Lantau Hospital. The patient was sent to the hospital in just 10 minutes.
Patience is required when taking care of the elderly, Luo said. A 91-year-old patient refused to eat meals or take medicines. Luo stood by her side, held her hand and explained to her that such acts would harm her recovery.
Luo Yanling, nurse-in-charge of the Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)
A doctor directed Luo to feed the patient with a gastric tube. Luo thought this would cause great harm, and tried to encourage the patient to eat her food to help her regain strength. After talking for about one and half hours, the patient finally ate the food.
Hong Kong’s pandemic situation has improved a lot and many patients have been discharged from the AsiaWorld-Expo. The Guangzhou-born elderly patient asked Luo to take another photo with her when she left the facility.
Having worked in Hong Kong for over a month, Luo misses her son very much and calls him every day. She said her little boy is very proud of her role in Hong Kong’s anti-pandemic fight.
Due to her heavy workload caused by the pandemic, Luo has had little time to spend with her son in the past two years. After the mission finishes and she returns to Guangzhou, she hopes to spend more time with her son and take him to many places.
