Over the past four years, since falling into the profession of patient care, Phong S. (born 1968, Hai Phong city) has become accustomed to sensitive tasks such as emptying bedpans, changing diapers, bathing, and cleaning patients.

He has also grown used to the "eating quickly and sleeping hurriedly" routine, lowering his own personal needs to devote time and heart to caring for the sick. 

S. came to the profession by chance. Previously, he and his wife ran a business selling household electrical equipment and lighting devices.

Before passing away, his parents had long suffered from serious illnesses. His father had diabetes, his mother heart disease, and both were in and out of hospital constantly. S. spent 20 years caring for them, both in hospital and at home, and became familiar with patient care. He even taught himself acupressure and massage techniques to help ease their pain when their conditions worsened.

From empathy for patients’ pain and hardship, a love for the job gradually took root. He found joy and peace in caring for and sharing with patients.

"When I cared for my parents at the hospital, people praised me a lot. Someone joked: 'When S. is free later, he could probably make a living as a patient caregiver. He is skillful, meticulous, and dedicated.' Unexpectedly, I actually stuck with this job," S. recalled.

In 2021, when the Covid-19 pandemic broke out, he received a call from a woman. She was from his hometown but lived in Hanoi, and her father then had heart disease, diabetes, and Covid-19. She wanted to ask him to go to the hospital to help care for him.

Without a second thought, he told his wife, "I have business in Hanoi," and immediately hit the road. Arriving at the hospital, he saw the woman in tears, while the patient lay in the emergency room in a very chaotic situation.

“His wife had passed away, and his two daughters were both busy and could not stay to care for him. I reassured them: ‘You can entrust your father to me. I will take care of everything.’ That was my first patient, the beginning of the work I have stayed with until now,” S. said.

Awkward situations

S. confided: “This job is still subject to gossip. I do not want my family to be affected, so I have always hidden my work.” As a result, during four years in the profession, he has kept it secret from his wife and children. Even when his eldest child, studying at university in Hanoi, asked, he only replied briefly: “You do not need to ask about your father’s job, because I am not doing anything wrong.”

For each client, S. provides care from one week to two months. Sometimes he works in hospitals, sometimes at patients’ homes if requested. However, he has a principle of not caring for anyone for too long, for fear of exhaustion and even losing passion for the job.

“After each case, I need time to rest and ‘heal’ myself. Sometimes caring for demanding patients is not physically exhausting as much as it is mentally stressful,” he said.

His daily work includes managing medication, feeding, personal hygiene, assisting movement, and helping patients exercise. For those in frequent pain, he applies acupressure and massage to help them feel more comfortable.

Most of his patients are men. Only once did he care for an elderly woman, and he felt no reluctance or hesitation.

Over four years, he has met many patients who deeply moved him, as well as some who hurt him. He vividly remembers caring for a male patient in an emergency room who suffered from heart disease and struggled day and night with pain and breathlessness.

That time, S. was almost sleepless for 10 consecutive nights. Every night he sat by the bed, and whenever the patient moved, he would pat his back and massage him to ease discomfort. During the day, he snatched rare moments to nap and regain strength for the nights ahead.

“I cared for him through several periods, both in hospital and at home. His two daughters were very grateful and always thanked me. On the day he passed away, I went to light incense in farewell. Even now, they sometimes call to check on me, saying that if I ever need help, they are ready to support me in any way. That really moves me,” S. shared.

 Ha Nguyen