A life-and-death decision

A year ago, Y.S was found in a deep coma at his apartment after being absent from work for two days. When he was rushed to France-Vietnam Hospital, he was in a critical state, unresponsive and surrounded by the smell of waste, showing only faint signs of life with a weak heartbeat and shallow breathing.

MRI scans revealed massive brain hemorrhage. With no relatives present to authorise surgery, doctors faced a life-and-death decision.

“I asked the doctor on duty one thing that if we operate, what are the chances? He said there was a tiny hope of survival, though the future was unpredictable. That was enough for us to fight to save him,” recalled Dr. Vu Truong Son, medical director at FV hospital.

From vegetative state to miraculous recovery

After emergency brain surgery, Y.S remained in a vegetative state. In the following months, his condition remained fragile, with recurring high fevers and severe infections constantly endangering his life.

Nevertheless, the medical team never gave up. Experts from various departments, including ICU, Neurosurgery, Nutrition, Infectious Diseases, and Rehabilitation, worked together in his treatment. Then, after 80 days in a coma, he regained consciousness.

Gradually, he showed promising neurological signs: he could raise his hand, grip softly, and communicate with his eyes and gestures.

“Even when he couldn’t speak, we talked to him every day, joked around to stimulate responses. Every small improvement felt like a big reward,” shared head nurse Chi Thi Nguyet Anh.

Returning home after a year in hospital

For a whole year, without any relative, Y.S was cared for like a family member by FV Hospital staff. Simultaneously, the hospital worked closely with the Consulate of the Republic of Korea to find a solution for his repatriation.

Eventually, a hospital in the RoK agreed to accept him. When being informed he would finally return home, Y.S was overjoyed. On the day before his departure, he gestured for a piece of paper and a pen. With trembling hands, he wrote down his email and phone number, handing them to a nurse - a quiet but powerful gesture of gratitude and a promise to stay in touch.

Kwon Tae Han, deputy consul general of the RoK, personally visited FV Hospital to express his deep gratitude for the humanitarian support and dedicated medical expertise from FV Hospital for the patient. Although the patient was admitted in a very serious health condition and then experienced many difficulties, the FV team did not give up but actively treated him and eventually saved his life.

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