"I especially want to thank all the nurses. During these two weeks, you cared for us like family. I am also deeply grateful to the doctors who saved my life," read a handwritten letter of gratitude addressed to nurses in Huizhou.
On May 12, 2026, International Nurses Day, the Third People's Hospital of Huizhou received a special gift: a handwritten letter of gratitude in Russian from a patient named Vladimir.
Two weeks earlier, Vladimir had rushed to the hospital with sudden abdominal pain and was diagnosed with a life-threatening condition. Far from home, facing a language barrier and a critical illness, he was overwhelmed by fear and anxiety.
It was the nurses who first helped ease his distress. With no common language between them, they slowed down during ward rounds, using gestures, hand-drawn illustrations and translation apps to explain each treatment and precaution. They also helped his wife adjust his meals to suit his dietary preferences while meeting his medical needs.
Two weeks of dedicated care gradually eased his fears. On International Nurses Day, Vladimir wrote his letter of thanks in Russian. "I am very grateful to the hospital staff for your help and warm hospitality," he wrote. "These days in the hospital have been hard, but everyone here has treated me with such warmth."
During his stay, his wife took a photo of Huizhou's landmark Echeng Bridge from the hospital corridor one evening and praised the beauty of the city. Hospital staff warmly invited the couple to visit Huizhou again, this time as healthy tourists, to enjoy the city's scenery and cuisine.
Author | Liao Yuxian
Photo | The Third People's Hospital of Huizhou
