An ICU doctor in the eye of the storm

The medical team made several attempts to save her using different approaches, but nothing worked. The team was very disappointed, as it seemed that no treatment improved her condition, and she would die. Li decided to bring the young woman out of her sedation and adjust treatment according to her reactions.

It was a risky decision. After she came out of the sedation, her breathing became faster, and that may have affected the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in her body. There are also many other serious complications that could have happened.

When she came out of her sedation, her mood fluctuated to extremes, and she even tried to pull the tube from her mouth. Hu had to be restrained by Li and the nursing team. Li sat beside her and explained to Hu her condition, and told her that removing the tube could end her life.

Li encouraged her in the following days, telling her not to breathe too fast, and helping her learn to adapt to the tube in her mouth and also helping her exercise her arms and legs. He cured her diarrhea and supported her nutrition, and also arranged for Hu’s husband and daughter to cheer her up with a video call.

After many trials, Hu’s condition gradually stabilized. The tubes were removed on Feb 23, four days after Li took charge of her treatment. She showed signs of returning to good health and later was transferred to a general ward. A senior doctor told Li that Hu’s recovery had lifted the morale of the medical teams at the hospital.

Hu also credited Li with her recovery. She talked about the heavy blow to herself and her family and how her plans had been upended. She acknowledged she had survived thanks to the encouragement of doctors and family members. She would be going home soon.