Author: Chen Yuanding, Ding Tao

Translated by: Wu Xia

Limping Dr. Rao has two crutches: one in the isolation ward and one outside the ward. In early January, Rao suffered a severe sting in his left foot, and his colleague's suggestion was to rest for two weeks after diagnosis. But only four days later, Rao limped into the intensive care unit with five other colleagues. "We are short of staff, and I am the person in charge of the ward.

The extra crutch

Rao has worked in the Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University for 9 years. When the reporter saw him today, his left foot had just recovered.

In January in Wuhan, it often rains and sometimes snows. After the injury, Rao's feet were so swollen that he could only put on slippers. The building he lived in did not have an elevator, and he moved downstairs step by step every day. Rushing to the nearest parking space from the exit of Office Building No. 6. He got up at 6 am, an hour before the injury.

On January 18, Rao and five colleagues walked into the intensive care unit. They were the second batch of medical staff working in the intensive care unit at Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University. When people joked about Rao’s double crutches, occasionally, Rao would open up with them--who cares, in an isolation ward that happiness is only recognized by laughter but not a smiley face.

At first I was wondering: with only on injured foot, why bother with double crutches? "In order not to bring the virus out." Rao’s understatement suddenly made me pay tribute to the man in front of me: professional, careful!

All items that may be contaminated in the quarantine ward cannot be taken out. This is also for the safety of the family, Rao set up a double crutch, one used in the ward, and outside the ward.

Before the foot injury was healed, Rao could only wear protective clothing when sitting. But the stool was exposed and he had to wear an extra protective suit. One layer of protective clothing was smothering enough. He put on two layers, and for two minutes, his whole body began to sweat, but he did not dare to drink more water.

Don't miss me at all

At the beginning of January, the "epidemic" of the war broke out in Zhongnan Hospital. The Hospital was busy building an isolation ward to treat patients. "In the beginning, no one knew which patients were infected, and everyone was under great psychological and physical stress." Rao said, after that, he stayed in the hotel and rarely went home.

"What I want most is my daughter Yuanyuan. Occasionally I go home and get some clothes, and I can only look at her from a distance." Rao said, when he had a little time, he will watch the photos in the phone; if there is more time, he will video chat with his family, "mostly want to see Yuanyuan."

Rao is a badminton lover, and under his influence, the 7-year-old daughter also began to learn to play. Yuanyuan learns very hard and always begs to play with him.

Sometimes when I think of it, I feel sad. I went home to get my clothes, and just said a few words away, she was still playing and laughing by herself, she did not seem to want me at all. Rao said that his daughter has been a little bit unhappy recently. Complaining about why him did not play badminton with her after his foot is healed.

I remembered that when I was waiting for Dr. Rao in the morning, in the duty room of the critical ward of the hospital, a female doctor calling the child on the phone: "Baby, baby, do you miss mum ..."

White coat is not an armor, but a shield for the softness and home within.