At just 42 years old, Mr Y.S., a South Korean national, suffered a severe stroke that left him in a deep coma for 80 days. Thanks to the dedicated care at FV Hospital, he made a remarkable recovery. For an entire year, with no family by his side, FV’s medical team remained committed to his treatment – delivering care with both compassion and professionalism until he was able to regain consciousness and communicate once again. FV also coordinated closely with Consulate General of the Republic of Korea to support his safe return home.

The Consulate General of the Republic of Korea extended heartfelt thanks to FV Hospital’s staff, praising their commitment to “placing human life above all else.”

On the day of his discharge, Mr Y.S.’s eyes filled with emotion, a quiet mix of joy and sorrow, as he looked at each nurse and doctor who had stood by him through a year-long battle between life and death, caring for him with steady commitment and compassion.

For the FV medical team, it was a powerful and memorable moment – a meaningful chapter in their professional lives.

When a Life Is Still Breathing, We Don’t Turn Away

Exactly one year ago, Mr Y.S. was found unconscious in his apartment after failing to report to work for two days. He was lying motionless, surrounded by the scent of body odour and waste – unresponsive, with only shallow breaths and a weakening pulse.

An MRI revealed extensive brain haemorrhaging. With no family present to provide consent, FV’s medical team faced a critical decision – balancing medical protocol with the urgent need to save a man’s life.

“I asked the on-duty doctor just one question: If we operate, what are the chances? The doctor said there was a small glimmer of hope the patient might survive – though we couldn’t predict what would follow. That was reason enough for us to act. At FV, human life always comes first,” recalled Vu Truong Son, MD, MSc – Medical Director, FV Hospital.

With no financial guarantor, no legal guardian, and no confirmed identity, FV Hospital made one decisive choice: to operate and preserve a life.

“When we learned the patient was around 42 years old, I thought – he could be a father, a husband, a son, a business owner, or simply an employee. Whoever he was, someone out there surely cared for him and was waiting for him to come home. That was all we needed to know. As healthcare professionals, our duty at that moment was to do everything in our power to bring him back,” shared Vu Truong Son, MD, MSc – Medical Director, FV Hospital.

Following the surgery, the patient remained in a coma. FV Hospital worked tirelessly to locate his family and eventually succeeded. But when his elderly father learned that his son was in a deep coma, he lost all hope. Even so, FV did not give up – because as long as a patient is breathing, there is still hope.

From a Prolonged Coma to a Remarkable Awakening – and a Journey Home

During his time in an unresponsive state, the patient’s condition remained unstable. He endured repeated high fevers caused by severe infections, and at one point, a life-threatening pneumothorax. His treatment required a multidisciplinary team involving intensive care, neurosurgery, thoracic surgery, nutrition, physical rehabilitation, and infectious diseases. Then, after 80 days in a coma, the unexpected happened – he woke up.

Patient Y.S. began showing significant signs of neurological recovery – becoming conscious and able to understand English, Korean, and even Vietnamese. Gradually, he regained limited motor control: lifting his right hand, squeezing fingers, and communicating with the medical team through eye contact and hand gestures, though still physically weak. This remarkable progress was made possible in large part thanks to FV Hospital’s dedicated nursing team, who delivered 24/7 care under strict and complex protocols – attending to every detail with immense patience and compassion.

“Our team cared for him like family – repositioning him, bathing him, changing his diapers regularly. Even when he couldn’t speak, once he regained some awareness, we continued talking to him, joked with him, trying to encourage responses. Every small step in his recovery felt like a meaningful reward for the entire team’s efforts,” shared Chu Thi Nguyet Anh, Head nurse of Medical West Ward, FV Hospital.

Alongside providing his medical care, FV Hospital coordinated closely with Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Ho Chi Minh City to arrange Y.S.’s repatriation – recognising that true recovery could only begin once he was reunited with his loved ones and community.

It was not an easy process. According to Consular Attaché Joo Myong Hi, one major hurdle was that Y.S had lived in Vietnam for 13 years and no longer held active health insurance in Korea. Initially, no hospital in Korea was willing to accept him, causing delays in the process. Despite this, FV Hospital continued to provide full care, including medication, nutrition, and physical therapy, all delivered to international standards, while awaiting the outcome of the Consulate’s persistent negotiations with Korean healthcare facilities.

Then, after persistent efforts, Consulate General of the Republic of Korea finally secured a hospital in Korea willing to accept Y.S. “We worked continuously with relevant Korean authorities to find a suitable hospital – and in the end, we succeeded,” confirmed Ms. Joo Myong Hi.

A Flight Home Filled With Gratitude

When Y.S. learned he was finally going home after a year at FV, he couldn’t hide his joy. On the eve of his departure, he gestured to a nurse for a piece of tissue and a pen. With great effort, he wrote down his email and phone number in trembling handwriting and handed it over. That small gesture moved the entire team to tears. “He likely wanted to say thank you, to keep in touch, and perhaps to return one day to express his gratitude to the doctors and nurses who never gave up on him,” said Chu Thi Nguyet Anh, Head nurse of Medical West Ward, FV Hospital

To ensure the patient’s safety, FV Hospital assigned Nurse Sang to accompany him on the journey. His luggage contained only medical equipment and essential medications – fully prepared to manage any emergency that might arise during the trip.

During the flight, Nurse Sang closely monitored the patient’s blood pressure and watched for even the slightest change in his facial expression. Y.S. barely slept – his emotions a mix of anticipation, anxiety, and overwhelming joy. His heart raced with both excitement and relief at the thought of finally returning home.

“At one point, when the plane ascended and the pressure changed, the patient became a bit anxious. I reassured him and asked a Korean flight attendant to explain the situation in his native language. After that, everything went smoothly,” Mr. Sang recalled.

After working closely with FV Hospital to coordinate Mr Y.S.’s special repatriation, a representative from the Consulate General of Korea visited on 12 May 2025 to personally thank the medical team at FV. Mr Kwon Tae Han, Deputy Consul General of Korea, expressed deep appreciation for the humanitarian support and dedicated medical care FV Hospital had provided. Despite Mr Y.S. being admitted in an extremely critical condition and faced multiple complications during recovery, the FV team never gave up. They remained committed to his treatment and ultimately saved his life.

“FV Hospital has shown that human life is your highest priority. This reflects the noblest value and sacred mission of the medical profession. We deeply appreciate that,” he added.

According to the Deputy Consul General, this deeply human story not only reflects FV’s compassionate care but also serves to strengthen the friendship and foster closer cooperation between the two nations.

“This is a beautiful ending – when our medical team witnessed the patient’s happiness as he returned to his homeland. That moment is worth more than anything,” shared Dr Son. “Our greatest joy as doctors is doing whatever it takes to give a patient a chance to live, even if it’s just the faintest glimmer of hope.”