A Viral Moment of Dedication
Recently, photos of three doctors lying on the floor in exhaustion spread rapidly online. The images captured surgeons from a hospital in southeast China’s Fujian province moments after completing a marathon 32-hour surgery, a procedure that pushed their physical limits but ultimately saved a patient’s life.
A Surgery That Spanned Two Days
The operation began at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and did not end until sunset the next day. Dr. Chen Jianping, one of the lead surgeons, explained that the patient suffered from both an aneurysm and a brain-stem hemangioblastoma, two serious and life-threatening conditions.
“We needed to remove both tumors in one surgery”, Dr. Chen said. “This required six different surgical procedures. It was difficult, risky, and extremely time-consuming. If you remove one tumor and the other ruptures, it can be fatal.”
Only Short Breaks, and Taken in Turns
Throughout the 32-hour operation, the doctors allowed themselves only two hours of rest, taken in shifts so that someone was always operating. The intensity and length of the procedure broke all previous records at the hospital.
Even the patient’s family was anxious. “The surgery went on for so long, I started to worry about the doctors’ physical strength. What if they wear out?” said Huang Baoqin, a family member.
Success and a Collapse From Exhaustion
When the surgery finally ended successfully, the three surgeons walked out, then collapsed on the ground from exhaustion. A photo of them lying side by side quickly went viral across Chinese social media platforms.
Some netizens commented that the surgeons were “trading their own lives for the patient’s.” But Dr. Chen says scenes like this aren’t unusual in the medical world.
“Long operations are very common for surgeons”, he said. “It isn’t only me. There are so many hardworking surgeons who are never seen.”
A Call for Understanding Between Doctors and Patients
Dr. Chen hopes the viral attention brings something positive: “If any good comes from these pictures, I hope it’s better understanding and communication between doctors and patients.”
The operation may have taken a toll on their bodies, but for these surgeons, saving a life was worth every minute — and every ounce of strength.