In April, we received a task from the insurance company: to transport a patient recovering from pulmonary embolism from Shenzhen back to Vladivostok, Russia. Since the patient could not fly, we had to choose land entry into Russia, utilizing trains and dedicated vehicles for transfers, making the entire journey nearly three days long. Additionally, due to the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war, there were only two cross-border shuttle buses between China and Russia each week, making the timeline very tight. Our transfer team developed the entire transfer plan and itinerary in a very short time. To catch the shuttle bus on April 24, we had to depart from Shenzhen on April 22. With time running out, we continuously coordinated and communicated, and it wasn’t until the evening of April 21 that we obtained the visas for the patient and nurse, immediately arranging the transfer vehicles and train tickets for the journey.
On the afternoon of April 22, our nurse picked up the patient from the hotel where he was staying and took him to Shenzhen North Station in a pre-arranged vehicle. The patient was on anticoagulant medication and needed to be cautious of any collisions or falls. Additionally, he was experiencing mild swelling in his lower limbs due to venous thrombosis. Our nurse carried professional medical equipment to monitor the patient’s blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, and other indicators, and prepared a palatable diet according to the patient’s needs, ensuring his safety and comfort during the transfer.
The journey was long, lasting over 30 hours, during which we changed transportation multiple times. We finally arrived in Hunchun City on the evening of April 23. After a brief rest overnight, we took a shuttle bus to the Hunchun border crossing the next morning. At the border, we faced strict customs checks, security inspections, and the unpacking of every item, which resulted in nearly five hours of delay before we reached the small border town of Kraskino. Upon arrival in Kraskino, we safely transferred the patient to a dedicated vehicle heading to Vladivostok.
Finally, at 6 PM local time on April 24, we successfully delivered him safely back home, more than 50 hours after departing from Shenzhen and over a month since he was hospitalized. The patient had been away from home for a long time, and now, after a long separation, he could reunite with his family. He was overjoyed and expressed his gratitude to us emotionally. We were also deeply happy for him.
Although this challenging transfer mission was not easy, seeing the patient safely return home filled us with warmth and a sense of meaning. Despite the difficulties, we were able to complete the transfer and bring the patient back to his loved ones, which made the entire endeavor worthwhile.
