Lê Hoài Nam, a teacher at Liên Hương Secondary School, donates blood to save needy patients. Photo tienphong.vn

HÀ NỘI - For over a decade, Lê Hoài Nam, a 38-year-old teacher at Liên Hương Secondary School in Hà Tĩnh province, has been donating blood to help those in need, driven by the belief that 'to live is to give'.

Nam started donating blood when he was a student at Vinh University, Nghệ An Province and almost every year he donated blood; in some years, he donated blood eight times.

"Although I donate a lot of blood, I find myself healthier and happier every time I go home," he said.

My family members have often prevented me, but I am still young and healthy, so I have to know how to give."

Nam grew up in a poor commune of Đức Thọ District. After graduating from Vinh University, he returned to his homeland and was assigned to teach at mountainous schools in Hà Tĩnh Province.

He has had 15 years of teaching and 49 times donating blood. He not only participated in donation campaigns 18 times, but he also volunteered to give blood directly to save critical patients.

Nam recalled the first time he donated blood when he was a first-year student at Vinh University.

"After graduating from the university, I continue joining blood donation campaigns at schools I teach. But, unfortunately, I have to hide the family when I go out at night to give blood in emergency cases. Reflecting on those memories still brings tears to my eyes," Nam said.

He remembered the winter story 11 years ago; that day, he was taking care of his wife. She gave birth to their son at Hồng Lĩnh General Hospital. Then, he received news that a patient from a traffic accident was being treated at a hospital in critical condition and needing a blood transfusion.

He quickly came and directly donated blood, "But unfortunately, due to the seriousness of the wound, the patient died after a day of treatment at the hospital."

Nam also recalled the story of a day before the Lunar New Year 2013, around 1 am, it was raining and cold. Still, he got up and rode a motorbike for more than ten kilometres to donate blood to save the emergency pregnant woman at Đức Thọ District's General Hospital.

The pregnant woman suffered from a haemorrhage. Fortunately, thanks to Nam's timely blood drops, the pregnant woman overcame the crisis and was stable.

"When the blood donation was finished, the pregnant woman stabilised, and her husband ran to hug me and thank me. At that time, my heart is happy because I have done a meaningful job."

Nam said he always thought that health and human life was the most precious thing. "Therefore, saving people is extremely important and urgent, so right from a young age, I want to contribute to society."

He did not set a goal of how many times a year to donate blood, but the donation would depend on his health, time and work.

"After giving blood, I have to rest and eat more to ensure my health. Before, I hid my family to donate blood, but now my wife and children also participate in blood donation," he said.

Nam also actively called on colleagues and youth union members who were healthy enough to donate blood.

Teacher Lê Hoài Nam received the Certificate of Merit from the Central Committee of the Việt Nam Red Cross Association and the Chairman of the People's Committee of Hà Tĩnh Province. VNS