Hospital Care Support
Walking beside patients and families with care and hope
A Journey of Recovery with Love: Ms Wanqing Zhong’s 71 Days in Hospital
On 6 August 2025, six Tzu Chi volunteers once again visited Westmead Hospital to see Ms Wanqing Zhong, who had been hospitalised for 71 days
At just 35 years old and originally from Taiwan, Ms Zhong had once been in critical condition, fighting for her life. Now, she was able to sit in a wheelchair, her face lit with a gentle smile, personally expressing her heartfelt gratitude to the medical staff who had cared for her with unwavering dedication.
On this day, she was no longer the patient lying silently in bed. Holding small tokens of appreciation, she softly said to each doctor and nurse, “Thank you for taking care of me.”
Inside the ward, nurses gathered around to take photos with her. One of the nurse, with tears in her eyes, shared, “She stayed in the ICU for 50 days. We never imagined she would make it through. Seeing her recover today is truly moving.”
A Battle Between Illness and Life
Ms Zhong and her husband had been working in a food processing factory, living a simple yet hopeful life. However, what began as a common cold in late May quickly developed into severe pneumonia.
She was admitted to the intensive care unit at Westmead Hospital, where she was intubated and placed on a ventilator under deep sedation and muscle relaxation. She was later diagnosed with a co-infection of Influenza B and antibiotic-resistant MRSA pneumonia, and her condition deteriorated rapidly.
At one point, her lungs developed severe abscesses, requiring emergency ECMO support to sustain her breathing. It became a race against time.
During this critical period, students, teachers, and volunteers from the Tzu Chi Academy folded hundreds of colourful paper cranes, decorating the hospital room with warmth and life.
For Ms Zhong, far from home and lying alone in a hospital bed, these paper cranes felt like embraces sent from afar—each one carrying blessings, love, and hope, helping her find strength through the long and quiet nights.
A Mother’s Love Across 7,000 Kilometres
Upon receiving the news, Ms Zhong’s mother, Ms Baoqin Wei, a Tzu Chi volunteer in Taiwan, immediately set aside everything and travelled over 7,200 kilometres to Sydney to be by her daughter’s side.
At the Tzu Chi Jing Si Hall in Sydney, she often knelt quietly in prayer, hands folded, repeating with unwavering faith, “Wanqing will recover. She will get better.”
During her stay in Sydney, Ms Wei continued to take part in Tzu Chi’s charitable activities, dedicating all merits to her daughter’s recovery.
With the collective care and blessings from many, Ms Zhong gradually regained consciousness in mid-July and began to be weaned off medical support. Even the medical team was deeply impressed by her recovery.
Throughout her hospitalisation, Tzu Chi volunteers were always present—accompanying the family during medical consultations, visiting Ms Zhong regularly, offering emotional support, and assisting with daily needs. They also helped bridge language barriers and convey medical information, becoming a steady source of support for the family.
Whether accompanying her mother and sister during visits or bringing warm meals and heartfelt blessings, the volunteers cared for them as if they were family, allowing them to feel a sense of home even while far from their homeland.
A Miracle of Love and Companionship
Although Ms Zhong still requires a wheelchair and ongoing rehabilitation, she is now able to breathe independently, eat, speak, and even stand and walk briefly. Her condition continues to stabilise.
Her occupational therapist, Taylor, has prepared a post-discharge care plan and guided her in using assistive equipment to ensure safety in daily life.
From the brink of life and death in the ICU to smiling and expressing gratitude today, this journey is not only a medical achievement, but also a testament to the power of love.
Love is the best medicine, and companionship
the deepest comfort.
Within the Tzu Chi family, there are no boundaries of distance—only the continuous extension of care and compassion
Ms Zhong’s story reflects the strength of a mother’s love and the unwavering companionship of Tzu Chi volunteers. While her path to recovery continues, we believe that with love, hope, and the blessings of many, she will continue to move forward with strength and resilience.
