On the afternoon of 23/1, Nguyen Hanh Phuc, 42, met with doctors and nurses at Military Hospital 175, walking briskly and looking refreshed. Less than one month earlier, he had undergone a major kidney transplant, becoming the 100th patient to receive this procedure at the hospital.
"My body has recovered 99%; I feel healthy again, like a normal person," he stated. He described this as a "miracle" for him and his family after a seven-year battle with illness.
The turning point came in 3/2018. While working as an accountant, he underwent a routine health check-up and was shocked to receive a diagnosis of chronic kidney failure stage 3. The 34-year-old had experienced no obvious symptoms before this, apart from a decreased appetite and fatigue. Doctors attributed the cause to congenital kidney atrophy, which had silently diminished kidney function.
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The doctors at Military Hospital 175 during a kidney transplant for a patient. Photo: Hospital provided
He sought treatment options at several major hospitals. However, doctors confirmed it was chronic kidney failure, for which there is no cure, only monitoring and medication to slow its progression. For years, he had monthly follow-up appointments, striving to maintain his daily life and work. By 6/2022, the disease advanced to stage 5, or end-stage kidney disease, necessitating dialysis three times a week at Vung Tau Hospital to sustain his life.
As the family's primary provider with two young children, his life was completely upended. He had to resign from his job due to his deteriorating health. His existence revolved around the hospital, dialysis machine, and persistent anxiety, often leading him to despair.
"I spent my days undergoing dialysis; I would feel well for one day after a session, only to be tired again the next," Nguyen Hanh Phuc recalled of those difficult months. "If not for my family, I might have given up."
Holding onto hope for a kidney transplant, he sought help at Military Hospital 175 in 4/2025. Fortunately, his cousin agreed to donate a kidney, and their compatibility indicators were a match. The preparation phase spanned several months as he required treatment for additional medical conditions. On 29/12/2025, the kidney transplant was successfully performed.
After 15 days of intensive care, Nguyen Hanh Phuc was discharged from the hospital. He is now diligently taking anti-rejection medication and attending regular follow-up appointments. He plans to rest for a few months before returning to work to support his wife and children. "My cousin understood my situation and voluntarily donated a kidney; they are the benefactor of my life," he said.
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Nguyen Hanh Phuc (shirt) receiving his discharge papers for the 100th kidney transplant case at Military Hospital 175, afternoon of 23/1. Photo: The Lan
Major General, Doctor Tran Quoc Viet, Director of Military Hospital 175, stated that Nguyen Hanh Phuc's case marked the hospital's 100th successful kidney transplant. This milestone comes two years after the hospital implemented the technique, with technology transfer from Military Central Hospital 108. Doctor Viet likened the kidney transplant process to a "combined arms battle," emphasizing the need for close multidisciplinary coordination from screening and surgery to post-transplant resuscitation. To date, the hospital has mastered the procedures for retrieving and transplanting kidneys from both living and brain-dead donors, successfully handling cases with complex anatomy or those where previous transplants failed at other facilities.
Through Nguyen Hanh Phuc's case, doctors are issuing a warning about kidney failure in young people. They emphasize that this disease often progresses silently and is easily overlooked in its early stages. The public should not ignore unusual signs and must undergo regular health check-ups for early detection.
Le Phuong
