Rainy night is so sad, sister...

SGGP 11/26/2023 05:50

“I’ll lend you my phone to call Tuong Van to remind her about a series of articles that the Culture and Arts Department has registered for this time. All of them are important and necessary. Write about culture and arts so that we can see that it is an endogenous strength, an important driving force for sustainable development of our city and our country. Write to change thinking and awareness in investing and developing culture. But why, I’ve been in the hospital for so long, I don’t know, just wait a few more days, I’ll go home…”

1. Ms. Thach Thao (we still call her “Ms. U”) calmly told us about her work, about her “nailed” plans while lying on the hospital bed, amidst the tangled wires around her two arms, amidst the humming sounds of medical machines… Even in the most painful moments when she thought she could not overcome them, she was always strong, still holding on to hope. In the midst of the pain caused by too many illnesses that have tormented her for the past 3 and a half months, in her most sober moments, her stories still revolved around work: news, articles and series of articles.

Rays of hope that her health would improve lit up in her and our hearts when she was discharged from the Respiratory - Cardiovascular Resuscitation Department and returned to the regular treatment room of the Nephrology Department - People's Hospital 115. Everyone was happy when the doctor informed that in about 7 to 9 days she would be discharged and go to physical therapy and rehabilitation.

But tonight we were stunned: the doctor announced something we never wanted to hear! Her sister collapsed at the door, her 85-year-old mother, who had been waiting for her child at home for more than 3 months, fainted! Colleagues at the SGGP Newspaper and press agencies in Ho Chi Minh City, friends everywhere were stunned, shocked, and could not hold back their tears. Outside, it was pouring rain. Surely the sky also mourns you deeply, Ms. Thach Thao...

2. For more than 20 years, she has been at SGGP Newspaper, and I have been with her for 10 years now. The years are long enough, with too many memories, and when I look back, I suddenly don't know where to start writing about my sister, my great colleague in journalism. But, one thing I am sure of is that her portrait does not need any additional color, everyone knows, remembers, and remembers for a long time, very deeply.

She is a journalist who loves her job and is professionally good at it, contributing to bringing SGGP Newspaper many awards from sharp articles and series of articles that create social effects. She is a responsible, loyal and devoted Vice President of the Trade Union for her colleagues. She is an enthusiastic, intelligent, and courageous Youth Union leader who does what she says. Many young writers have grown up and gradually created their brands thanks to her dedicated teaching.

Perhaps, to many people, she is a strong, tough person, but the 10 years of accompanying her has shown me many other aspects of a person who seems impossible to "overthrow".

She cried a lot during the days of the Covid-19 pandemic when editing each news and article. Before a press detail, a social story, a life... she wrote and expressed on the page with a sensitive and loving soul. She sobbed for many days for the fate of a young Union cadre who unfortunately passed away early. She felt sorry for the children in remote areas, so the newspaper tried to do many social programs and called for sponsorship for them.

On the evening of November 25, before taking her “home” for the last time, I returned to our office. The computer was brand new, the items on the desk were neatly arranged… just to wait for the day she would come back to work together, to do a series of “intense” investigative articles. I stood there for a long time, letting the longing and regret flood my heart…

From today, SGGP Newspaper staff will forever lose a colleague who was solid in his profession, loved his job, was kind, strong, and also very gentle... Thach Thao is grass, a flower, growing and blooming in rocks. Although she looks fragile and delicate, she is extremely steadfast and brave.

Goodbye, it hurts so much, Thao!

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