A Tale of Two Cities Supporting Xinjiang

"Dr. Zhou Yi, I did it!"

On the other end of the video call, Nurbahati's voice was choked with emotion.

He has just independently performed an aortic dissection surgery.

In his hospital office in Liaoning, Zhou Yi watched the surgical video on the screen, and his eyes welled up with tears.

"Director Nu, you're amazing! You've surpassed me!" he said sincerely.

Three months ago, Zhou Yi's term of service in Xinjiang ended, and he returned to Liaoning.

Before leaving, his biggest worry was Nurbahati.

"I don't dare to perform aortic dissection surgery on my own yet," Nurbahati admitted at the time.

"You can do it. Follow these steps. I've marked the precautions for each step."

If you have any questions, feel free to video call me anytime.

Zhou Yi left behind a complete set of surgical videos and his own modified operating manual.

Over the past three months, Nurbahati has performed ten heart surgeries, with the difficulty gradually increasing.

Before each surgery, he would discuss the plan with Zhou Yi via video; after each surgery, he would review and summarize the experience.

In this case of aortic dissection, the patient was a 40-year-old employee of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps who suddenly experienced chest pain. An examination revealed that the aorta was torn from the root and could rupture at any time, leading to death.

"It's too late to transfer to Urumqi," Nurbahati told Zhou Yi before the surgery. "It can only be done here."

The surgery lasted eight hours.

Zhou Yi was online throughout the entire process in Liaoning, providing advice at crucial moments.

"Move the aortic clamp a little higher... Okay!"

"Make sure the stitch spacing is even during the anastomosis... Yes, that's it."

"Open circulation should be slowed down... monitor blood pressure..."

When the surgery was successfully completed and the patient's vital signs were stable, both doctors, separated by 5,000 kilometers, cried.

"Now, you can really stand on your own," Zhou Yi said.

A week later, Shihezi Hospital officially established the "Zhouyi Heart Technology Studio".

At the unveiling ceremony, Nurbahati announced: "This studio not only inherits the technology, but also a spirit, bringing the most advanced medical technology to the places where it is most needed."

The hospital also signed an agreement with Liaoning Province: each year, two doctors will be selected to study in Liaoning, and Liaoning will send experts to Xinjiang to provide guidance each year, with both sides sharing new technologies and surgical techniques.

Zhou Yi left behind all his "belongings," including a complete set of surgical videos, improved operation manuals, analyses of difficult cases accumulated over many years, and even his own surgical notes.

"These things are just data on a computer, but in your hands they are life-saving technology."

He said in a video call.

Nurbahati, representing general practitioners, pledged: "We will ensure these technologies take root here and help treat more patients."

"Director Ayiguli, the Tacheng branch has seen over 500 patients this month!"

The assistant excitedly handed over the report, which Aygul took with a smile.

When she took over the training base, she never dreamed that a branch of traditional Chinese medicine clinics would open in Tacheng, and she even planned to open three more in Karamay and Yili.

The promotion of the rheumatism treatment formula went more smoothly than she had imagined.

Fifty grassroots TCM practitioners, after undergoing systematic training, returned to their respective regions with improved prescriptions and techniques.

She shared her experience at the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Traditional Chinese Medicine Work Conference: "The key is to let TCM practitioners speak the local language."

It is not a direct copy of ancient recipes, but rather an adjustment based on the herders' lifestyle, dietary habits, and climate characteristics.

For example, our rheumatism formula has increased the proportion of cold-resistant medicinal herbs.

The audience consisted of traditional Chinese medicine practitioners from all over Xinjiang. One of them asked, "Director A, some herders still feel that traditional Chinese medicine is too slow. What should we do?"

"Then let them hurry up."

Aygul turned on the projector and showed a case: "This patient has joint swelling and pain. We first use acupuncture to quickly relieve the pain, and then use traditional Chinese medicine to treat the root cause."

The patient felt better that same day, so naturally they believed it.

After the meeting, several doctors from southern Xinjiang surrounded her: "Director A, can you come to our area for training? We also have many rheumatism patients there."

"No problem," Aygul readily agreed, "Set a time, and I'll bring the team over."

The team is now completely different. Buick is in charge of training, Reyihan is in charge of quality control, and Kurban is in charge of managing the medicinal herb base. Each of them can handle things independently.

The 15th of every month is the fixed day for video consultations.

At 8 p.m. sharp, Ayiguli turned on her computer and Zhou Hongmei's smiling face appeared on the screen.

"Teacher, please take a look at this case."

Aygul uploaded the patient's medical records: "The patient is a 42-year-old female who has had rheumatoid arthritis for ten years and has been using hormones for a long time. She is now developing osteoporosis and also has stomach problems."

Zhou Hongmei read carefully: "Western medicine cannot be stopped suddenly; the dosage must be gradually reduced."

In terms of traditional Chinese medicine, it is necessary to dispel wind and dampness, protect the spleen and stomach, and strengthen muscles and bones.

You can use Notopterygium root and Angelica pubescens root to dispel wind, add Astragalus root and Atractylodes macrocephala root to strengthen the spleen, and then add Drynaria rhizome and Dipsacus root to strengthen the bones.

"How do you determine the dosage?"

"Initially focus on dispelling wind and dampness, supplemented by spleen and stomach medicine; after one month, increase the spleen and stomach medicine; after two months, add a large amount of bone-strengthening medicine."

Zhou Hongmei explained in detail: "Remember, treating chronic diseases is like tuning a musical instrument. You need to loosen it when it's too tight and tighten it when it's too loose. You have to adjust it as needed."

Aygul took careful notes.

Last year, Zhou Hongmei also invited her to study in Liaoning for three months.

At Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, she systematically studied modern TCM research methods and new technologies.

"Teacher, I learned TCM targeted transdermal drug delivery technology in Liaoning. Combined with our medicated patches, the effect may be even better," she excitedly shared during a consultation.

"Great! Write a proposal, and we'll discuss how to implement it." Zhou Hongmei always encouraged her to be innovative.

This year, Ayiguli was elected as a director of the Xinjiang Association of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

She is the youngest and only female member of an ethnic minority group on the council.

In her inaugural address, she said, "Traditional Chinese medicine is not just the medicine of the Han people, but the medicine of the Chinese nation."

In Xinjiang, traditional Chinese medicine practitioners speak Uyghur, Kazakh, and Mongolian to treat ailments caused by the grasslands, the desert, and the high plateau.