PLA Daily 2003-06-23

　　For the 51 tough days and nights, the Xiaotangshan Hospital was immersed in the alarm of the ambulances and now it is embraced by the sea of flowers, laughter and tears. The last group of SARS patients will leave this largest SARS hospital today.

　　By 10:00a.m., the last 18 patients surrounded by the crowd of military and civilian leaders, hospital staff and soldiers with flowers and banners went out of the east gate of the hospital. Tears in her eyes, director of the Nursing Department, Zhao Shuyuan, was too excited to express her feelings. The only sentence she could say was "We made it at last!" From the mid-night of May Day, when the first group of patients were sent to the hospital, she and her colleagues were busy in this battle against SARS. This was the first time she smiled with such delight. While taking pictures for souvenir, the young nurses in the Reception Department who came here first said that it was indelible to be in this battle against SARS.

　　The doctors and nurses who were on duty for the last ten days all put on the army uniforms. They called the names of patients that they were so familiar with and the patients said that finally they saw their beloved medical staff's faces.

　　Mr. Wang and his 15-year-old son came to the hospital on May 8th. They were in a coma for two days and nights. they spryly told the reporters that they have learned so much from the soldiers of the People's Liberation Army and the medical staff in the hospital.

　　Mr. Luo, who was sent here on May 4th , showed his gratitude in his particular way. He made five silk banners to all the departments he had been to of this hospital to thank the careful treatment and meticulous care of these doctors and nurses. It was these people who saved his life from the edge of death.

　　"To conquer the SARS" expressed true feelings of patients here. Today, June 20th, 2003, is the beginning of their new lives.

　　Today means the staffs of the hospital have already successfully accomplished the glorious task assigned by the Central Military Commission. They did not let the Party and people down.

　　Today, along with the name of Xiaotangshan, will be recorded in our history of overcoming the deadly disease.

　　By Jiang Wanliu and Wang Shibin

　　（June 20, PLA Daily）