"We meet again at last" was all Cao Xiaoshan, 73, could say when she saw Wang Xiujiang, a doctor, on Thursday in Changchun, Jilin Province after a 200-day absence.

Cao, from Wuhan, Hubei Province, had visited Wang in March, and he helped cure her novel coronavirus pneumonia. He was a visiting member of the first medical team from Jilin to support Hubei Province, the earliest epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic.

Wang, from the department of lung disease at the Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, started work in the Zhongfaxincheng campus of Tongji Hospital affiliated with Huazhong University of Science and Technology immediately after his arrival in February.

Cao was his first patient. She was still in serious condition when she came to him after 28 days of hospital treatment. Her age and underlying diseases, including bladder cancer made her a high-risk patient.

"I was suffering severe chest tightness, chest pain, breathing difficulties and other symptoms caused by the novel coronavirus. It made me feel extremely desperate and helpless," she said. "Wang's encouragement helped me calm down."

After about two weeks of treatment by Wang, Cao tested negative for the novel coronavirus three consecutive times and was discharged from the hospital on March 16.

Twelve days later, Wang and his teammates returned to Jilin after finishing their support task in Wuhan.

"It was really a pity that I couldn't see them off because I was still in quarantine," Cao said. "When my life gradually returned to normal, I sent a letter and a silk banner to express my gratitude to the hospital and Doctor Wang. But I still felt it was not enough as I couldn't say thanks personally."

Accompanied by her husband, Cao flew to Changchun, 2,000 km away from her home, on Wednesday. In the hospital on Thursday, Wang examined Cao and found she was recovering well.

"Those who don't have such an experience may never understand my feeling," she said. "I will never forget the Jilin medical team in my whole life, especially Doctor Wang."

(Source: chinadaily.com.cn)