Editor's note: In the Gengzi New Year, a war without arms started nationwide. At a time when families should be reunited, a group of OUC students mobilised to help Wuhan and rescue patients there!

The white-robed angels whose deeds have moved people all over the country say: "We are called "warriors", but have chosen this profession, and it is our duty to help fight the epidemic! We shall dedicate ourselves to the interests of the country over our personal interests".

Why are so many taking part in this struggle? Let's pay tribute to them, and tell their stories.

Zhao Guolan is an ICU nurse at the No.3 People's Hospital in Chengdu, and enrolled in the headquarters of the school directly under the Sichuan Branch of the Open University of China (OUC) as an undergraduate in autumn of 2010.

Upon learning, after the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, that a medical team from Sichuan was about to leave for Wuhan, she asked her head nurse to be allowed to go as well. On the first of February she received notice that she would be going. Her luggage was already be packed, and she told the head nurse: “Going to the front lines is the bravest thing I've ever done. I'll do my best."

Zhao Guolan on the front lines in Wuhan

Xiao Xia is an ICU nurse at the Sichuan Orthopedic Hospital, and enrolled in the headquarters of the Sichuan Branch in autumn of 2016 as a Nursing major. After learning that the hospital was soliciting volunteers to go to Wuhan, she signed up, and only at the last moment, before getting on the plane, called her brother. He was silent for more than ten seconds, then said: "Do you really have to go?" “I do,” she replied. Soon after, he sent her a WeChat message, saying, "Don't think too much. Don't be afraid. I will take care of our parents." Xiao Xia couldn't stop her tears after reading it.

Xiao Xia in a front-line ward in Wuhan

"There are always people who take on burdens, while others live tranquil lives." Today, the former are fighting the epidemic selflessly and fearlessly, defending lives. Their faith will assure our victory. Xiao Xia wrote in her work diary: "Although we can barely see with our goggles on, our clothes are soaked with sweat, we feel short of breath, and the strings of the masks hurt our ears, we endure everything for the sake of our patients. It's not easy to live, but we should do our best while we can. 'When winter comes, can spring be far behind?'"

By OUC News Network