Yangsan Middle School Students Visit Hospital with Handwritten Letters and Rice Cakes for 'Strawberry Whale Snack'

Five students from Yangsan Middle School and medical staff
[Photo by Yangsan Busan National University Hospital]

Yangsan Pusan National University Hospital announced on the 8th that five first-year students from Yangsan Middle School visited the hospital on the 7th and delivered a hand-written letter along with a set of rice cakes weighing 1.6 kg to the medical staff.

The students, together with their school teacher, came across an online article about the story of nurse Choi Dajeong from the hospital’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and her efforts related to ‘Strawberry Whale Snacks.’ To express their gratitude to the PICU medical staff, the students personally wrote letters by hand and brought the rice cakes with heartfelt appreciation. The letters contained warm and touching messages hoping to provide some strength to the medical staff in their tiring daily routines. Additionally, the rice cake gift holds special significance in Korean culture, through which the students aimed to convey their deep gratitude to the hospital’s hardworking medical personnel.

Nurse Choi Dajung and Nurse Choi from Yangsan Pusan National University Hospital saved the Strawberry Whale Snack
[Image provided by Yangsan Pusan National University Hospital]

One student said, “We wondered how we could express our thanks to the doctors and nurses, and under the guidance of our school teacher, we decided to give hand-written letters and rice cakes.” The student added, “I hope the doctors and nurses working even during the Lunar New Year will feel encouraged when they read our letters.” The head nurse of the PICU said, “We were deeply moved and encouraged by the precious rice cake gift and letters from the students,” and added, “Having received the students’ warm hearts, we will work even harder to treat patients and strive to be the best medical staff at Yangsan Pusan National University Hospital.”

Previously, nurse Choi Dajeong, who works in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Busan National University Children’s Hospital, obtained and personally delivered ‘Strawberry Whale Snacks,’ which Orion had discontinued production of, for a 3-year-old patient admitted to the hospital on December 15 last year. The child was admitted to the PICU and was fasting, but once able to eat, the child’s most desired food was ‘Strawberry Whale Snacks.’ However, since the manufacturer had already stopped selling the product, it was difficult to find. Nurse Choi posted a message directly on Orion’s website, and the Orion customer center contacted her personally and specially produced the snack for the child.