李素芝,山东临沂人,1970年参军,1976年军校毕业,分配到上海第二军医大学长海医院普外科工作。因为偶遇一个延误治疗来上海住院的西藏战士,说起西藏缺医少药的情况,22岁的李素芝申请入藏,分到西藏山南军分区做边防军医,然后成为西藏军区副司令员、西藏军区总医院院长。
是什么力量让一个很有前途的年轻军医放弃大城市,在西藏坚守大半生?
请看一个画家是怎样去描摹被藏民称为“门巴将军”的这位山东人的。
Li Suzhi, born in Linyi, Shandong Province, joined in the army in 1970. After graduating from military school in 1976, he was assigned a job at the General Surgery Department of Changhai Hospital of Shanghai No. 2 Military Medical University, were he encountered a Tibetan soldier who came to Shanghai to be hospitalized due to delayed treatment in Tibet. Hearing that Tibet was short of doctors and medicine, 22-year-old Li Suzhi applied to work in Tibet. Then he was assigned as a frontier military doctor at Shannan Military Branch of Tibet Military Region.
门巴,藏语中医生的意思。
2009年,我做的最大一件事,用7个月画了一幅国画。
画两米多见方。画面中心,用写实手法勾画出的一位军医正屏息凝神,给藏族小孩听诊。20多个藏民形成两股人流:怀抱着孩子候诊的母亲、抿嘴好奇打量的老头老太太、忙着倒茶的妇女、草地上已睡熟的孩子,与军医动静形成对比。对着画外腼腆微笑的藏族少女,与观者互动把人带进画中,达到了画外有画的意境。画面色调选用宿墨单一的青灰色,人物土黄色的五官,朱砂色的印章,构成了绘画中最基本的红黄蓝三原色。
画完收笔盖印,我百感交集。那天盛夏突降瓢泼大雨,我接着雨水,一遍遍冲刷着门前的地面⋯⋯
雨中我如释重负。画取名《雪域天使――门巴将军李素芝在牧区》。
2007年,受解放军总政文艺局的邀请,我动身去西藏采集素材,创作反映西藏军区副司令员、西藏军区总医院院长李素芝将军先进事迹的绘画作品。当时所能查到的资料不过百八十字:李素芝,山东临沂人,1970年参军,1976年军校毕业,分配到上海第二军医大学长海医院普外科工作。因为偶遇一个延误治疗来上海住院的西藏战士,说起西藏缺医少药的情况,22岁的李素芝申请入藏,分到西藏山南军分区做边防军医。
是什么力量让一个很有前途的年轻军医放弃大城市,在西藏坚守大半生?
当我在万米高空俯瞰绵延雪山时,这个传奇色彩的名字,让我有了多个想象,是个技高胆大豪爽的军人,还是严谨儒雅的医生形象?我试图从一个画家的角度,去描摹被藏民称为“门巴将军”的这位山东人。
藏民的“门巴将军”
李素芝外出开会去了。
接飞机的军医给了两粒“高原康胶囊”让我吃上,医院自己研制的预防急性高原病的药。这个特殊的见面礼让我意识到,神秘的高原已经在我脚下了,一种莫名的兴奋、不安和期待在胸中涌动。
医院,一座简朴的四层的门诊、病房楼,在海拔3700米的高原上,周围石头山上没有植被。随处可见的励志口号,军人三人以上的列队行走,传统的记忆把我带回到大都市的上世纪90年代。
初秋的西藏天高云淡。蓝天、金黄的杨树叶、白色的医院,在我这个画家眼中,可以组织成明丽的彩画。但这是世界上含氧力最低的地区,光照强得睁不开眼,早晚温差大,八九点才天黑。空气干燥,我流鼻血,不停地喝水,成宿睡不着。
在医院的几天采访拍照,我听到了不少李素芝的“民间版本”。
“这个人很能吃苦,是个工作狂,精历特旺盛,就是不会过日子,晚上10点多回家,家弄得跟宿舍一样。”
“在医院写假条得用废纸,否则老李肯定打回来。什么事都别蒙他,医院有多少个老鼠洞,他都知道。”
“凡是给男病人导尿之类的事,他都自己干,当医生时就这样,这让女护士都很感激”。
“他老家的几个妹妹下岗,来这想让他帮忙找点活干,他都没管。他工资高,贴补了点钱,有几个回去了。一个小妹妹曾留在拉萨菜市场做点小生意,市场上一个卖菜的山东大姐帮的忙。”
李素芝总算是回来了。院长办公室门口走廊里,工作人员、军医、病人二三十人排着长队。
刚进去的几个藏民,把办公室渲染着浓重的藏族气氛,藏袍、藏帽、黝黑发红的脸,连空气中来苏水的味道,也顿时混杂进了藏民那特有的酥油茶味道。几个军人关于一项办公支出的讨论,被一句“问清楚都干什么的,得压缩”收尾。透过人缝,我看见说话的军人抽着烟,皱着眉,态度很严肃。陪同的工作人员说,那就是李将军。我仔细打量着,头发已灰白,个子不高,声音不大,人很低调。30多年的雪域烈风刮去了他少年的英气,脸上的“高原红”和猪肝色,布满血丝的眼睛,不穿军装,活脱脱一个“老西藏”,这是一个完全被环境同化了的山东人。那几个藏民说着不太流利的汉语,找他看透视的片子。迎着窗口阳光,他目光和语调都变得很柔和很温暖。我很难想象一个行医30多年的大夫、院长,还会对贸然上门的病人有如此大的耐心、谦和。
办公柜上放着一个心脏模型。听说心胸外科专家李素芝,号称“高原一把刀”。门诊、查房、手术,我就在旁边一直紧跟着他,抓拍了上千张工作照片。查房时就碰到一个心脏手术不久,身上插满了管子的小姑娘,李素芝耐心地检查并叮嘱着医生。原来西藏高寒缺氧,先天性心脏病发病率是内地的两三倍,有的一家就好几个。
1978年,李素芝从边防回到西藏军区总院,主管的第一个病人就死于先心病。这成为多年来他心理上的阴影。于是从那时起的20年,工作之余,李素芝坚持做了这样一件事:
第一个10年,在医院停尸房旁,找了间土木房做实验室。有人说他想出风头,有人嘲笑他缺氧神经末梢血压不够,头脑不清醒,得了妄想症。因为连外国专家在这海拔3500米以上的高原,做的两例心脏手术都失败了。没经费就自己掏工资,买设备买狗做动物实验,到处学习;第二个10年,动物实验成功的基础上,继续深入。2000年,李素芝把自己亲戚家的一个患先心病的小外孙拉上高原,用一天时间做了第一例实验,手术成功,从此以后心脏手术得以全面开展。到现在心脏、肝肾移植等重大手术做了上千例,许多都创下了世界医学奇迹。34年,时间锻造出了最锋利的手术刀。
李素芝与母亲的合影,一直摆在宿舍里。母亲,灾荒年能把粮食匀给别人,而给自己的6个孩子煮汤喝;病危时怕耽误西藏的老二,把工作、声誉看得比命重。与四十年代参加革命的沂蒙老区的父母一样,两代人都有着为国家担当的责任感、使命感。
1996年,李素芝当院长后,就带医疗队到边防连队哨所和农牧区、寺院巡回医疗,还发放了上万个免费医疗证,免费做心脏、复明手术。李素芝说,免费医疗证,发给驻地附近的,那些边远牧区的牧民,别说交医药费,就是生活费、路费也是医院保障,每年最少要补贴几千万。
曾有心理学家做过分析,对职业的主动选择源于幼小时潜意识的渴望。李素芝有过这样一个经历:十几岁的一个雨夜高烧,母亲背着他冲向乡卫生院,可因为只有两毛钱被大夫拒之门外,吵闹中一名主治大夫开门救了他。所以在后来部队推荐的几个学校中,李素芝选择了军医,并记住了雨夜里的主治医生,名叫张子善。
手术刀下都是一样的生命,李素芝说。
藏民对我说,在“门巴将军”眼里没有官民之分,当官的、老百姓一样看待。他确实是一个好人。僧人说,从佛教角度讲,他确实大慈大悲。
我在大昭寺搜集素材,目睹无数的善男信女,一路等身长头,磕到大昭寺求福祈愿。几天下来,那些远道而来的藏民,在我的镜头下,从起初不好意思躲镜头,到一见如故,友好地对我说笑。有时我觉得李素芝也像个朝圣者,怀揣信念,身体力行,丈量人生。
战士的“守护神”
“我坐着火车去拉萨,看看那雄伟的布达拉⋯⋯”,磁带里的歌声不停地在车中回荡。为获得第一手素材,离开拉萨,行程数千里,我重走医院义务巡回医疗的路。
远处地平线上雪山连绵,成群的牛羊像悠闲的云朵,绣在一望无际的金黄色草地上,间或一列火车从青藏铁路疾驶而过,车上陪同人员兴奋地喊着“火车,火车”。与李素芝那些老西藏讲博爱奉献的年代不同,这些赶上西藏提速的年轻人,科研学习条件今非昔比。十几年前医院考出去27名研究生,个个“孔雀东南飞”,一个都不回来。现在不同了,“遇到人才,院长的防线就软了,能答应的都答应,当宝贝一样,许多人都被他感动来的。硕士以上、副主任医师职称以上,房子、电话、吃饭,和院领导一个待遇。李院长爱说,踩着我的肩膀上”。
在西藏不能说没动摇过,李素芝曾很直率地说,当年自愿申请进藏,同学说我傻。人生各有归路,在一个特定的年代,主动选择了另外一种人生,个人命运也伴随着国家的每一步发展,当上院长、博导、将军,说我傻的人少了。西藏人特别容易动真感情,你给他做点事情,他会10倍20倍报答你。在西藏当医生,我觉得不亏。
多年的绘画经历,骨子里的平民情结,我早已把情感融入了寻常百姓的现实生活。即使在这样贫瘠的荒原,也有着让人激动的情感和精神。人们的坚韧质朴和信仰,给了我丰厚的滋养。我不停的记录着,以至于陪同我的军医不断提醒,慢点,这是在高原。
中印临时边界线的军营建在山坡上。满山的野杜鹃在凛冽的风雪中傲立,战士们用彩色的石头在山坡上,勾画出一幅中国地图。地图中央两行字“祖国在我心中,我在祖国怀抱”。在冰天雪地的世界屋脊上,我被震撼着。“祖国”两个字,第一次在我心中如此真切。
缺氧、严寒、高原疾病,就连普通感冒引起肺水肿,也危及战士生命。几十年来,李素芝含泪送别了许多战友。西藏军区原司令员张贵荣,就是在骑马下边防的途中发病,永远地长眠在雪域高原,还不满50岁。
1996年,李素芝开始组织医院上下,翻雪山、跑边卡、上哨所调研,采集药物标本,做动物实验,攻关组在部队营区训练场考察。近一年时间,预防高原病的“高原康胶囊”研制成功。至今,驻藏部队没有一名官兵因急性高山病死亡。战士们把李素芝称为“守护神”。
雪域天使
从西藏回来的日子里,我沉浸在激动中。灵魂的净化、心灵的震撼,还有那20多天难以忘却的记忆。紫外线灼伤,脸上起满了水泡,心脏也经历了一次高原的检验,连续几个月隐隐作痛。但我欣慰的是,我为创作带回了大量第一手素材。
李素芝的形象,天天浮现在我眼前:他与藏民和蔼地交谈;他给小患者慈祥地听诊;他和军医们在雪地里推车前行;他在野外和同事就着雪团吃干粮;他在青藏铁路羊八井工地,给铺路工人医诊;牧区巡诊临别时,藏民们蜂拥着为他和军医们献上哈达,甚至是他用那缠着透明胶带的老款手机打电话的样子,这个朴实、敬业、坚韧的山东汉子啊,你在雪域高原近40年的生命历程和丰富情感,我该如何去描绘啊!
最后我选定了李素芝到牧区巡诊,为儿童筛查先心病的场面,把我内心真切的感受表达出来。
2009年岁末,第十一届全国美展获奖作品展在中国美术馆举办。在20件国画获奖作品中,《雪域天使――门巴将军李素芝在牧区》获得银奖,同时获得国家级中国美术最高荣誉奖:首届中国美术奖?创作奖,并入选中央统战部主办的《灵感高原》西藏主题展。
获奖作品刊登后,一位美术专业的年轻网友点评说,这画获奖考虑政治因素了。我回贴,如果你到七八千米边卡去看看战士怎么生活,你看看那么多一贫如洗的人们免费治疗保住了命,你看看研制的药用上多少年没死过人,你就知道什么是政治了。
画装裱在两米多的展板上。记得抬画板等着装车,是个闷热八月天的傍晚。画里牦牛在草地悠闲信步,眼前喧嚣都市人头攒动、车流如织。边远牧区的藏民们紧紧相拥着他们的“门巴”将军,静静地倚靠在展厅门口的一个角落。不少路人被真人大小的28个人物吸引围过来看,“好人、好大夫,太不容易了,现在医患关系紧张,难得啊,那种苦地方也呆了一辈子啊”。人们驻足许久,仔细打量,前后端详,深情凝望。夕阳下,画里画外温情脉脉。
经专家小组评议,中国美术馆准备收藏这幅作品,我答应了。放在家中自己看,留在中国美术馆大家看。多少年后,后人也会通过这幅画知道有李素芝这样一个人,同样也会被这幅画背后他的故事所感动⋯⋯
2009年国庆前夕,在电视上又看到了李素芝,作为19名山东籍候选人之一,他被评为“双百人物”,还当选“新中国成立以来感动中国人物”。两年不到,他头发白了不少。从22岁到年过半百,生命中最宝贵的34年留在了雪域高原。李素芝说,人这一辈子能干事的好时候,实在太短了。
我想,谨以《雪域天使》献给那些坚守并贡献在西藏的人们吧。
In Tibetan Menba means a doctor.
In 2009, I spent seven months on painting a traditional Chinese picture.
The size of the picture is about roughly two square meters. At the center of the picture a military doctor is concentrating on auscultating a little Tibetan child. More than 20 Tibetan people form two lines. Among them, there we see a mother holding a baby waiting for diagnosis, old men and old women looking around curiously, a woman busy with serving tea and children sleeping on the grassland. The young Tibetan girl shyly smiling to the outside of the picture takes the readers into the scene of the picture, producing a marvelous image.
In 2007, at the invitation of the Art and Literature Bureau of the PLA General Political Department, I went to Tibet to collect raw materials to create a painting to display the merits of General Li Suzhi, who is Vice Commander of Tibet Military Region and President of the General Hospital of Tibet Military Region. At that time, I knew nothing about Li Suzhi save for his resume: Li Suzhi, born in Linyi, Shandong Province, joined in the army in 1970. After graduating from military school in 1976, he was assigned a job at the General Surgery Department of Changhai Hospital of Shanghai No. 2 Military Medical University, were he encountered a Tibetan soldier who came to Shanghai to be hospitalized due to delayed treatment in Tibet. Hearing that Tibet was short of doctors and medicine, 22-year-old Li Suzhi applied to work in Tibet. Then he was assigned as a frontier military doctor at Shannan Military Branch of Tibet Military Region.
When I took an aerial view of the snow-covered mountain in the ten thousand-meter high sky, his legendary name aroused much imagination in my mind. Was he a bold military man with high skills or a scrupulous and courteous doctor? I tried to picture this man who was called by the Tibetan people “General Menba” from the viewpoint of a painter.
In 1978, Li Suzhi came back to work at the General Hospital of Tibet Military Region. The first patient he was responsible for died of congenital heart disease, which left unhappy memories in his mind. Since then, over the past 20 years, he has insisted on doing the following things.
In the first 10 years, he established a lab in a simple room next to the mortuary in the hospital. Since on the 3,500-meter high plateau, even the foreign expert failed to perform successfully two cardiac operations. Without funding, he used his own salary to buy the equipment and dogs used for experimental operations. In the second 10 years, he continued his exploration. In 2000, Li Suzhi took the grandson of a relative of his who suffered from congenital disease to the Tibet plateau and performed the cardiac operation for him in one day. The operation was successful. After that, he started to perform cardiac operations regularly. Thus far, he has done more than 1,000 cardiac and liver and kidney transplant operations, which created many medical miracles in the world.
In 1996, after acting as President of the General Hospital of Tibet Military Region, Li Suzhi took a medical team to launch mobile medical treatment for the frontier guards, agricultural and pastoral areas, and monasteries. Moreover, he distributed more than 10,000 free medical treatment certificates to have cardiac and cataract operations done. Li Suzhi said that the herdsmen receiving the free medical certificate not only were free from paying the medical expenses, but also were free from paying their boarding and travel expenses. In one year, the hospital needs to subsidize these people by at least ten millions yuan.
In 1996, Li Suzhi started to organize research among the frontier guards to produce new medicines. In one year, the “Plateau Health Capsule” used to prevent the plateau disease was successfully developed. Thus far, no military officer or soldier of the Tibet Military Region has died of acute mountain sickness.
At the end of 2009, exhibition of the prize-winning works of the 11th National Fine Arts Exhibition sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, which was held once every five years, was held at the Gallery of China in Beijing. Angel in the Snow Region―General Menba Li Suzhi in the Pastoral Area was granted the silver prize.
Just before the National Day in 2009, I saw Li Suzhi again on TV. He was chosen as one of the figures moving China since New China was founded. From 22 years old to his fifties, he left 34 years of his life in the snow covered plateau.