einstein (São Paulo). 16/Mar/2026;24:eCE1486.
For more Mangomoments in health care!
DOI: 10.31744/einstein_journal/2026CE1486
Dear Editor,
What does Mangomoments mean? In 2018, Kris Vanhaecht, a professor at Leuven University in Belgium, published a paper in the Lancet Oncology Journal titled “In search of Mangomoments”.() The title drew inspiration from a documentary filmed at a Belgian hospital featuring a patient in the intensive care unit (ICU) and a journalist. Upon awakening from a coma, the patient described the difficulty of lying motionless, staring at the ceiling, listening to her family during visits, and witnessing the care team’s dynamics. Moved by her story, the journalist asked what could make her happy. She immediately replied that she would love to have a mango – just to taste one once again. Days later, the journalist returned with a mango and gave it to her as a gift. This simple action brought the patient to tears. Upon hearing this, Vanhaecht was touched yet puzzled, reflecting that no ICU health professional had asked this fundamental question: “What can we do to make her happier during this difficult time?”(,)
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