A 27 Year Old Orphan, Who Would Sign Before The High-risk Surgery?
I am 27 years. I was diagnosed scoliosis with severe kyphosis, 120 degrees of scoliosis, and 143 degrees of kyphosis.
I am an orphan. Growing up without my birth parents, I lived with my step-brother. I discovered my scoliosis disease at a young age. Due to my family’s financial situation, I didn’t receive any treatment. Thus, my hunchback and short body became a target. I was often bullied, ridiculed, and even beaten by my friends since I was young. I couldn't imagine how I got through it.
Due to my family’s financial difficulties and fear from the outside world, I dropped out of school when I was in junior high school and went out to work at a young age. However, because of my young age, small body, and disability, it was difficult to find a suitable job. So I found a job that did not require a high education degree nor physical fitness. Jobs as dishwasher in the restaurant, the warehouse keeper in the warehouse, and so on. Although life is difficult, being able to support me is already a great comfort to me.
But as I got older, my hunchback became bigger and my tolerance for activities became worse. In order to survive, I started to consult experts and hospitals in this area. By chance, I learned about Professor Yang Junlin's team. For treatment, I rushed to Guangzhou from Zhejiang, not wanting to give up any hope.
Professor Yang looked at my situation and said it was too serious to operate directly, and traction was required. The overall cost was estimated to be RMB200,000. But for me, how could such a high cost be affordable?
After knowing my financial background, Professor Yang suggested that I apply for X-in Miao Charity Fund to cover parts of my treatment cost. Early traction also costed tens of thousands . I began to work hard to accumulate treatment fees. In these five years, in order to save money, I had not let go of various jobs, part-time jobs, for some extra money. When there was no part-time job, I also chose to sing on the street to earn some treatment fees.
Finally, in 2017, I had saved 100,000 yuan. I came to Professor Yang’s outpatient clinic again. Yet he found my condition had worsened and I needed to be hospitalized as soon as possible. But the money I saved was not enough for the surgery. Professor Yang allowed me not to think about it so much and treat it first. As for the cost of the operation, he would help me figure out a solution.
At that moment, I was very moved and more grateful. It turned out that there was such good doctor in this world.
After 11 months of traction at Xinmiao Traction Center, I was finally ready for surgery. However, one problem left me in distress. I needed signatures from my immediate family members before the operation, but I had already lost my parents, who shall I call for my signature?
Later, Dr. Yang Jingfan from Xinmiao's charity team said that he was willing to sign the papers for me. At that moment, I seemed to be a lost child who finally found my relatives. Everyone understood that this signature was not just as simple as signing a name, it was also a responsibility, a commitment, and an unknown risk.
On October 11, 2018, my operation was successful after 10 hours of operation. I felt as if I was reborn into a new man. After 20 years of struggle, I have finally overcome my “mountain”. The Xinmiao charity team helped me solve the internal fixed material cost. In addition, they contacted another charity organization to help me solve other expenses, and funded me a total of 242,000 yuan. Thanks to Professor Yang, Dr. Yang, and X-in Miao Charity for giving me a second chance. They gave me a chance to live a healthy life, and I will never forget the help which X-in Miao Charity has provided.
After being discharged from hospital, I kept the progress photos of my treatment on my phone as a reminder. A reminder to be grateful for overcoming the fears. The Xinmiao team is a special existence for me. Without the help of Professor Yang and Xinmiao Fund, I am afraid there is no way to "stand up." The Xinmiao team has gone through ten years and helped more than 280 poor patients realize their dreams. Fortunately, I became one of them.
X-in Miao Charity helps patients by covering their treatment costs (for scoliosis). Therefore, poor patients with scoliosis who are still struggling in pain can contact the Xinmiao charity team to apply for funding. The future is bright, let us face this world with smile!
Yang’s testimony
Our human mind and human nature are complex. Having both rational and emotional sides, we often make quick decisions. Regarding why I helped him sign the surgical consent form at the time, I didn't think about it thoroughly. Looking back, I wonder how I could sign it on impulse.
In fact, I am not so great and noble. As a scoliosis surgery clinician, we have seen too many patients with severe scoliosis and suffered a lot of pain physically, but also psychologically. Social discrimination and various pressures. This disease can be cured, but the cost of two or three hundred thousand yuan is also a big mountain for the patient’s family.
Speaking of his situation at that time, he saved money for 5 years, came to see the doctor, and saw his condition worsened. He had to undergo surgery as soon as possible. He was successful after several inspections, treatment plans, hospitalization, and application from X-in Miao. If he cannot be operated on just because no one signed him, then I personally cannot bear it. So, at that time, I was impulsive. Sensibility defeated rationality. As soon as my mind became hot, I did something that shouldn't be and is not as incredible as a doctor.
I thought about this issue. Although our team performs the operation, everyone knows what this signature means in China, but I didn’t think about it then, it was really just a simple idea— —I don’t want to let his hopes fail again.
