GANSU TRIPS 2014
by Esther Wang
DAY 1 – PATIENTS VISITING
Today is the first time we are meeting the patients.
Before the trip, I have already known about these patients. They are little
kids and all come from poor families living in some very small villages in the
Gansu province of China. They even have never visited Lanzhou, the
capital of the Gansu province. Their families could not afford the expenses
of the heart surgeries, or even the cost of the medications to support their
daily life! If they could not get the medical care they need, they may die in
the soon future. With the help of the people with loves, they can now
receive their much-needed surgeries. We hope the helps will give them the
second chance at life!
Upon arriving in Gansu, we wanted to meet the patients as soon as
possible. I really want to help them, their families, even though my help is so
limited!
THE PEOPLE’S HOSPITAL
OF GANSU PROVINCE,
THE BEST HOSPITAL IN
GANSU PROVINCE.
TEAM MEMBERS OF
2014 GANSU TRIP
OF 8/14/2014 –
8/17/2014
TEAM MEMBERS OF
2014 GANSU TRIP
OF 6/19/2014 –
6/22/2014
LITTLE PATIENTS:
LI YANFEI
RAN XINGLEI,
AND LIU TONG
RAN XINGLEI, DIAGNOSED
WITH PATENT DUCTUS
ARTERIOSUS, IS FROM A
SMALL TOWN OF GANSU.
HER FAMILY IS TOO POOR TO
AFFORD THE EXPENSE OF THE
SURGERY. SHE WILL NOW
HAVE A CHANCE AT A NEW
LIFE!
XINGLEI IS SO HAPPY WITH
THE SIMPLE GIFTS OF
STATIONARY AND THE TOYS
THAT SHE NEVER HAD
BEFORE.
LI YANFEI IS FROM A SMALL
AND POOR VILLAGE OF
GANSU. SHE SUFFERS FROM
VENTRICULAR SEPTAL
DEFECT. USUALLY WHEN SHE
MOVES, SHE WILL HAVE
TROUBLE BREATHING AND
CATCHING HER BREATH. HER
FATHER AND HER AUNT ARE
WITH HER BECAUSE HER
MOM IS INTELLECTUALLY
DISABLED. HER FAMILY IS
VERY POOR AND THEY
COULD NOT AFFORD THE
EXPENSE OF THE SURGERIES.
LIU TONG COMES FROM A
FAR AWAY, SMALL VILLAGE,
TOO. HE WAS DIAGNOSED
WITH PATENT DUCTUS
ARTERIOSUS. HIS FAMILY IS
VERY POOR AND CANNOT
AFFORD THE EXPENSE OF THE
SURGERY AND THE
MEDICATION.
TEAM OF OUR VOLUNTEERS IS
DISCUSSING THE PATIENTS’
CASES WITH THE DOCTOR
AND GETTING PREPARED FOR
THE NEXT DAY’S SURGERIES.
THE BIG FAMILY - THE
PATIENTS, THE FAMILIES OF
THE PATIENTS, THE TEAM OF
VOLUNTEERS.
TEAM 1 MEMBERS
AND THE LITTLE
PATIENT ZHAO
FUGUI
TEAM 1 MEMBER
AND THE LITTLE
PATIENT YAO
YANXIN
TEAM 1 AND THE
FAMILIES OF
YOUNG :
ZHAO FUGUI AND
YAO YANXIN
DAY 2 - THE SURGERY DAY
TODAY IS A BIG DAY!
THE PATIENTS, THEIR FAMILIES, AND ALL VOLUNTEERS GET TO THE HOSIPAL IN
THE EARLY MORNING. WE ALL UNDERSTAND THAT NO MATTER HOW GOOD
THE HOSPITAL IS AND HOW EXPERIENCED THE DOCTORS ARE, THERE IS STILL
RISK OF FAILURE DURING THE HEART SURGERIES. WE ARE VERY WORRIED, BUT
WE HAVE TO HIDE FEARS AND TRY OUR BEST TO RELEASE THE WORRIES OF
THE PATIENTS’ FAMILIES.
RAN XINGLEI, THE FIRST
PATIENT WHO IS GETTING THE
SURGERY OF LIGATION OF
DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS. SHE
SEEMS KNOW THE SURGERY
HAS RISK AND SHE IS SO
QUIET AND PATIENT.
ACTUALLY, I AM REALLY
NERVOUS AND AFRAID--NO
ONE CAN 100% PREDICT THE
RESULT. WHAT I CAN DO IS
HOLD HER TIGHTLY.
WE ARE ACCOMPANYING
XINGLEI’S FAMILY. ALSO,
XINGLEI’S RELATIVES WHO
LIVE IN THE CITY CAME TO
ACCOMPANY THEM.
EVERYONE HOPES IT IS A
SUCCESSFUL SURGERY.
NAME OF RAN XINGLEI IS
CALLED AND SHE IS GOING
TO GET IN TO THE SURGERY
ROOM.
EVEN THOUGH THIS IS THE
TOP HOSPITAL WITH THE
MOST PROFESSIONAL
DOCTORS IN GANSU, LIKE
ALL MOTHERS, XINGLEI’S
MOM IS STILL WORRIED
ABOUT WHETHER XINGLEI
COULD GET OUT OF THE
SURGERY ROOM ALIVE. SHE
IS CRYING WITH WORRY!
WHAT I COULD DO IS HOLD
HER AND LET HER LEAN ON
MY SHOULDERS TO SUPPORT
HER, TO COMFORT HER.
XINGLEI’S DAD COULD NOT
CRY BECAUSE HIS IS A MAN,
BUT YOU CAN READ THE
WORRIES WRITTEN ON HIS
FACE! WHAT I CAN DO IS TO
WAIT TOGETHER WITH THEM
UNTIL THE PATIENT COME OUT
OF THE SURGERY ROOM
SAFELY.
LIU TONG, THE SECOND
PATIENT, IS SENT TO THE
SURGERY ROOM TO GET
PREPARED FOR THE
OPERATION. HE IS GOING TO
HAVE THE SURGERY OF
LIGATION OF DUCTUS
ARTERIOSUS, TOO.
HIS FAMILY DOES NOT HAVE
ANY RELATIVES IN THE CITY.
THEY FELT HELPLESS SO WE
HAVE TO PUT EVEN MORE
ATTENTION AND CARE TO
THE FAMILY.
LI YANFEI IS THE THIRD
PATIENT. SHE IS PREPARING
FOR THE SURGERY OF
REPAIRING VENTRICULAR
SEPTAL DEFECT. AMONG
THREE PATIENTS, HER
SURGERY IS THE BIGGEST
ONE. HER SURGERY NEEDS
THE EXTERNAL CIRCULATION
OF THE BLOOD. SINCE SHE IS
TOO YOUNG AND THE VEIN IS
SO THIN THAT IT IS HARD TO
GET THE NEEDLE INTO THE
VEIN FOR IV DRIP. THE
NUMBER OF NURSES
CHANGES FROM TWO TO
FOUR AS THEY TRIED AND
TRIED TO GET THE NEEDLE IN.
THE BRAVE LITTLE GIRL JUST
LOOKED AT THE NURSES VERY
PEACEFULLY.
.
DURING THE DAY, WE READ
FROM THE STATUS MONITOR
THE ENTIRE TIME, AT THE SAME
TIME, WE, WITH THE
CHILDREN’S PARENTS,
PRAYED FOR THE PATIENTS TO
BE SAFE AND THE SURGERIES
TO BE SUCCESSFUL. THIS IS
THE LONGEST DAY WE EVER
EXPERIENCED.
IT IS EARLY AFTERNOON WHEN LI YANFEI GETS INTO THE
SURGERY ROOM. WHAT MAKES US SURPRISED IS THAT LI
YANFEI’S FATHER WENT OUT AND BOUGHT TWO BIG BAGS
OF CUPCAKES AND TWO CASES OF DRINKS FOR US. THEY
ARE VERY PLAIN PEOPLE AND THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO
SAY GOOD WORDS TO YOU, BUT THEY JUST DO
SOMETHING TO SHOW THEIR APPRECIATION! THEY WOULD
NEVER BUY FOOD AND DRINKS LIKE THESE FOR THEMSELVES
BECAUSE IT COSTS AROUND ONE MONTH INCOME FOR
THE WHOLE FAMILY! BUT THEY BOUGHT THE EXPENSIVE
FOOD AND DRINKS FOR US! I AM REALLY MOVED BY WHAT
THEY DID TO US!
WE ARE LUCKY! THE DOCTOR ALLOWS ME AND ANOTHER
VOLUNTEER TO GO THE SURGERY ROOM TO OBSERVE THE
WHOLE PROCEDURE OF THE OPERATION. I AM SO EXCITED
TO HAVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO OBSERVE THE REAL HEART
SURGERY OF REPAIRING A VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECT !
LI YANFEI IS IN GENERAL ANESTHESIA.
THE REPAIRING OF VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECT SURGERY
IS IN PROCESS.
AFTER ABOUT 3 MORE HOURS, IT IS TIME TO CLOSE AND
SUTURE THE CHEST. THE DOCTORS CAREFULLY PERFORMED
EVERY TINY STEP OF THE SURGERY. THE WORRIES IN MY
MIND WERE RELEASED MORE AND MORE. I FELT TIRED OF
AFTER STANDING THREE HOURS SIMPLY OBSERVING THIS
SURGERY, BUT THE DOCTORS AND THE OPERATION TEAM
HAVE BEEN WORKING SINCE MORNING UNTIL NOW. THEY
HAVE ALREADY PERFORMED THREE SURGERIES! THE
RESPECT AND ADMIRATION I FELT FOR THE DOCTORS AND
THE ASSISTANTS FAR EXCEEDED ANY EMOTION I HAD FELT
IN THIS TRIP!
OUTSIDE OF THE SURGERY
ROOM, LI YANFEI’S FATHER IS
WORRIED ABOUT THE
SURGERY. OUR OTHER
VOLUNTEERS ARE WAITING
FOR THE RESULT OF THE
SURGERY WITH HIM.
AT THE CORNER OF THE
WAITING ROOM, KAI, ONE
OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, IS
WAITING FOR THE RESULT OF
THE SURGERY WITH YANFEI’S
COUSIN, AUNT, AND UNCLE.
IT IS ABOUT THE END OF THE
DAY. ALMOST ALL SURGICAL
PATIENTS ARE DONE WITH
THEIR SURGERIES AND HAVE
BEEN MOVED TO THE ICU
(INTENSIVE CARE UNIT), BUT LI
YANFEI IS STILL IN THE
SURGERY ROOM. NOW, ALL
OF US ARE MORE WORRIED.
WE ALL WAIT OUTSIDE THE
DOORS OF THE SURGERY
ROOM AND HOPE LI YANFEI
WILL RETURN BACK TO US
SAFELY! WE ARE ONE FAMILY
NOW!
FINALLY, LI YANFEI IS OUT OF THE SURGERY ROOM. SHE IS
STILL SLEEPING. NOW ALL OUR WORRIES ARE RELEASED.
WE PRAYED FOR HER TO WAKE UP NORMALLY AND THAT
EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE.
ALL PATIENTS ARE FINALLY
BACK FROM THE SURGERIES.
ALL OF US ARE RELIEVED AND
HAPPY.
IN THE MEETING ROOM,
DOCTOR LIU
COMMUNICATES WITH TEAM
OF OUR VOLUNTEERS. HE
SHARED THE PROCEDURES
OF ALL THREE SURGERIES
TODAY. ALSO, HE DISCUSSED
THE ABNORMAL CASES THAT
HAPPENED DURING THE
OPERATIONS. FINALLY,
DOCTOR LIU TALKED ABOUT
HIS PLAN WHEN HE WAS A
STUDENT OF MEDICAL
SCHOOL AND THE
DIFFERENCE WHEN HE
WORKED AS A DOCTOR IN
THE REAL LIFE. HE GAVE US A
LOT OF ADVICE.
DOCTOR LIU AND THE TEAM
OF VOLUNTEERS HAD A
PHOTO TOGETHER.
WHAT A SUCCESSFUL,
TOUGH, AND LONG DAY!
THE FAMILIES OF THE
PATIENTS.
IN THE MEETING ROOM
ZHAO FUGUE IS WAITING FOR
SURGERY
WAITING FOR THE SURGERIES
ARE DONE.
A PATIENT IS MOVING OUT
OF THE SURGERY ROOM
TEAM MEMBERS AND THE
PARENTS
DAY 3: (TEAM OF AUGUST)
EXPERIENCE IN THE MOUNTAINS
Today we will visit two patients who reside in the mountains of Gansu
province.
One patient is Li Xiying, who applied for help. We need to visit the
family and do further evaluation to confirm if the patient meets the
requirements for the sponsorship.
Another one is Wang Chunhua. She is a patient who have already
had the surgery. How is she doing now?
We start the journey with a lot expectations.
WE ARE GOING TO DRIVE ON
THE FREEWAY FOR ONE AND
HALF HOURS. THEN WE ARE
GOING TO DRIVE ON THE
MOUNTAIN ROADS FOR TWO
HOURS, AND THEN, WE HAVE
TO DRIVE AMONG THE
MOUNTAIN VILLAGES ON
DIRT ROADS.
THIS IS NORTHWESTERN
CHINA; EVEN THOUGH IT IS
SUMMER, THE MOUNTAINS
ARE YELLOW BECAUSE THE
LANDS ARE MADE OF DIRT
AND ROCKS. ALSO, THE
SHORTAGE OF WATER IS A
BIG PROBLEM IN THIS REGION
OF CHINA.
SINCE IT IS HARD TO GROW
GRAINS AND PLANTS ON THE
SANDS AND ROCKS,
NORTHWESTERN CHINA IS THE
MOST POOR REGION OF
CHINA. OF COURSE, THE
PEASANTS ARE REALLY POOR
WITH VERY LOW ANNUAL
INCOME.
LI XIYING’S FATHER MET WITH
US AT A VERY SMALL TOWN
THAT IS NEAR TO HIS HOME.
WITH HIS GUIDE, THE BUS
DRIVES ANOTHER HOUR ON
THE VERY SMALL, WINDING
MOUNTAIN ROAD UNTIL
FINALLY THERE IS NO ROAD
FOR THE BUS.
WE HAVE TO WALK ON THE
SMALL MOUNTAIN TRAIL TO
GET TO LI XIYING’S HOME.
THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT
LIKE THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE
NEVER EXPERIENCED. THIS
TRIP GIVES US A CHANCE TO
KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE
STILL LIVE IN POOR
ENVIRONMENTS LIKE THIS.
THEY HAVE TO FACE
POVERTY AND THE LACK OF
RESOURCES EVERY DAY.
ALSO, THIS TRIP MAKES US
START TO CONSIDER A LOT
OF THINGS THAT WE HAVE
NEVER THOUGHT.
AFTER HIKING IN THE
MOUNTAIN, WE GOT TO LI
XIYING’S HOME. WE REALLY
WANT TO SEE HER
IMMEDIATELY!
LI XIYING IS A FOUR YEAR
OLD GIRL. SHE IS BORN WITH
ATRIAL SEPTAL DEFECT AND
PULMONARY HYPERTENSION.
HER MOTHER DIED 10 DAYS
AFTER HER BIRTH.
SHE HAS NEVER EXPERIENCED
SO MANY PEOPLE VISITING
HER AT HOME. SHY, SHE
ALWAYS HID IN A SMALL GAP
BETWEEN THE BED AND THE
TABLE.
THE PICTURES SHOW THE
HISTORY OF THE FAMILY. LI
XIYING WILL ONLY BE ABLE
TO REMEMBER HER MOTHER
BY THE IMAGE IN THE
PICTURES.
WE BROUGHT SOME
STATIONERIES, TOYS, SNACKS,
AND DRINKS FOR LI XIYING.
SHE IS HAPPY BUT STILL TOO
SHY TO TALK WITH US.
SO GENEROUS, HER FATHER
MADE SOME CHINESE
DONUTS FOR US TO
ENTERTAIN US, AS THIS IS
ONLY THING THEY COULD
AFFORD TO OFFER.
THE GRANDPA, AUNT,
COUSIN, AND UNCLE OF LI
XIYING.
THREE GENERATIONS HAVE
TO LIVE TOGETHER. THE
UNCLE AND THE FATHER TAKE
TURNS TO LEAVE THE
MOUNTAINS TO GAIN SOME
INCOME TO SUPPORT THE
FAMILY. IN THIS AREA, THE
INCOME FROM PLANTING
GRAINS IS NOT ENOUGH TO
SURVIVE ON.
THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT IS
REALLY POOR.
THIS IS THE KITCHEN FOR THEM TO PREPARE FOOD IN EVERY
DAY!
IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT PEOPLE CAN SURVIVE IN THIS
KIND OF ENVIRONMENT!
THE PICTURE OF TEAM OF
VOLUNTEERS AND LI XIYING’S
FAMILY.
WE START THE JOURNEY TO
WANG CHUNHUA’S HOME.
THE BUS GETS STUCK
BECAUSE THERE IS NO ROAD
ANYMORE. THE TEAM
MEMBERS NEED TO CARRY
ALL BAGS AND HIKE IN THE
MOUNTAINS TO GET TO THE
FAMILIES LIVING IN THE
MOUNTAINS.
NOW WE HAVE TO HIKE IN
THE MOUNTAINS TO GET TO
THE FAMILIES WE WANT TO
VISIT. AT THE SAME TIME, WE
FELT THE DIFFICULTIES THAT
WANG CHUNHUA HAS TO
FACE DAILY – SHE HIKES IN
THE MOUNTAINS TO GO TO
THE SCHOOL EVERY DAY!
WANG CHUNHUA IS A 15
YEAR OLD GIRL. SHE WAS A
PATIENT WHO HAD
VENTRICULAR SEPTAL
DEFECT. SHE HAD HEART
SURGERY AT THE BEGINNING
OF 2014. THE SURGERY WAS
SUCCESSFUL. NOW, HER
WHOLE FAMILY ARE FULL
WITH JOY. NOW, WANG
CHUNHUA CAN ATTEND THE
SCHOOL AS A NORMAL
STUDENT. SINCE SHE IS
HEALTHY NOW, HER FATHER
CAN LEAVE THE MOUNTAINS
AND GAIN HIGHER INCOME
TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY’S
NEEDS
WE BROUGHT SOME
STATIONERIES AND T-SHIRTS
FOR WANG CHUNHUA AND
HER YOUNGER BROTHER.
SOME OTHER STATIONERIES
AND GIFTS ARE GIVEN TO
WANG CHUNHUA AND HER
YOUNGER BROTHER.
CONSIDERING THE SCHOOL
COST IS VERY HIGH
COMPARED TO THE ANNUAL
INCOME OF THE WANG
FAMILY, WE FUNDRAISED
1000 RMB TO HELP HER STUDY
NEEDS.
TEAM OF THE VOLUNTEERS
AND WANG CHUNHUA’S
FAMILY.
DAY 3: (TEAM OF JUNE)
REUNION WITH PREVIOUS PATIENTS
Today we had a reunion with the previous patients and their families.
We are going to a school to meet about 80 people, including the
parents and all the previous patients who have been able to be
saved.
Then we are going to visit two families that reside in the mountains of
Gansu.
We can not wait to meet with them!
TEAM OF OUR VOLUNTEERS
ON THE REUNION DAY WITH
CURED PATIENT LAN
XIAOHUA.
TEAM OF OUR VOLUNTEERS
ON THE REUNION DAY.
THE THANKS FROM THE NEW
HEART, AND THE HUG FOR
THE NEW LIFE – LAN XIAOHUA
AND DOCTOR LEE
TOGETHER WITH THE
CHILDREN ON THE REUNION
DAY
DR. SHOUYAN LEE, WANG
CHUNHUA, VOLUNTEER
ALBERT LEE ON THE REUNION
DAY.
THE VIEW OF MOUNTAINS IN
GANSU.
WALKING ON THE MOUNTAIN
TRAIL TO THE HOME OF A
PREVIOUS PATIENT
VOLUNTEERS AND THE
PREVIOUS PATIENT’S FAMILY.
ON THE WAY TO ANOTHER
PREVIOUS PATIENT’S HOME
VOLUNTEERS AND A
PREVIOUS PATIENT’S FAMILY
DAY 4 – VISITING THE CHILDREN POST-SURGERY
Today is the last day of the Gansu trip. We are revisiting our patients
who had surgeries the day before yesterday.
WE CAME BACK TO THE
GANSU PROVINCE PEOPLE’S
HOSPITAL IN THE EARLY
MORNING.
SOME MEMBERS OF TEAM OF
VOLUNTEERS
YAO YANXIN IS IN THE
INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
TEAM MEMBERS SAY
GOODBYE TO ZHAO FUGUI’S
FAMILY.
OUR PATIENTS ARE STILL IN
THE ICU (INTENSIVE CARE
UNIT).
EVERYONE IS SO HAPPY THAT
LI YANFEI RECOVERED SO
WELL.
WE BROUGHT SOME
CANDIES TO REWARD THEM
FOR BEING SO BRAVE
DURING THE SURGERY AND
THE RECOVERY.
RAN XINGLEI IS IN THE ICU.
IT IS SO NICE THAT ALL OF
OUR PATIENTS HAVE
RECOVERED SO WELL. WHEN
THEY SAW US AGAIN, THEY
ARE VERY HAPPY, TOO.
WE EXPRESS THANKS TO
DOCTOR LIU AND HIS
COLLEAGUES. WE REALLY
APPRECIATE THE WORK THEY
DID.
TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS
PRESENTS THE GOOD WISHES
AND THANKS TO THE
PATIENTS’ FAMILIES.
WE WISH THE PATIENTS WILL
COMPLETELY RECOVER VERY
SOON.
THE PATIENTS’ FAMILIES
PRESENT THEIR THANKS.
TEAM OF OUR VOLUNTEERS
GIVES GIFTS TO THE PATIENTS’
FAMILIES.
THE PICTURE OF TEAM OF
VOLUNTEERS, DR. LIU, AND
THE FAMILIES OF THE
PATIENTS.
IT IS THE TIME TO SAY
GOODBYE! WE ARE GOING
TO LEAVE THE PATIENTS AND
THEIR FAMILIES AND FLY
BACK TO THE UNITED STATES.
IN LAST SEVERAL DAYS, WE
TOGETHER EXPERIENCED SO
MUCH! WE WORRIED
TOGETHER, WE LAUGHED
TOGETHER, WE SUFFERED
TOGETHER, AND WE ARE
HAPPY TOGETHER.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THIS TRIP
CONNECTED EVERYONE--THE
PATIENTS, THE FAMILIES, AND
THE VOLUNTEERS! NOW WE
ARE NOT ONLY FRIENDS, WE
ARE MEMBERS OF A BIG
FAMILY!
TIME OF GOODBYE IS SO
HARD FOR ALL OF US,
WE HAVE TO HOLD IN THE
TEARS.
THANKS TO THIS GANSU TRIP.
THANKS TO ALL TEAM
MEMBERS.
HOPE SOME DAY IN FUTURE,
WE WILL MAKE A TEAM
AGAIN TO HELP THE PEOPLE
WHO NEED HELP.
SUMMARY OF GANSU TRIPS 2014
We can say that the services on this Gansu trip are completed, but we
want to say the services will never be completed because there are still a
lot people need help!
Long after this trip ends, we will still think of the little children and their
families; their sufferings and their happiness and joys, even towards very
small gifts.
We hope there will be more and more people who join in this kind of
volunteer services! We know that as an individual, the help offered is
limited, but if we band together, we can change the world!