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Boy thinks of others as he battles for life

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-22 07:17

SHENZHEN: A blanket covered the body of 16-year-old Feng Shihui as he rested in his hospital bed, but his uncovered face showed the purple discoloration of his skin, caused by bleeding beneath the surface, that threatens his life.

Doctors do not know what triggered the Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura that has depleted his platelet count.

But they do know the illness has now spread to his entire body.

Despite having battled the disease for the past four months, Feng refuses to feel sorry for himself and is still putting others first.

This week, he decided he wants others to live if he ends up losing his battle for life.

"If I die, I want to know that my organs will help other patients. It's very meaningful to me," he said.

On Sunday, Feng decided to donate his heart, liver, corneas, kidneys, skin and bones if he dies and he signed the relevant paperwork with the Red Cross Society of China Shenzhen Branch, becoming the youngest among the 6,000-plus people registered as potential organ donors in the southern city.

His worried mother, Shen Xueping, touched him gently.

"He read books when receiving medical treatments," she said. "The story of Cong Fei inspired him and he wanted to be a man like Cong, who donated his corneas to help other people recover their eyesight."

Cong was a Shenzhen singer who gave financial aid for more than 10 years to 178 poor students and people with disabilities. He died of stomach cancer at the age of 37 in 2006 and wanted to go on helping people after his death.

"His father and I and all our families support his idea," she said through tears. "We are proud of him. But we hope he will not have to deliver on his good intentions. He is so young and we hope he can be saved."

She said her son was healthy until the morning of May 6 when he was taken ill at school, suffering from a serious headache, fever and bleeding from the mouth and nose.

"The doctor in charge took a sample of his bone marrow this morning and hopes to offer a new therapy soon," said Shen Xueqiang, one of the boy's uncles.

"We pray it will work this time."

So far, the family has spent more than 400,000 yuan ($58,823) trying to save his life. His daily medical bills come to between 3,000 and 4,000 yuan.