Injured girl receives donations

China Daily readers reached out to help a family after reading a report on a brave girl who suffered severe brain trauma when trying to protect her mother.

More than 20 e-mails from readers worldwide were received after the June 23 story about 7-year-old Wang Yan was published. The e-mails asked about her health and how they could donate funds to help.

Wang is still in a coma, but her condition is slightly better and her vital signs are stable, said Tang Zhensheng, president of the Shanghai Blue Cross Brain Hospital, where the girl is being treated.

"But it might be several months before she regains consciousness," he said.

Wang, a native of Shou county's Zhangli village in Anhui province, suffered a trauma to the head, as well as multiple skull fractures, after she was hit on the head with a spade on April 21. The girl was helping her mother, who was attacked by a man suspected of having a mental illness, according to local police.

The mother died on the spot.

Her 22-year-old brother Wang Yongma and 62-year-old father Wang Yingjie took the girl to Shanghai for medical treatment after doctors at Anhui hospital said they were unable to help. But the surgery for advanced esophageal cancer on the father last year almost exhausted the meager savings of the peasant family.

Two Australians, Luke Sanders and Ian Gregory, visited the girl on Friday, bringing biscuits and candy and left 3,000 yuan ($472) to the girl’s brother.

"I was holding back tears when walking inside the ward and seeing the little girl," said Sanders, a 32-year-old businessman who has lived in Shanghai for four months and read the story on the China Daily.

"My mother passed away seven years ago due to brain trauma, which is one of the reasons that I was determined to lend a helping hand," he said.

It was not the first time that he read a story about sick children, he continued, but he was deeply touched by the girl’s bravery.

Gregory will fly back to Australia on Saturday, so he believed he had to pay a visit before he left. His youngest son is 7, only 2 years younger than Wang.

"I can't imagine if my son loses his mother. But the girl doesn't have her mother even if she awakes, which is so sad," said Gregory, 46.

Apart from them, readers have sent money after the China Daily published the bank account number to send donations.

Xiulan, a reader in the United States, has sent a doll to the girl in addition to a donation because she wants the girl to "have something of her own."

People also shared the story on Facebook and hope the news get passed around to more generous people.

Kelvin Wan, a lawyer in Hong Kong, forwarded the girl's story to the Anhui Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, and they are talking about plans to provide long-term support for Wang.

"Nearly 300,000 yuan has been received in the bank account. We're thankful to all the warm-hearted people," said the girl's brother.

The girl's birthday falls on Aug 1 this year, according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

"I really hope my sister can regain consciousness soon and will still be the same lively girl. I'll buy a cake for the birthday celebration," said the brother.