Mom's searing saga draws charity's funds

A plucky mother chose to protect her unborn child over undergoing treatment for third-degree burns, joining the ranks of this year's China's 10 Most Outstanding Mothers, as chosen by the All-China Women's Federation.

On the night of December 24, 2006, folk singer and dancer Xiong Li, 28, was on her way back home after a show, when the mini-bus she was in crashed into a cargo truck full of liquid caustic soda, which immediately seeped into the minibus.

Xiong's chest, back, arms, legs and face were all badly burnt.

When an unconscious Xiong was delivered to hospital an hour later, her whole body was like a piece of charcoal except for the skin on her stomach.

Her shocked husband Tang Honggang was told by doctors with Wuhan No 3 Hospital of Hubei province that, "The mother can be saved if we use antibiotics but this can harm the baby."

"You will have to abort it," they advised.

Tang chose to save his wife but when Xiong heard of their plans, she froze. "No! My baby cannot die," declared the six-month pregnant woman.

Doctors had no choice but to agree. For the next 37 days Xiong endured unimaginable pain to have her scorched skin cut off without the use of anesthesia in a hospital in Wuhan. She fainted frequently but refused to take any drugs.

When put through blood transfusions, she repeatedly checked with the nurses that it would not affect her baby adversely. Without drugs, her burn injuries kept worsening.

Her husband tried to persuade her, once again. "We are still young, and we can have another baby," he said.

"Honggang, I can feel my baby kicking my belly I insist on keeping him," she responded.

On January 20, she successfully gave birth to a healthy boy.

On the night of the accident, instead of protecting her face, Xiong's hands were covering her stomach. The once beautiful dancer did not think twice before sacrificing her appearance for her unborn child.

But her severed injuries began eating into her, down to the bones and tendons. While these are now somewhat under control, the damage to her face is serious because of the delayed use of effective drugs.

Last month, in a Beijing hospital she began another set of skin grafts, thanks to a project aimed at providing free medical treatment for women suffering such physical disfigurement.

She is set to undergo further operations in June, according to Wu Wenyun, Xiong's principal doctor with the Evercare Long Island Hospital of Beijing.

Xiong's story drew the attention of the Rose Fund of China Women Development Foundation which has offered to pay all expenses for her further operations to graft new skin over her burnt face.

This year, 100 such sufferers are expected to benefit from the fund, according to the fund's initiator and editor-in-chief of China Beauty and Fashion News, Zhang Xiaomei.

Xiong has now returned home in Hubei so she can be with her son.

"We hope the 'China Rose Campaign' can benefit more people," Zhang says, adding that everyone can lend a hand to these unfortunate women.

The campaign was launched last year along with more than 20 mainstream media and renowned medical institutions specializing in reconstructive surgery. The fund has received more than 3,000 applicants nationwide, of whom 56 have received help.

To date, the fund has disbursed nearly one million yuan ($143,000), but more donations are always welcome. The Rose Fund can be reached through a hotline 86-10-65280053.

(China Daily 04/23/2008 page20)