Blood thicker than water for top liver surgeon

Over four days in Beijing last year, Taiwan surgeon Chen Chao-long performed 13 liver transplant operations. Each lasted several hours, and he had to survive on just four hours of sleep a night, sometimes less.

The operations were to save the lives of six critically ill children.

"Surgeries demand hard work," said Chen, who in 1984 performed Asia's first liver transplantation. "But when you see a patient once on the verge of death recover thanks to your treatment ... you feel the utmost joy and fulfillment."