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Giving others the gift of sight

By Huang Zhiling and Shao Zhengqiang (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-02-25 06:55
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Dead girl's cornea donations boost much needed supplies

CHENGDU: Deng Xiaoye, a sophomore at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) in Chengdu, Sichuan province, would have turned 20 on April 7 if she had not died of a brain infection on Feb 16.

But Deng will live on - through the recipients of her two corneas.

Deng's father, Deng Qinuo, donated her corneas to the Chengdu Kangqiao Ophthalmology Hospital, which subsequently asked six patients with eye afflictions to come forward.

"Once the operation proves successful, her corneas will benefit at least two patients," said Zhou Bo, a surgeon with the hospital.

In a country where cornea donations are uncommon, Deng's move has moved many people.

Statistics from the Red Cross Society of China and the China Disabled Persons' Federation show about 4 million people with eye problems need cornea transplants and 70 percent of them can be cured if there are enough donors. But fewer than 5,000 transplant operations were performed nationwide each year because of a shortage of donors.

The Red Cross Eye Bank of Sichuan, located in the Chengdu Kangqiao Ophthalmology Hospital, was founded last March. Since then, only 27 people have donated their corneas to the bank, although more than 10,000 people need cornea transplants in the province a year, said a volunteer in charge of publicity at the bank.

Many still remember Deng Xiaoye as a healthy, lively and versatile girl.

"When she sat for the national college entrance examination two years ago, her English scores were 146 out of a maximum of 150. She liked photography, painting, singing and dancing," said her 48-year-old father.

Lu Yeping, her roommate in UESTC, said Deng Xiaoye even arranged a dance party to welcome her freshmen schoolmates last autumn.

Giving others the gift of sight

Deng Xiaoye, a college student who died of a brain infection on Feb 16. Her family has donated her corneas to patients. Courtesy of Deng’s family 

But on the evening of Feb 5, the girl suffered a severe headache and fever. Her father sent her to a nearby hospital where her temperature was brought down.

The next evening, Deng's condition stabilized and she returned home. But in the early hours of Feb 7, she felt a severe headache again and started vomiting. She was sent to hospital and was diagnosed to be suffering from encephalic infection. On the afternoon of Feb 8, she was sent to the intensive care unit of the hospital's department of neurology.

"When I visited her on the afternoon of Feb 9, I found her very weak," Deng Qinuo said.

One day later, his daughter's condition worsened and she was transferred to the department of neurology at the renowned Huaxi Hospital of Sichuan University. Her condition had already developed into a brainstem infection.

Early on Feb 15, Deng Xiaoye's throat was blocked with phlegm and medics had to use a machine to remove the obstruction and put her on a respirator. But attempts to save her failed and she died at 6.15 am the next day.

Deng Qinuo later called his mother to inform her about her granddaughter's death. Zhang Chenghou, 70, was saddened by her granddaughter's death but still suggested donating the girl's corneas to help others.

Zhang, a resident of Chengdu, also signed an agreement with the Red Cross Society of Chengdu eight years ago to donate her body to needy patients after her death.

Both Deng Qinuo and his 44-year-old wife, Zhao Qiong, took Zhang's advice and called the Red Cross Eye Bank of Sichuan.

Zhou Bo from the Chengdu Kangqiao Ophthalmology Hospital later removed Deng Xiaoye's corneas, with tests showing that they were suitable for transplant.

Many people at the UESTC, including Deng Xiaoye's teachers and boyfriend Gu Lei, were some of the others who were greatly saddened by her death.

Ariel Santos, Deng Xiaoye's former teacher of English when she was a freshman, wrote: "When a loved one of yours and a good friend of mine told me that you've already gone to heaven, just this morning, I hoped that there was some kind of mistake in the message. I just couldn't believe that someone so young and full of life had been called back home so early by the Almighty. What I know is that you're so special that heaven can't wait."

"Xiaoye was so considerate she always blamed herself when she ran into conflict with anyone, including me," said Gu, a freshman who attracted Deng Xiaoye when he delivered a lecture on campus last semester and they started dating.

When Deng Xiaoye left hospital on Feb 6, Gu left Chengdu for his hometown in Leshan, which is more than two hours by bus from Chengdu.

The duo would exchange phone calls every day. When Deng Xiaoye was sick, she could not speak to Gu and her mother would answer for her. As her mother did not know of their relationship, Gu was not told how serious the disease was.

On Feb 15, Gu bought a pair of sneakers and a doll as Spring Festival gifts for Deng Xiaoye. Early on Feb 16, Gu came to Chengdu only to learn she had died.

Gu, who did not know Deng Xiaoye had been so ill, put the sneakers on her feet and her doll beside her.

"I might never meet such a nice girl as Xiaoye," Gu said.

(China Daily 02/25/2010 page2)