A six-year-old girl in southeastern China broke down in tears after learning that her bone marrow donor had backed out just before a scheduled transplant earlier this week.
Ye Yuxin, who lives in Jiangxi province, was diagnosed with severe thalassemia at just two months old.
Thalassemia is an inherited blood disorder in which the body produces abnormal or inadequate hemoglobin, the protein component of red blood cells that carry oxygen.
Consequently, it causes the destruction of red blood cells leading to anemia, which presents symptoms such as tiredness, weakness and shortness of breath.
Since her diagnosis, Ye has received blood transfusions every two weeks, costing her family hundreds of yuan a month.
However, her family found hope in late 2017 after hearing that a match for a bone marrow transplant — the only possible cure to thalassemia — had been found.
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“We found hope when the China Marrow Donor Program informed us that there was a match in October 2017,” Ye’s father told Southern Metropolis Daily.
Following the news, the family immediately raised 400,000 yuan ($60,000) from relatives, friends and crowdfunding for the operation.
All went according to plan until the evening of March 29, when the donor backed out for the transplant scheduled on Tuesday.
Ye, who underwent six days of chemotherapy in preparation, was left in tears.
“You just want to be happy and healthy, right?” said Ye’s mother, according to the Daily Mail.
On Wednesday, the family was given new hope after the program announced a second donor, with doctors arranging for a transplant as soon as Ye regains strength.
Still, the unfortunate news broke people’s hearts on Chinese social media, with many sending well-wishes to the young girl.
Weibo users commented:
“I think donors who back out should be included in the national list of untrustworthy people, because retracting will have financial and mental repercussions on the supposed recipient.”
“What an unpredictable world. I hope this poor child finds a donor and recovers soon.”
“Don’t promise to donate! Why did you give her family such a big false hope?”
“I hope anyone who plans to become a donor thinks about it first.”
“Keep your promises!”
Featured Images: Screenshots via Southern Metropolis Daily
