Steve Alexander, a pediatrician in Beijing working and caring for children with special medical needs, is calling on help for one of his patients, Yi Fan, a Chinese girl who is suffering from pulmonary hypertension, a severe lung disease.
Over the past 2 years, Yi has been evaluated by pediatricians at Beijing Children’s Hospital. They have been unable to make a diagnosis. Her parents eventually brought her to Beijing United Family Hospital so that their daughter could receive better treatment.
“I’ve seen thousands of very sick children during my career,” Alexander said. “But there is just something about this little girl which moves me. Her father told me that when Yi Fan saw the crying children in the Sichuan earthquake last year, Yi Fan told her father to send her own savings to help. I just thought, what amazing love from one so small.”
Alexander has already been able to improve her quality of life with new drugs, but he believes that if he can get her to one of the top children’s hospitals in the United States, they may be able to help her more.
Over the last 5 years, the United States has performed the most pediatric lung transplants in the world. It has been reported that a patient usually receives a transplant within 60 days. For these reasons, Yi Fan’s parents believe that this is the best place to send their child.
“I was hoping that God would bless her, like the other kids, so one morning, she might go to school,” said Yi’s father.
Pan and Zhou have already sold their house so that they could afford the medical expenses. But this is not enough for what Yi needs.
Now, they are reaching out for help. “One day, I want to be able to breathe and walk freely, to wear beautiful roller skates and to dance in the park,” said Yi. ♦
For more information or to make a donation, visit www.yifanfund.com.
Thank you for sharing such an amazing and touchinig story. I will pass this on to as many people that I can.