Why 'big nose' US boy still calls China home

Personal commitment

One of the first big-ticket items was a $20,000 ultrasound machine. Plymire bought it in Hong Kong in early 1989 and purchased an extra plane ticket for it to be transported to the mainland.

With commercial shipping unavailable at the time, Plymire personally transported the unit to Xi'an, Shaanxi province.

After getting off the plane, he had to catch a train to Huangyuan. Railway staff told him that something so valuable had to be insured and that it would have to travel in the baggage car rather than in the passenger compartment.

Plymire looked around the platform. There, alongside his $20,000 ultrasound machine, were watermelons, cabbages and live chickens; he laughed. He decided to let the machine travel with them.

Plymire made three trips to bring a CT scanner, which was rare and expensive, to Huangyuan. The scanner enabled the hospital's first brain surgery and helped save lives during its 15 years of service. Today, it has pride of place in the hospital's exhibition hall alongside archival records documenting his many other contributions.

Looking back, Plymire said the equipment was well taken care of by the hospital staff. He said he trusted the people of Huangyuan. Many of the machines he helped bring to the hospital have since been replaced by newer, more advanced equipment.

"They have done very well, and the hospital has developed so well. They have been able to even replace equipment. Well, that original CAT scan like me has been retired," he joked.

The money raised went entirely toward medical equipment, not travel expenses.