Home / People
Xie Moujing is currently a psychosomatic doctor at the Aviation General Hospital in Beijing, but many of her medical contributions come not just from her heart, but her physical body as well. Still in her twenties, Xie has donated her bone marrow and stem cells to children with leukemia, and is a proud volunteer for the Bone Marrow Bank of China.
 |
|
A nurse prepares Xie for her stem cell donation. [Photo/bjby.bjwmb.gov.cn] |
The cells in our blood — platelets, red blood cells, lymphocytes, etc. – originated as stem cells developing in our bone marrow. Leukemic cells are the stem cells that behave abnormally, often not changing at all. These cells multiply and eventually outclass the normal blood cells, marking leukemia as a type of cancer.
Four hours of harvesting yields about 170ml of stem cells. Xie waited six years after sending in her application, and her wish was finally granted at the end of March this year.
Xie's father is a busy worker at a coal mine in Jiangxi, with few breaks throughout the year. He took three days off for the family to see Xie's donation through.
"I cringe whenever that needle goes into her,” her mother grimaced. “This is what it means to be a parent.” She had entered the chamber in tears.
 |
|
The dean of the Aviation General Hospital visits Xie on behalf of his staff. [Photo/bjby.bjwmb.gov.cn] |
Nonetheless, Xie's parents stand firmly behind her decision. “There's a child on the other side who's sick, and as parents, we have to save him or her too,” her father said.
After her donations, Xie went on to speak about stem cell donation and spreading the awareness of cancer. She gives weekend seminars at local colleges and participates in the Red Cross's charity walkathon – and her story has touched people's lives.
"My parents won't let me donate because they say that none of the doctors do. But now I can go home and prove them wrong!” an 18-year-old volunteer once said to her.
 |
|
Xie poses for photos with a big smile after donation. [Photo/bjby.bjwmb.gov.cn] |
Xie Moujing's stem cells have successfully treated children with leukemia. Her greatest wish is for contributions to make a difference, to come together inside a sick child's body and create the miracle of life.
Edited by Wang Zili
