Zhao Yan never let anything get in her way of helping others as a devoted public health care worker for over 30 years.

So when the selfless Karamay woman died on November 28 after a long battle with illness, it came as no surprise that she found a way to help other from beyond the grave.

Her final wish was to donate her corneas and she singed a donation agreement three days before passing away. In her will, Zhao persuaded her parents to help her realize the wish.

Two hours after Zhao’s death, Wang Kelin, vice chairman of Karamay Red Cross Society, led medical staff members from karamay Central Hospital to take Zhao’s corneas to Urumqi Specialized Hospital’s eyes, ears, nose and throat department.

A female Uyghur patient from Aksu in southern Xinjiang became the first beneficiary of Zhao’s final good deed. She underwent a successful operation on November 29 and is scheduled for further operations.

Zhao Yan was then awarded an honorary credential by Karamay Red Cross Society for her generosity, which will live on after her death with donation of corneas.

A Uyghur female patient from Aksu in southern Xinjiang successfully got cornea transplantation operation on Nov 29, becoming the first beneficiary of Zhao’s final donation.[Photo/kelamayi.com.cn]

Edited by Jacob Hooson