A SHENZHEN girl who has thalassemia, an inherited blood disorder characterized by the abnormal formation of haemoglobin, received more than 300,000 yuan (US$49,000) in donations Wednesday after reports about her circulated, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported.

    Li Shiming, 7, was found to have the disease five months after she was born and was judged by doctors to be able to survive no more than eight years unless she received a bone marrow transplant.

    Li’s parents, natives of Meizhou City in Guangdong Province, moved to Shenzhen several years ago in order to seek better treatment for their daughter. She had to receive an IV drip for about 10 hours each day to discharge excessive amounts of iron from her blood due to frequent blood transfusions. Aside from the disease, Li lives a normal life like many other children, and attended a primary school in Fuyong, Bao’an District last year. She reportedly has a cheerful character and is interested in painting and dancing.

    Li’s parents said the family has become debt-ridden in order to pay for their daughter’s treatment, which cost about 6,000 yuan each month, an amount equal to the couple’s monthly income.

    One year ago, a bone marrow registry in Taiwan found a match for her bone marrow type.

    Li’s father said that they were told by doctors that the transplant should be done as early as possible, but the 600,000 yuan price tag for the surgery far exceeds the family’s financial limitations.

    “The deposit to the hospital before her bone marrow transplant surgery was 300,000 yuan and we can’t raise any more money for the surgery since our family’s income has all been spent on her medical bills over the past few years,” the father said.

    By Dec. 19, the family had received about 200,000 yuan in donations, but the amount was still far from the cost of her surgery.

    On Wednesday, Li’s father received the largest single donation yet, 100,000 yuan, which was later verified to be from Taiwanese pop singer Dave Wong. Wang, who will have a concert in Shenzhen on Jan. 24, reportedly asked for public donations for Li on Weibo a few days ago. The organizer of the concert also visited Li’s family Wednesday and invited the girl’s family to the concert.(Anna Zhao)

    Account Info

    Donations accepted at China Construction Band Shenzhen Airport Branch

    Account No.: 7200469980111549982

    Account name: Li Shiming

    深圳建设银行机场支行

    户名：李诗茗