A GUIZHOU girl under the pseudonym Xiaojie recently signed her organ donor card after undergoing corrective surgery for her scoliosis in Shenzhen, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported yesterday.

“I want to give back the love that I have gained from Shenzhen, the city of great love,” said Xiaojie.

Xiaojie, 25, born to a low-income family in Bijie, Guizhou Province, was diagnosed with infantile idiopathic scoliosis when she was 9 years old. As she grew up, Xiaojie’s conditions worsened, which has posed pressure on her heart and lungs. However, local doctors hesitated to correct Xiaojie’s spine due to high risks.

In 2020, Xiaojie learned from WeChat posts that a free clinic jointly organized by Shenzhen’s institutions, including the Shenzhen Committee of Jiu San Society, iTogether Foundation, and the No. 8 Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, was held in Guizhou. The hospital director Shen Huiyong injected confidence into Xiaojie.

“Xiaojie’s infantile idiopathic scoliosis is particularly severe. Her spine is like a ‘twist,’ bent and curved at an extreme angle,” said Shen.

Shen and his team adapted 3D technology and computer modeling to reduce surgical risks. The surgery took about eight hours.

With her straightened spine, Xiaojie is now 11 centimeters taller and her heart and lungs are functioning better.

“It was the Shenzhen hospital that gave me a second life. The public welfare organizations in Shenzhen helped me with all the costs of treatment and rehabilitation. Plus, many social workers and volunteers are helping me. I will try my best to contribute back,” said Xiaojie.  (Xia Yuanjie)